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English Grammar through StoriesBog'liq English Grammar through Stories - Boston Academy of English ( PDFDrive )
English Grammar through Stories
by Alan Townend
Photocopiable
© www.english-test.net
8
Below you can see a story I've written using some highlighted
examples of how you can express the future.
«Jealousy»
I want you to imagine that you
are about to
visit a small village. It
doesn't matter which country it's in because all villages are the same
whichever part of the world they are in. There were only about 300
inhabitants in total in this particular village and everyone knew
everybody's business. A typical street conversation would run like
this: «I hear Joan's
going to
have a baby next year. I expect
it'll
be a
boy this time I wouldn't be surprised.
She's having
a nurse come
next week to help her with her 5 girls and maybe a boy
will make
life
easier for her!» In this village people usually help each other
whenever they can. If someone is going to the «big» town — that is
where there are more than a thousand people living in it — invariably
they will say
to their neighbours: «
I'll get
you some vegetables, if
you like». But it's not all sweetness and light here because there is a
longstanding feud going on between two families.
I'll let
the local
gossip, Mary tell you the background. «It must be ten years ago
when it all started. I doubt
it'll
ever stop», she laughed when she
said that. «But then I've been told
I am to tell
you the beginning of it
all and also
you are to listen
, remember. There are two women who
are always arguing about something. One of them lives in that huge
house over there. Don't look now because
she'll open
her front door
in a minute.
She's going to
catch the 9.15 bus that
goes
in ten
minutes from that stop there. Now, she's a fine lady, she is. She's
due to
become a councillor next month after the elections and
she'll
probably make a good job of it. Now hold on a second the other lady
is leaving
her house in a minute. Yes, what did I say?
She's going to
catch the bus too but
she'll get
on at the next stop to avoid meeting
the councillor lady. Now the second lady runs a small restaurant, as
a matter of fact
I'm taking
lunch there later today.» I asked Mary
why these two women didn't get on. She looked me straight in the
eye and said: «Jealousy. One runs a successful restaurant and the
councillor lady runs a small guesthouse. Both of them
are going to
make a lot of money this year because of the festival but the
guesthouse lady
will make
more and she always has done and that's
the cause of the trouble.»
Now what I haven't told you», continued Mary, «and
I'm just about
to
reveal it, is that there are two other people in the story. Namely
the son of one of the ladies and the daughter of the other. And yes,
they are getting married
next year and the whole village
will be
invited
.
It's going to be
a big affair» I interrupted Mary at this point
and asked her what had happened to the feud. «Oh that doesn't
matter much now» continued Mary «
they'll be
too busy making
arrangements for the wedding.
They're due to
meet a catering firm
this morning». «So what's all this about separate bus stops?» I
asked. «Oh, that's just for the tourists who
are coming
here next
month.» I tried to understand but had one more question: «And
what about jealousy?» — «Now,
you're not to
worry about her. There
are plenty of villages round here and
she'll
soon
find
another one to
visit and cause trouble in» I thanked Mary and walked away, totally
confused thinking to myself; «
I shall never understand
village life.»
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