Speaking activity

Desperate Housewives  

from TVseries4learning

Verbs in the simple past

Level: Intermediate

Age: Teens/Adults

Before you watch

1.         What do people usually talk about with their families when they get home from school/work?

2.         When you get home from school/work, what do you usually talk about with your mother/father/brother/friend?

While you watch

3.            Watch the segment once and answer: what’s the relationship between the two people? What are they talking about?

4.            Before watching again, try to remember what each one of them says. In the script below, write H (Husband) for what he says and W (Wife) for what she says. After that, watch the video again and check if your answers are right.

(   )  I am finally home. And just so you know, I had the worst day ever. (   )  Did you? (   )  Yeah, I-I-I had to meet with one surly client after another. Our computers went down. I spilled coffee on my shoe. (   )  Sounds like you went through a lot. (   )  But I'm much better now. Oh, m... Oh, oh, oh, God! I forgot to ask... How did the pitch go? (   )  Good. We got the job. (   )  That is fantastic! Oh, my God. You guys are just getting started, and you're already kicking ass! I am so proud of you! (   )  Well, it was mostly Renee. She did the lion's share of the work. She's an amazing woman.

(   )  Yeah. Everything okay? (   )  Yes, of course. I, um... I made some hot chocolate for the kids, would like some? (   )  That sounds great. (   )  Yeah? Might be a little cold. Do you want me to heat it up? (   )  No, it's okay. (   )  Mm! Aah! It's... it's.. it's boiling! (   )  Is it? (   )  I-I-I burned my tongue! (   )  Oh, I'm sorry.

After you watch

5.            How was his day? Tell your classmates.

6.            What verb tenses can you identify in the dialogue? Which one is predominant?

7.            Go back to the script and circle the verbs in the simple past.