The Day Out That Never Happened

It was a holiday weekend and the Brown family were planning a day out. Over breakfast they discussed where to go.

"Basically, we have to think of somewhere that we'll all enjoy", said Mr Brown as everyone made suggestions.

"Easier said than done" replied Mrs Brown. "We all enjoy different things. What will suit the younger children might not suit the older ones, not to mention the grandparents."

"Well, don't let's watste the day thinking about it", said Mr Brown. "Let's see. What about a visit to the zoo? It's a long time since we've all been there."

"You're wrong there, Dad. As a matter of fact I was there just last week," said Jane, the Browns' youngest daughter. "We sent on a school outing. I don't want to go again so soon."

"In all honestly, I'm not very keen on zoos"said Mrs Lane, Mrs Brown's mother. "I know that the animals are well looked after, but I can't bear to think of wild creatures being locked up."

"I agree with Gran," said Anne, the Browns' middle daughter. "It's horrible to think of animals being shut up. In any case, the zoo will be horribly crowded today. It's a lovely day and I dread to think how many people will have decided to spend the day there."

"OK, so that's the zoo out," replied Mr Brown. "Any other ideas? Where would you like to go, Mark?" He asked his elder son.

"I'm easy!" said Mark, "but I have to be back by 5 o'clock at the latest. I'm going to a barbecue at Jack's house,"

"I'll have to be back early, too," said Mary, the Browns' elder daughter. "I promised to go to the cinema with Sara."

"For goodness sake!" said Mr Brown. "There's no point in going anywhere if we have to be back that early. I think we should forget the day out and you can all do what you want. I'm going to read the paper in the back garden."

_Everyday Idioms_

Speak Naturally: A Guide to Colloquial English for Learners

 Learning to communicate in written, and more formal, English is much easier than learning to communicate in spoken, or informal English. Apart from anything else, it is sometimes difficult to find teaching material that is based on up-to-date, colloquial English. Also, less formal language of written texts. Colloquial English, being the language of everyday conversation, is subject to fashion and, accordingly, is less static.

The difficulties involved in becoming familiar with less formal English must obviously be overcome if learners are to become fluent in English. Such fluency is the ultimate goal of learning a language.

This book is intended to assist the learner to become more familiar with the expressions used in everyday communication, and so help them achieve the goal of fluency. It presents a series of 30 specially written passages which are based on the kind of realistic conversations which might take place in everyday life. The passages are modern, interesting and lively. Passages can, of course, convey the style and language of conversations much more vividly than individual example sentences can.

The passages contain the kind of informal, sometimes idiomatic or slang expressions associated with such conversations. These expressions are printed in bold type in order to bring the attention of the learner.

Immediately following each passage is an explanation section. This section defines or explains each of the expressions given in the bold type, to give students more usage guidance. Where relevant, further language help has been given. This additional help might, for example, take the form of another expression which is used in a similar way.

A set of exercises with accompanying answers, has also been included in the book so that students can test their comprehension of the key expressions and their explanations.

_Everyday Idioms_