In the British culture, before a new year starts people usually make New Year Resolutions. That is, they promise to change something in their lifestyle. The reforming of this 'bad' habit will be beneficial for them and, sometimes, for the people around them. Typical New Year Resolutions include health (quit smoking, drink less alcohol; lose weight); finances (save money); education (improve marks at school, start learning a new language); improve self (reduce stress, better organization).
Outnumbered is an excellent BBC comedy about a couple and their three children. In this clip, Karen, one of the couple's children, reads out to her mum the list of New Year Resolutions for 2011 she has drawn up.
Self-study activity:
Outnumbered is an excellent BBC comedy about a couple and their three children. In this clip, Karen, one of the couple's children, reads out to her mum the list of New Year Resolutions for 2011 she has drawn up.
Self-study activity:
Watch the clip and see how many of the resolutions you can actually understand. What's the problem with Karen's resolutions in her mum's opinion?
New Year Resolutions also help us to illustrate the use of the future auxiliary 'will' in English:
- To make promises and threats:
In 2011 I'll stop eating chocolate.
Stop talking or I'll send you outside the classroom.
- To make offers and suggestions:
I'll help you with your homework if you wish.
- To express certainty about the future:
They will announce the result at 9 tomorrow.
- To make predictions about the future (going to is possible here too).
Real Madrid will win the league.
Real Zaragoza will not be relagated to 2nd division in the end.
Self-study activity:
Make some New Year Resolutions for 2011. Remember to use will or won't in all your resolutions.
Key:
These are the resolutions Karen makes. Her mum doesn't like her resolutions because she has made lots of resolutions for other people, when you can only make resolutions for yourself.
I will not poke my fingers in the butter.
I will not chew my duvet.
I will not call people idiots.
Mummy will stop nagging me.
Mummy will stop giving me cabbage.
I will eat less biscuits so I get more thinner.
I will learn Italian.
Many thanks to Mike J. Harrison for the idea on this entry.
