Everyday English from elementary to advanced

[MaKlmOrE]

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Spontaneous or Planner?

Intro

Spontaneous people and people who like to plan everything out are like oil and water. They just don’t mix. For someone who likes to follow a strict schedule(m. plan for an activity) and always has to know what’s going to happen well in advance, there is nothing more annoying than a person who does everything at the last minute(m. spontaneous,not planned in advance) and never makes any plans. But for a spontaneous person, making plans can be a big pain. Who wants to be tied down?

When it comes to making plans, Jeff and Dale are opposites. Jeff is a planner, and Dale likes to fly by the seat of his pants(m. act without planning). But maybe they can find a way to meet in the middle.

Dialogue

Jeff: What’s up Dale?
Dale: What’s up Jeff?
Jeff: You got any plans for the next couple days?
Dale: You know, I don’t like making plans. I like being spontaneous. I like to do things when it just comes to me. Spur of the moment.(m. not planned , improvised)
Jeff: I don’t really understand that. I need a strict schedule. Wake up at the same time every day, have my coffee at the same time every day, take my lunch at the same time.
Dale: Living free and being a free spirit(m. a person who wants to be free from rules) kind of, like, makes it so much more fun, when you just go with the flow.(m. accept whatever happens, not cause problems, be easy-going)
Jeff: That seems to throw me off(m. disrupt or upset). It kind of throws off my plans. I’m a bit of a perfectionist(m. someone who wants to do everything perfectly) when it comes to scheduling.
Dale: So do you schedule at the last minute and then go with it, or are you just scheduling days before?
Jeff: Every now and again in this hectic lifestyle, you gotta pull something off(m. manage to do and do well) at the last minute.
Dale: So what are your plans right now?
Jeff: Well, after I get done talking to you, I’m going to go home and cook up some lasagna, which I’ve already prepared. It takes hours, so that goes without saying.

Discussion

Jeff asks Dale what his plans are for the next couple days, and Dale explains that he doesn’t make plans. He prefers to be spontaneous.

Spontaneous people do things at the spur of the moment. They’re open to whatever fun comes along. They’re free-spirited and they like to go with the flow.

For people who always like to make plans and follow a strict schedule, like Jeff, spontaneous people can be hard to deal with. Planners don’t like surprises. They like to know what they’re going to be doing well in advance, so they can be sure to be prepared.

Are you spontaneous, or do you like to plan things? Do you follow a strict schedule or do you do things at the spur of the moment?

Grammar Point

Verbs with “ing”

Dale says that living free and being a free spirit makes life more fun. In this sentence, both living and being are gerunds.

A gerund is a verb with “ing” that acts like a noun in a sentence. For example, Dale doesn’t like making plans.

Sometimes verbs with “ing” aren’t gerunds, they’re part of a progressive tense such as the present progressive or the past progressive. Progressive tenses use some form of the verb “to be” plus a verb with “ing.” For example, “She is trying to be more spontaneous.

Which is correct, “Skiing is my favorite sport” or “Be skiing is my favorite sport”?


Quiz (write the correct answer)

1.Who is a perfectionist?
* Dale
* Jeff
* Neither Jeff nor Dale.
* Both Jeff and Dale.

2.Jeff likes to do things __ the same time every day.
* on
* in
* at
* for
3.What is Jeff going to make for dinner?
* steak
* lasagna
* a salad
* chicken

4.Where is Jeff going after he’s done talking with Dale?
* home
* a restaurant
* his girlfriend’s house
* school

5.Dale likes __ a free spirit.
* be
* been
* to being
* being

keys for the quiz =>

1.b
2.c
3.b
4.a
5.d

[MaKlmOrE]

"Against the Grain" - Greg Graffin of Bad Religion

Intro

You know those lines on wood? That’s called the grain(the lines on wood). If you’re sanding(make wood smooth with rough paper) or cutting wood, it’s easier if you do it the same direction as the grain. But easier isn’t always better. If you do something different from what’s expected, or oppose something that’s widely accepted, you’re going against the grain(opposed to the common expectation or opinion).

Going against the grain isn’t easy, but it can be rewarding. It’s often how new ideas get started. Greg Graffin is the singer of the popular punk(fast-paced, rebellious form of music) band Bad Religion. He is also a science professor at UCLA. He has made a long and successful career of going against the grain, which was actually the title of a 1990 Bad Religion song and album. The band’s latest album, and Greg’s new book, also use the concept of against the grain. English, baby! met with him as he was autographing books.

Dialogue

Jason: So, Greg Graffin, or Dr. Greg Graffin, scientist and singer, your band Bad Religion has an album called “Against the Grain.” Can you tell us, for people learning English, what does that phrase mean?

Greg: The idea of against the grain probably comes from an ancient source of stories dealing with fish in a stream, and the idea that it’s easier to swim downstream than to go upstream when the water is flowing. In the song “I maintain against the grain” is this idea that as life propels you in one direction, it’s always more rewarding(something that makes you feel good) to try and go the other direction to search for knowledge.

Jason: You’ve played music a lot of places all over the world. Is there a particular country where the punks are against the grain a little bit different than in other places? Or are punks kinda the same across the world?

Greg: Well, that’s a tough question. I think that one interesting thing that unites all punk rockers is the idea that going against the grain is something valuable. Challenging authority doesn’t mean destroying it for nihilistic(the lines on wood) purposes, but challenging it in the hope of finding a better solution.

Jason: You just released a book and an album, and I’m curious how you’re managing those two things on tour. You’re promoting both at the same time?

Greg: That’s true. I mean, the book came out on the same day as the album came out. The art doesn’t have a lot to do with one another but the sentiment does. It’s basically this idea that… well, the album’s called “The Dissent of Man,” the book’s called “Anarchy Evolution,” and the challenge to authority has been something that’s been very valuable in both science and punk rock. English, baby!

Discussion

Greg says that going against the grain is like a fish swimming against the current of the water. It’s hard to do, but it can get you places other fish won’t go.

Going against the grain is an important part of punk rock. Greg says that punks he’s met all over the world are interested in challenging authority. His new book, Anarchy Evolution, is about challenging widely believed ideas in biology in hopes of getting closer to the truth.

Can you think of a time you challenged authority or went against the grain?

Grammar Point

Verbs with “ing”


Greg says that he believes in challenging authority. He turns the verb challenge into a special form called a gerund by adding “ing”. Gerunds act like nouns in sentences.

Sometimes, verbs ending in “ing” are not gerunds, but part of a progressive tense. When you see the verb be followed by an “ing” verb, it is probably a progressive tense. For instance, Greg says that it is easier to swim in the direction that water is flowing. In this case, he is using the present progressive tense to talk about an action that is on-going.

In the sentence, “I love listening to Bad Religion,” is the “ing” verb listening a gerund, or part of a progressive tense?


Quiz (write the correct answer)

1.
Punk rockers usually like to __ against the grain.
* be
* go
* do
* try

2.
Greg compares going against the grain to __.
* playing loud music
* swimming upstream
* science
* None of these.

3.
What do Greg’s new book and album have in common?
* Similar art work.
* They are both called “Against the Grain”.
* The idea of challenging authority.
* All of these.

4.
Bad Religion plays __ music.
* soft
* gentle
* punk
* metal

keys for the quiz =>

1.b
2.b
3.c
4.c

[гайхалтай охин]

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