Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in
 
Take a Break
Take a Break English, baby! Video Lesson

Gerunds and Infinitives

Date: May 31 2011

Themes: Soap Opera

Grammar: Gerunds vs. Infinitives

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

Rest is a part of life. We sleep every night (or at least most of us do). But sometimes, you need some rest while you’re awake. That’s when you take a break.

If you take a break, you stop what you’re doing for a little while, then return to it. Many jobs allow you to take breaks. Taking breaks helps people concentrate when work is resumed.

As you will see today, you can also take breaks from things other than work. If you’re on a hike, you can take a break and sit down for a few minutes. If you’re watching a movie at home, you can pause it and take a break to make a snack.

Jeff’s girlfriend and coworker, Ella, recently adopted a child named Table. Jeff has decided he needs to take a break. Watch the video to find out what he needs to take a break from.

3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

Log in to Listen

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Jeff

Jeff

Ella

Ella

Jeff:  Ella?

Ella:  Yeah? What’s up?

Jeff:  I think we need to take a break.

Ella:  Oh, good. I’m so ready for one. Do you want to go to the coffee shop around the corner? That has…They have those great lattes, so…

Jeff:  Not that kind of break. We need to take a break from our relationship.

Ella:  What? Why?

Jeff:  Well, let’s see. To be honest, it’s Table.

Ella:  What?

Jeff:  Yeah.

Ella:  Table’s amazing! We’re gonna be like Brangelina but Jalable.

Jeff:  Table, Table, Table. That’s you all the time.

Ella:  He’s my new toy. I have to pay attention to him. I’m trying to adjust.

Jeff:  This relationship is not functioning.

Ella:  Does that mean we’re like breaking up or…What do you mean?

Jeff:  You know, take a break. Take a break!

Ella:  I mean, can I even text you or call you? I mean, how long am I supposed to wait?

Jeff:  In case of emergency, yes. But, you know, let’s take three weeks. I’ll be at my place doing my thing. You and Table will be at your place doing all the things you love to do lately. You know, we’ll sort of take some time apart. We’re not broken up. We’re together, but we need to spend some time apart.

Ella:  How is time apart going to help anything? You’re going to be over there and I’m gonna be over here, but we’re still together? That doesn’t make sense.

Jeff:  It…Reevaluate why we’re in this relationship together. Maybe it’ll put a few things in perspective. The list goes on, baby.

Ella:  I don’t like this.

Jeff:  We need to do this.

 

Grammar Point

Go Super to learn "Gerunds vs. Infinitives" from this lesson Go Super!

Quizzes

Go Super to take Quiz Go Super!

 

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3 Go Super!

The iTEP® test

  • Schedule an iTEP® test and take the official English Practice Test.

    Take Now >

Discussion

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

Jeff and Ella are at work. He says he needs a break. Ella thinks he is talking about taking a break from work. She suggests they go to a nearby coffee shop. Mason, who likes Ella, suddenly appears with a coffee cup.

But Jeff explains that he doesn’t want to take a break from work. He wants to take a break from his relationship with Ella. She is confused, so he explains that he doesn’t want to end the relationship. He doesn’t want to break up. He just wants to spend some time alone and think about the relationship and Ella’s new son. Mason overhears and gets excited.

Although Ella doesn’t understand why Jeff needs to take a break from the relationship, she doesn’t seem to have a choice. He says she should only contact him in case of emergency, and they will talk again in a few weeks.

When is the last time you took a break from something?

 

Comments

Log in to Comment

taneralttire

Turkey

it doesnt help I think. why you cant simply give up no need to tire yourself

12:09 PM May 31 2011 |

trailo_hathanh

Viet Nam

Oh, poor Ella. I am voluntary to help Ella recovery this hurt. Mason, you should not be excited like that. It’s me to compete with you. Ella smok’in hot doesn’t she.


Ella this is my email, trailo_hathanh@yahoo.com, give me your email.


But frankly, Ella look lovely. However, if her thinking is lovely, it should be perfect. Because I am sure that her thing completely fantastic.

09:49 AM May 31 2011 |

tamago

tamago

Japan

I completely agree this !!
just in my opinion and experiences
most of couples should take a break .
whether the thing go better or worse.

07:29 AM May 31 2011 |

Talia Do

Talia Do

Viet Nam

Since my husband was assigned a mission abroad, I had to take a break from my job and follow him. However, I enjoy my new life very much ‘cause I have a lot of time to do my thing. But when putting things in perspective, I found out that during my free time I spent too much time for the internet. And thanks for this lesson of English, baby!, now I know it is time to take a break from my computer to balance my life.


About the situation in the dialog, I think a break in a relationship sometimes saves it. Taking a break does not mean that you no longer love each other. A break does not mean that you will not solve the issues within the relationship. A break is a common practice among people who are dating, living together or being married. Moreover, taking a break can lead to a sense of the renewal and better communication in a relationship.

06:02 AM May 31 2011 |

ashavictoria

India

Sometimes it’s important we take a break from our usual, monotonous routines and spend time doing things we like. It helps us to put things in perspective. Sometimes our mechanical life drives us nuts to such an extent that relationships tend to break down and life becomes misreable. A tiny break will really do people good. So do take time to find some time off and reevaluate life.. it’s purpose and try to check whether you’re living a fulfilling life.

04:51 AM May 31 2011 |

patricia genesis

Mexico

I understand to jeff because all the time they’re seen..for me is uncomfortable have a relationship in the work

02:01 AM May 31 2011 |

Likes (14):

See all >

Share this lesson:

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Bebo
  • Share on Myspace
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email this to a friend
  • Share on Sina

Post Ebaby! lessons on your blog:

Ebaby! Cast