The Wrong Wedding — Sequencers & Connectors (A2)

A2 · SEQUENCERS & CONNECTORS

The Wrong Wedding

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“Somewhere in their wedding album, I’ll smile at them forever.”

(you add this)

then · after that · when · because · so · but · although

Reading

Speaking

STAGE 1 · WARM-UP

A disaster day

Everybody has a “disaster day” story — a day when everything went wrong.

In 60 seconds, tell your partner about a small disaster day. What happened first?

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(you add this)

Keep your story — you’ll need it again at the end of the lesson!

STAGE 2 · BEFORE YOU READ

The wrong wedding

You’re going to read the story of Dev, who went to a wedding — the wrong wedding.

PREDICT

How is it possible to go to the wrong wedding and not notice? Think of one explanation.

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(you add this)

Read and check. How long did it take Dev to notice?

STAGE 3 · READING

Read — how long until Dev notices?

The wrong wedding

Last June, my cousin Anjali got married, and everything went wrong — for me.

The wedding was at a big hotel outside the city. I was late because my car didn’t start, so I arrived in a taxi, stressed and hot. I ran into the first big room I saw. There was music, there were flowers, and a hundred people were smiling. I sat down at the back.

The ceremony was beautiful, although I couldn’t see the bride very well. When the couple kissed, everybody stood up, so I stood up too. Then a man next to me shook my hand: “Wonderful! Which side are you from — Karim’s or Fatima’s?” Karim’s or Fatima’s. Not Anjali’s. I was at the wrong wedding.

I didn’t know what to say, so I said, “Er — Karim’s,” and sat down again. Two minutes later, I walked out and found a hotel worker. “There are two weddings today,” she explained. “Yours is in the garden room” — on the other side of the hotel.

When I finally arrived, the ceremony was finished, but I was in time for the photos. After that, the party started, and I danced until midnight.

The next day, my aunt called. “Dev! You’re in the photos!” She sent me the photo — from Karim and Fatima’s wedding. I never met them. But somewhere in their album, I’ll smile at them forever.

STAGE 4 · COMPREHENSION

Put the story in order

Number the events 1–8. Then: why didn’t Dev notice? Find TWO reasons.

• Dev sat down at the back of the wrong ceremony.

• A man asked him about Karim and Fatima.

• His aunt sent him a surprising photo.

• His car didn’t start.

• He danced until midnight.

• A hotel worker explained the problem.

• He arrived at the correct wedding, too late for the ceremony.

• He took a taxi to the hotel.

STAGE 5 · TALK ABOUT IT

What do you think?

Discuss with a partner.

At the moment the man asks “Karim’s or Fatima’s?”, what would you do — tell the truth, or say “Karim’s”?

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Dev never told anybody. Should he message Karim and Fatima now?

STAGE 6 · GRAMMAR — NOTICE

Reason, result or contrast?

Complete each sentence from the story with because, so, but or although.

1. I was late ______ my car didn’t start. (a reason)

2. My car didn’t start, ______ I arrived in a taxi. (a result)

3. The ceremony was beautiful, ______ I couldn’t see the bride. (a contrast — can also start the sentence)

4. I was in time for the photos, ______ the ceremony was finished. (check the text — which word?)

Also find these time words in the story: then · two minutes later · after that · the next day · when.

STAGE 7 · THE RULES

Sequencers & connectors

TIME SEQUENCERS — when / in what order

first · then · after that · two minutes later · the next day · when

when joins two actions: When the couple kissed, everybody stood up. Use then / after that, not “after” alone.

connector

job

example

because

reason

I was late because my car didn’t start.

so

result

My car didn’t start, so I took a taxi.

but

contrast

I was late, but I was in time for the photos.

although

contrast (can start the sentence)

Although I was late, I was in time.

STAGE 8 · PRACTICE

Circle the correct word

1. I was tired, so / because I went to bed early.

2. I went to bed early so / because I was tired.

3. Although / Because it was raining, we walked to the party.

4. The food was cold, but / so it was delicious.

5. First we had dinner. After / After that, we watched a film.

6. I was having a shower when / so the phone rang.

7. She studied all night, although / but she failed the exam.

8. He didn’t know the city, so / but he used a map.

STAGE 8 · PRACTICE

Join the sentences

Join each pair using the word in brackets. Change the punctuation if you need to.

1. Dev ran into the first big room. He was stressed. (because)

2. He couldn’t see the bride. The ceremony was beautiful (although)

3. Everybody stood up. Dev stood up too. (so)

4. He danced until midnight. Then he went home. (after that)

5. The couple kissed. Everybody stood up. (when — one sentence)

STAGE 9 · SPEAKING

Disaster day, the movie

Remember your disaster-day story from the warmer? Time to tell it properly!

STEPS 1–2 — THE CONNECTOR CHALLENGE

Make notes on your story in five steps. Then tell it to a partner. Every time you use a connector from the board, your partner ticks it. Mission: use at least SIX!

then · after that · two minutes later · the next day · when · because · so · but · although

STEPS 3–4 — PASS IT ON

1. Listen to your partner’s story and ask two questions about it.

2. Now tell your PARTNER’s story to another pair — from memory, with the connectors.

3. The story’s owner scores it: /10 for accuracy, /10 for drama. Whose story travelled best?

TEACHER'S REFERENCE

Answer key

4a Order: 3, 4, 8, 1, 6, 5, 7, 2 (car didn’t start → taxi → sat at wrong ceremony → man’s question → hotel worker → correct wedding → danced → aunt’s photo).

4b He was late/stressed and ran into the first room he saw; he couldn’t see the bride well from the back.

6a Then a man shook my hand… / Two minutes later, I walked out… / After that, the party started… / The next day, my aunt called… / When the couple kissed…

6b 1 because 2 so 3 although 4 the story uses BUT (“the ceremony was finished, but I was in time for the photos”).

8a 1 so 2 because 3 Although 4 but 5 After that 6 when 7 but 8 so

8b (sample) 1 Dev ran into the first room because he was stressed. 2 Although the ceremony was beautiful, he couldn’t see the bride. 3 Everybody stood up, so Dev stood up too. 4 He danced until midnight. After that, he went home. 5 When the couple kissed, everybody stood up.