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9

Unit 9: The big wedding
Present continuous and 'going to' for future

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  1. 1Nice to meet you!
  2. 2What to wear
  3. 3Like this, like that
  4. 4The daily grind
  5. 5Christmas every day
  6. 6Great achievers
  7. 7The Titanic
  8. 8Travel
  9. 9The big wedding
  10. 10Sunny's job hunt
  11. 11The bucket list
  12. 12Moving and migration
  13. 13Welcome to BBC Broadcasting House
  14. 14New Year, New Project
  15. 15From Handel to Hendrix
  16. 16What's the weather like?
  17. 17The Digital Revolution
  18. 18A detective story
  19. 19A place to live
  20. 20The Cult of Celebrity
  21. 21Welcome to your new job
  22. 22Beyond the planets
  23. 23Great expectations!
  24. 24Eco-tourism
  25. 25Moving house
  26. 26It must be love
  27. 27Job hunting success... and failure
  28. 28Speeding into the future
  29. 29Lost arts
  30. 30Tales of survival

Session 5

Listen to the next episode of our drama, The Race. Captain Phil takes charge - but does he know the ropes? After that, test your knowledge of Unit 9 in our Weekly Quiz.

Sessions in this unit

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Session 5 score

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    Activity 2
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    Activity 3
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    Activity 4
  1. Activity 1
  2. Activity 2
  3. Activity 3
  4. Activity 4

Activity 3

Phil's video diary

Plain sailing

Do you know as much about sailing as Phil does? Watch Phil's video diary to find out.  

Watch the video

Show transcriptHide transcript

Here I am again. We've set sail and, look, they've officially made me captain! And do you like this? I bought us all Polynesian shirts when we stopped in Tahiti.

Well, it's been quite an adventure so far and thanks to Passepartout I seemed to have learned a lot about sailing. In fact it's been plain sailing - that means making smooth and easy progress.

Sometimes we've been all at sea - meaning in a state of confusion and disorder. But, you know, I've got to know the ropes - I mean: I've learnt how to do to things properly. Everything seems shipshape now - that's in good order.

I can't wait to get to my local pub back in London where I'll be three sheets to the wind - you know what that means, don't you?! In fact, I might have a little drink now. Cheers!

Downloads

You can download the video and transcript from our Unit 9 downloads page.

Vocabulary: Sailing-related phrases

plain sailing
making smooth and easy progress

all at sea
very confused and disorganised

to know the ropes
to know how to do things properly

shipshape
clean, tidy, in good order

three sheets to the wind
(informal) very drunk

Next

Will the yacht be sunk by a big wave or will the crew make it home on time? More importantly, what have you learnt in this unit? Find out now by testing yourself with our Weekly Quiz.

 

Session Grammar

  • Use going to
    To talk about something we have decided to do in the future, but not arranged yet.

    I’m going to spend a year travelling.

    Use the present continuous
    To talk about something we have decided to do in the future, and made arrangements for. It’s definite, not just an idea.

    I’m meeting a client at 2pm.

View full grammar reference

Session Vocabulary

  • plain sailing
    making smooth and easy progress

    all at sea
    very confused and disorganised

    to know the ropes
    to know how to do things properly

    shipshape
    clean, tidy, in good order

    three sheets to the wind
    (informal) very drunk

View full vocabulary reference

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