Unit 17: Word stress
Learn about participle clauses... and word stress!
Select a unit
- 1Go beyond intermediate with our new video course
- 2Reported speech in 90 seconds!
- 3If or whether?
- 45 ways to use 'would'
- 5Let and allow
- 6Passive voice
- 7Unless
- 8Mixed conditionals
- 9The zero article - in 90 seconds
- 10The indefinite article - in 90 seconds
- 11The. That's right - the! Learn all about it in 90 seconds
- 12The continuous passive
- 13Future perfect
- 14Need + verb-ing
- 15Have something done
- 16Wish
- 17Word stress
- 18Different ways of saying 'if'
- 19Passive reporting structures
- 20The subjunctive
- 21When and if
- 22Inversion
- 23Phrasal verbs
- 24The future
- 25Modals in the past
- 26Narrative tenses
- 27Phrasal verb myths
- 28Conditionals review
- 29Used to - review
- 30Linking words of contrast
Session 5
Gordon's preparing something special in the kitchen but unfortunately there's one ingredient he's had too much of. What will the customers make of his new dish? Learn some phrases related to timing.
Activity 1
Drama: The White Elephant
Episode 17: Timing
Something smells good in the kitchen – Gordon is preparing a special meal but unfortunately the red wine he's using isn't going into the cooking pot. Will the customers ever get to taste it – and will they want to? Watch this episode and listen out for the phrases related to timing.
ቨዲዮውን ተመልክተው ክንውኑን ይፈፅሙ

Ceilia
Something smells nice.
Gordon
Ah, that'll be my 'coq au vin' – I've created a superior dish to attract a better type of customer.
Ceilia
It's about time you did. I'm glad that we actually have got a customer tonight so make it snappy otherwise they'll escape.
Gordon
Ceilia, it can take all the time in the world to make something as special as this. Now, one for the pot… and one for me.
Peter
Customer on table four says they haven't got all day so hurry up.
Ceilia
Give them this to keep them sweet.
Gordon
I'll take that thank you… for the food of course.
Ceilia
Come on Gordon, every second counts. Oh, thank goodness you're here Mary. Just in the nick of time. I think I'm going to need your help.
Gordon
Ah, lovely Mary… did I ever tell you, I love those rubbery gloves?
Ceilia
There's a customer out there who's waiting for his food and Gordon is in no fit state to cook.
Gordon
Mary, have you tried my coq au vin?
Mary
Hmm, right. Leave this to me.
Peter
The customer's not happy… he says he's only going to wait for five more minutes.
Ceilia
It's a race against time. Mary, can you do it?
Gordon
You smell lovely.
Mary
Made it – with seconds to spare!
Peter
That was a close one.
Gordon
Smells delicious… that's better!
Download
You can download the drama from our Unit 17 downloads page.
Vocabulary
it's about time
you should have done this earlier
make it snappy
be quick
all the time in the world
lots of time available to do something
every second counts
don't waste any time
in the nick of time
at the last moment
it's a race against time
there's a limited amount of time to finish something
with seconds to spare
just in time
that was a close one
we just managed to avoid something bad happening
To do
See how much you understood from the story by answering these questions...
White Elephant quiz
3 Questions
How much did you understand in The White Elephant: Episode 17?
ድጋፍ
Activity
How much did you understand in The White Elephant: Episode 17?
ፍንጭ
Watch the episode again.Question 1 of 3
ድጋፍ
Activity
How much did you understand in The White Elephant: Episode 17?
ፍንጭ
She gives the customers a glass of wine for free!Question 2 of 3
ድጋፍ
Activity
How much did you understand in The White Elephant: Episode 17?
ፍንጭ
The customers aren't happy.Question 3 of 3
Excellent!Great job!መጥፎ እድል ነጥብ አስመዝግበዋል :
Credits
Gordon Grater: Neil Frost
Ceilia Spatula: Amina Zia
Peter Peppermill: Darren Benedict
Marigold Marcelo (Mary for short): Stacha Hicks
Written, produced and directed by: Rob Carter
More
You can find our other BBC Learning English dramas on our Drama page.
End of Session 5
Next time, there's an important customer in the restaurant that Gordon wants to impress. Can he cook something that will 'exceed his expectations'?
Session Vocabulary
it's about time
you should have done this earlier
make it snappy
be quickall the time in the world
lots of time available to do somethingevery second counts
don't waste any timein the nick of time
at the last momentit's a race against time
there's a limited amount of time to finish somethingwith seconds to spare
just in timethat was a close one
we just managed to avoid something bad happening