![[A] Once I Had My First Job,..](https://images.ctfassets.net/r30ratzbtbbf/ptGtXHz2YaqlhRW78uKh0/a373fa75291dd2c4b9507a8a59d439f6/EVERYDAY_ENGLISH-03.png)
LET'S READ! 📖
Direction: Read the conversation below. Then, exchange roles with your mentor.
Situation:
Ken and Anna are hanging out and start having a conversation about becoming an adult.
Anna
Ken
That's true. So, what were you like when you were younger?
Anna
I was a little bit of a careless youngster. My parents were quite disappointed in me growing up since I was such a rebel.
Ken
You? Really? I didn't expect that. What made you change, then?
Anna
Graduating from high school.
Ken
What do you mean?
Anna
Well, I never had any significant responsibilities before I graduated. Then, when I went off to college I realized how tough it was. I encountered a lot of ambitious students striving hard to accomplish their goals.
Ken
I can totally relate. I remember being incredibly immature when I was a teenager.
Anna
So what made you change?
Ken
I think I became more mature after I got a job and moved away from home. Once I had my first job, I became totally independent. That was my turning point.
Anna
Where did you work?
Ken
I worked for my dad in a law firm.
Anna
I see. Another turning point for me was when I got my cat, Garfield. I know it sounds silly, but that was really important to me.
Ken
How come?
Anna
When I was around ten years old, I recall how having a cat of my own made me feel, in a peculiar sense, more responsible. He would always follow me around and I had to feed him every day.
Ken
That actually does seem rather nice. Although I was never able to own a pet, it seems logical that having one would make you feel responsible.
QUESTION
1. What was Anna like when she was younger?
2. When did Anna realize that she had to change?
3. Where did Ken work first?
4. Why was having a pet cat a turning point for Anna?
LET'S UNDERSTAND! 📚
A. TIME CLAUSES
Before I had my first pet, I was really immature. |
After I got my first pet, I became more mature. |
Once I had a pet, I became totally independent. |
The moment I moved away from home, I felt like a different person. |
As soon as I got my own bank account, I started to be more responsible. |
Until I graduated, I'd never had any important responsibilities. |
By the time I graduated from high school, I had already started working. |
📌 All clauses require a subject and a verb.
📌 A time clause is a dependent clause. It can't stand alone; it must be connected to a main clause.
📌 The time clause can come before or after the main clause.
📌 When the time clause comes before the main clause, a comma separates the two clauses.
A1: Provide possible information for each sentence.
-
By the time I was 18, ...
-
The moment I got my first paycheck,..
B. EXPRESSING REGRETS AND DESCRIBING HYPOTHETICAL SITUATIONS
| Expressing regret |
|---|
I should have studied something more practical when I was at university. |
I shouldn't have waited so long to pursue my passion. |
📌 subject + should have + past participle
📌 We use should have to speculate about or imagine things that did or didn't happen.
-
She didn't study a practical subject, but now she realizes that she should have.
-
She waited too long to pursue her passion, and now she regrets it.
Sample's explanation:
| Describing hypothetical situations |
|---|
If I'd been more ambitious as a student, I could have learned another language. |
If I hadn't wasted so much money on my last vacation, I would have my own car now. |
📌 If + subject + had + past participle, subject could / would have + past participle
📌 This structure describes hypothetical situations in the past. The could/would have clause shows what didn't happen.
B1. Provide possible information for each sentence.
-
If I'd been more ambitious,...
-
If I'd been more cautious of my diet,..
LET'S PRACTICE! 📝
A. EXPRESSING REGRET
Direction: For each statement, write a sentence expressing regret.
-
I didn't pay attention to what I ate as a kid.
-
I was very rebellious when I was a kid.
-
I didn't make a lot of friends when I was in high school.
B. LISTENING TO REGRETS
Directions: Listen to people describe their regrets. Complete the chart. Write or type down your answers while listening.
Situation:
Barbara, Alex, and Sonya are talking about their regrets.
| Names | What does he or she regret? | Why does he or she regret it? |
|---|---|---|
1. Barbara |
|
|
2. Alex |
|
|
3. Sonya |
|
|
Nobody will have it easy as an adult. All of these obligations will make you feel overwhelmed that you just want to be a child again.