Unit 5: Let and allow
Other ways to say 'Let's go!'
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- 1 Go beyond intermediate with our new video course
- 2 Reported speech in 90 seconds!
- 3 If or whether?
- 4 5 ways to use 'would'
- 5 Let and allow
- 6 Passive voice
- 7 Unless
- 8 Mixed conditionals
- 9 The zero article - in 90 seconds
- 10 The indefinite article - in 90 seconds
- 11 The. That's right - the! Learn all about it in 90 seconds
- 12 The continuous passive
- 13 Future perfect
- 14 Need + verb-ing
- 15 Have something done
- 16 Wish
- 17 Word stress
- 18 Different ways of saying 'if'
- 19 Passive reporting structures
- 20 The subjunctive
- 21 When and if
- 22 Inversion
- 23 Phrasal verbs
- 24 The future
- 25 Modals in the past
- 26 Narrative tenses
- 27 Phrasal verb myths
- 28 Conditionals review
- 29 Used to - review
- 30 Linking words of contrast
Session 5
Welcome back to the kitchen of The White Elephant restaurant. Gordon is unusually happy. What's making him so cheerful - and how long will it last? Watch and learn some useful everyday phrases related to being happy
Activity 1
Drama: The White Elephant
Episode 5: Happy
Gordon the chef has had some good news which has made him unusually happy. Everyone is concerned about his cheerful mood but it's not long before he's back to his usual self. Watch this episode to find out what made him happy and what's made his cheerfulness so short-lived.
Watch the video and complete the activity
Ceilia
You seem... full of the joys of spring. Are you feeling OK Gordon?
Gordon
You mean happy? There is nothing wrong with being happy... now, where did I put the onions?
Ceilia
Do you think there is something a bit odd about Gordon today?
Mary
He's cheerful. He seems to be on cloud 9.
Ceilia
I wish he was on cloud 9!
Mary
Hi Gordon. Ceilia's worried about you... has something happened? You just seem very... happy.
Gordon
I am on top of the world actually... don't tell Ceilia but I might have a new job! I had an interview yesterday.
Mary
Wow! I bet you're thrilled to bits.
Gordon
I am Mary - oh the idea of working in a proper restaurant, with customers who appreciate my food, and the pay's better too. Ah, that bit was music to my ears.
Peter
... music in your ears?
Gordon
Oh never mind. What do you want?
Peter
Customer on table 6 wants the raspberry Pavlova for dessert. (The office phone rings) I'll get that shall I? It's the Poison Ivy restaurant! ....aha... aha... ok... bye. They said, 'Sorry you haven't got the job - they've chosen someone better'.
Ceilia
Oh, let's all jump for joy shall we! Gordon is going to be with us a little bit longer.
Mary
Raspberry, Gordon?
Download
You can download the drama from our Unit 5 downloads page.
Vocabulary
full of the joys of spring
very happy / cheerful
on cloud 9
very happy
on top of the world
feeling happy because things are going well for you
thrilled to bits
excited and pleased
music to my ears
information that makes you happy / pleased
jump for joy
show great excitement / happiness
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 5?
Help
Activity
How much did you understand in The White Elephant: Episode 5?
Hint
It's a very high place.Question 1 of 3
Help
Activity
How much did you understand in The White Elephant: Episode 5?
Hint
He'll be getting more of something.Question 2 of 3
Help
Activity
How much did you understand in The White Elephant: Episode 5?
Hint
It's about quality.Question 3 of 3
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored:
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 at The White Elephant restaurant, someone gets a nice surprise, which makes someone else a bit jealous - I wonder who that could be?
Session Vocabulary
full of the joys of spring
very happy / cheerfulon cloud 9
very happyon top of the world
feeling happy because things are going well for youthrilled to bits
excited and pleasedmusic to my ears
information that makes you happy / pleasedjump for joy
show great excitement / happiness