Confusing Verbs - say/tell, bring/take, lend/borrow (A2 Vocabulary)

A2 VOCABULARY · CONFUSING VERBS

Dear

Dora

PICTURE

(you add this)

"What is wrong with me?" "Nothing - three weeks is nothing."

say/tell · bring/take · lend/borrow · hear/listen · win/earn

Reading

Speaking

LEAD-IN

Private choice

On your own (don't show anyone), choose the verb you think is correct. Keep your answers.

1. She's wearing / carrying a heavy bag.

2. He said / told me a joke.

3. Can you lend / borrow me a pen?

4. I watched / looked at TV all evening.

You will check your own answers yourself later, at the end of the lesson.

BEFORE YOU READ

Dear Dora

You will read a letter to "Dear Dora", an advice column, and Dora's reply.

PRE-READING

First, make a list of problems that can appear in an advice column, (e.g. I think my best friend is lying to me).

Then, read the text and see if your problem appears.

PICTURE

(you add this)

READ

The letter

Dear Dora,

I started a new job three weeks ago, and I need help. On my first day I met my boss, Ms Ito. Everyone says that when you know her well, she is lovely - but I do not know her at all, and I am scared of her. The disasters started immediately. She asked me to bring the projector to the meeting room; I took it to her office instead. Then I lost the office keys. I looked for them all morning, and the receptionist finally found them - in my coat. On Friday I borrowed ten euros from a colleague and forgot; a friend told me he was not happy. We have to wear a suit, and I hate suits. I miss my old job - I earned less money there, but I laughed more. Yesterday Ms Ito said, "Can I tell you something?" and I was so nervous that I heard the words but I was not really listening. What is wrong with me? - New and Nervous

READ

Dora's reply

Dear New and Nervous,

Nothing is wrong with you; three weeks is nothing. Today: give your colleague his ten euros and say sorry. People forgive fast when we are honest. This month: look at how your colleagues talk to Ms Ito, and copy them - that is how you learn a boss. Everybody expects new people to make mistakes; nobody remembers them for long. And next time she speaks, breathe, listen, and hope for the best. In a year, you will tell this story as a joke. - Dora

UNDERSTANDING

Answer the questions.

1. What two things went wrong with objects (not people) in the first week?

2. What is the money problem, exactly?

3. What does the writer miss about the old job?

4. What are Dora's two instructions - for today, and for this month?

QUICK TALK

First weeks

Discuss in pairs.

1. Is Dora's advice good? What would you add or cut?

2. "Nobody remembers your mistakes for long." Do you agree?

3. What is the best or worst first week you have ever had (job, school, team)?

PICTURE

(you add this)

What's the difference between ... ?

- meet someone / know someone

- lend money / borrow money

- look for something / find something

HOW IT WORKS

The confusing pairs

meet sb first time / know sb well (over time)

bring = towards here / take = away from here

look for = try to find / find = the happy ending

lose your keys (not miss a bus, a class, a person)

lend money TO sb / borrow money FROM sb

say something / tell somebody something (tell a joke, a lie, the truth)

hear = sound arrives / listen to = you give attention

watch TV, a match / look at a photo, a view

look + adjective (you look happy) / look like + noun (you look like your mother)

wear clothes / carry bags · win a match, a prize / earn a salary · hope vs expect

PRACTICE

A - Circle the correct verb

1. Please bring / take your dictionary to class tomorrow.

2. I can't find my glasses - help me look for / find them.

3. She said / told me a secret.

4. Did you hear / listen to that noise?

5. He wins / earns 2,000 euros a month.

6. You look / look like tired today.

PRACTICE

B - Complete with: lend · borrow · miss · lose

1. Can I ______ your charger? Mine's at home.

2. Hurry up or we'll ______ the train!

3. I always ______ my keys - always.

4. I will ______ you the money until Friday.

Now go back to your Lead-in answers. Check them yourself. Score: ___ / 4.

FREER

The interrogation

Write five questions using five different verbs from today, for example:

What do you always carry with you? Who did you last lend money to? What TV series are you watching?

PICTURE

(you add this)

Interview your partner like a friendly detective - one follow-up ("Why?", "When?") after every answer. Report the most surprising discovery.

TEACHER'S REFERENCE · HIDE OR DELETE BEFORE CLASS

Answer key

Understanding. 1 took the projector to the wrong place; lost the office keys 2 borrowed 10 euros and forgot to pay it back 3 earned less but laughed more 4 today: pay back the 10 euros and apologise; this month: watch and copy how colleagues talk to the boss.

A. 1 bring 2 look for 3 told 4 hear 5 earns 6 look

B. 1 borrow 2 miss 3 lose 4 lend

Lead-in. 1 carrying 2 told 3 lend 4 watched