This unit is dedicated to my 3rdESO C students who are not academically gifted but are always ready for a laugh. You can show surprise in English by repeating the final words of a given sentence with a rising intonation: They´ve found oil in Málaga........OIL IN MÁLAGA?
You can also use a negative tag followed by a positive one, as in He came back on foot HE DIDN´T, DID HE ? ; or just an appropriate adjective. My granny had sixteen children...HOW INTERESTING/AMAZING/ SURPRISING; or REALLY with a rising intonation, which the students seem to enjoy so much or any of the following means:
- What?
- What a surprise!
- Well I never! / Blimey!
- That's the last thing I expected
- You're kidding!
- I don't believe it! / Are you serious?
- I'm speechless!
- I'd never have guessed.
- You don't say!
REACT IN SURPRISE TO THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS:
MY GRANDFATHER GOT DIVORCED THREE TIMES
I DO IT ALL THE TIME
I AM DOING THE SPLITS
SHE´S DOING TIME
I AM THE WAY , THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE
THIS IS TOP SECRET
I AM AN ADULT
FERNANDO DID IT
I´M TRYING TO QUIT
I´M PROUD OF YOU ALL
WE ARE A PRODUCT OF OUR ENVIRONMENT
YOU ARE PART OF A SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENT
YOU WENT TO BED WITH WET HAIR
IT IS HEALTHY TO EAT VEGETABLES
I TRIED SOME NEW DRUGS(MEDICINES)
MY ELECTRICY WENT OUT THIS MORNING
I WANTED TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT
IT´S A NEW FASHION
I NEED A NEW PILLOW
I RAN OUT OF MONEY/ PETROL
I AM YOUR MOTHER
THIS HAS TRULY SENTIMENTAL VALUE
I AM IN THE PROCESS OF DECLUTTERING/ DEJUNKING
I HAD A LITTLE TOO MUCH TO DRINK
WE RECONNECTED ON FACEBOOK
YOU ARE A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH
WHITE CLOTHES MAKE ME LOOK FAT
I DECIDED TO SLEEP ON IT
I WASN´T WEARING MY GLASSES
THEY ARE GOING THROUGH A ROUGH TIME IN THEIR MARRIAGE
SHE´S GOING THROUGH A SEPARATION
SHE HAS PUT ON A LOT OF WEIGHT
MY BOSS IS AN IDIOT
LIBRARIES SCARE ME.
I´M A BORN-AGAIN DYSLEXIC
SHE SUFFERS FROM ED ZACCHARY DISEASE
WE´RE BETTER AS FRIENDS
YOU ARE TOO GOOD FOR ME
I NEEDED SOME TIME OFF
WE SAW YOU WITH THAT OTHER GIRL
YOU´VE MET SOMEBODY ELSE
YOU WANT TO CATCH WHAT I HAVE
I AM A DOG PERSON
YOU ARE CONVERTING TO A RELIGION INCOMPATIBLE WITH MINE
SOMEBODY HAD A CAMERA PHONE
SHE WAS AN ARTIST
I WAS TRYING TO GET ADOPTED
THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE AIR
THEY HAD TO EAT
THIS TOWN IS SO BAD
MY HIGH SCHOOL REALLY PREPARED ME
THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE FRIDGE
IT CAN BE CHEAPER TO EAT OUT
HE LOST HIS DRIVING LICENCE
WE WERE OUT OF EGGS AND FLOUR
MY HOUSE HAS A HUGE KITCHEN
SHE KNEW ALL OF HIS PASSWORDS
WE HAD THE KEY
HIS WIFE WAS RUINING HIS LIFE
HE DESERVED BETTER
SHE GAVE ME THE BEST THREE WEEKS OF MY LIFE
I WAS DRINKING TEQUILA
MY BOOTS WERE KILLING ME
WE WEREN´T PICKING UP THE PHONE
THIS IS A FREE COUNTRY
I HATE WEARING THE SAME THING EVERY DAY
SHE PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FIND OUT ANYWAY
WE WERE JUST TRYING TO HELP.
HE RAISED HIS OWN CHILDREN
I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE
MY KIDS MISSED THE BUS
I GOT A NEW BABYSITTER
SHE WORKS ALL DAY
YOU ARE VERY ATHLETIC
HE HAS THE TYPICAL HEADACHE
WE RUINED OUR NAILS
I HAD A BAD DAY AT THE OFFICE
I´M ON HOLIDAY
SHE WAS GOING TO THE GYM
WE ARE STARTING OUR DIET TOMORROW.
I´LL SHOP TILL I DROP
I HAD A COUPON
I SAVED THE RECEIPT
HE BORROWS MY CLOTHES ALL THE TIME
MIDDLE CHILDREN ARE FREAKS
THIS MAKES ME FEEL SEXY
WE ARE INTERESTED IN THIS SUBJECT.
YOU ARE TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL
YOUR LOVE WAS FOREVER
WE ARE TIRED OF COVERING FOR HER
I DRANK TOO MUCH
SHE THOUGHT IT WAS A PLUM
I HAD A BIG TURKEY DINNER
I´M CATHOLIC
I LOVED GREEN APPLES
SHE HAD AN ALLERGIC REACTION TO PEANUTS/ SUNSHINE
THEY NEEDED A HAIRCUT
MY FEET HURT
I GOT FRUSTRATED
IT´S NICE TO SHARE
A STAR WAS BORED/ BORN
I READ THIS IN A BOOK SOMEWHERE.
(some sentences taken from The Complete Excuses Handbook by Julia Spalding & Lou Harry)
