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Break It To Someone
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Break It To Someone English, baby! Video Lesson
委婉地告诉某人

How to Form the Present Perfect Progressive

Date: Sep 04 2012

Themes: Soap Opera

Grammar: Present Perfect Progressive

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

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2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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Giving someone bad news can be almost as bad as receiving it. You have to watch someone react in horror and you can’t help but feel guilty, even if the news had nothing to do with you.

When you have to deliver bad news to someone, you of course want to do it as nicely as possible. You don’t want to say something shocking with no warning. That will make the news hurt even more. You have to break it to them gently. When you break it to someone, you tell them bad news in a kind way.

If your mechanic determines your car can’t be fixed, he might break it to you by first reminding you that it was a great car for many years. If you are quitting your job, you might break it your boss by telling her how much you’ve enjoyed working for her.

Mason’s friends discovered some bad news about his girlfriend, and they are about to break it to him. See how it goes.

告诉别人坏消息几乎跟听到坏消息一样让人伤心。尽管坏消息跟你没有关系,但是你不得不面对对方惊恐的表情,而且忍不住地感到内疚。
当你不得不告诉别人坏消息的时候,你肯定会想尽可能地友好一点。你不想在没有任何预兆的情况下讲述让人震惊的事情。这样会使坏消息对人的伤害更深。你必须委婉地表述。当你委婉地告诉某人坏消息时,是指你选择一种友好的方式告诉他们。
如果机修工说你的汽车无法修理,首先,他可能会委婉地提醒你,这是一部使用了很多年的好车。如果你想辞职,你可能委婉地对老板说你多么喜欢在这儿工作。
梅森的朋友们发现有关他女朋友的坏消息,他们想要委婉地告诉他。听听他们怎么说。

3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Marni

Marni

Jason

Jason

Jeff

Jeff

Devan

Devan

Mason

Mason

Marni:  OK, I’m sure you guys know why I asked you here for a drink.

Jason:  Actually, no.

Jeff:  I do, but the last thing I need right now is another office romance. I think none of us need that.

Marni:  What? What are you talking about?

Jeff:  We’re not here on some kind of double date or something?

Marni:  I hate to break it to you, but the world does not revolve around you.

Jeff:  Yeah, right. Anyway, what is this about then?

Devan:  We’re here to talk about Mason. Someone needs to break it to him about Vanessa going behind his back with Dale.

Jeff:  Vanessa’s been cheating on Mason with Dale? Wow. I can’t believe that. Poor Mason.

Jason:  We did find some love letters from her to Dale in his desk.

Devan:  I caught them fooling around outside the office.

Jeff:  What?

Devan:  And we think that since you guys are such good friends now, that you two should be the ones to break it to him.

Jason:  You want us to tell Mason that his girlfriend is cheating on him? I mean, is that really our place?

Jeff:  Why do we have to break it to him now? Can’t we just wait and see what happens?

Marni:  No.

Jeff:  What?

Jason:  Why not?

Devan:  Jason, he needs to know the truth.

Marni:  And…

Mason:  Hi, guys.

Marni:  ...he’s here.

Jason:  Hey, Mason. Yeah…

Mason:  Whoa.

Marni:  We’re just going. Sit down and catch up. We’ll see you later.

Mason:  Where are they going?

Jeff:  Have a seat, man.

Jason:  Have a seat.

Mason:  What’s up?

Jason:  We have something to tell you.

Devan:  Do you think they’re really gonna tell him?

Marni:  I don’t know.

Mason:  No!

Marni:  Looks like they broke it to him.

Devan:  Yup.

 

Grammar Point

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

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Devan and Marni have asked Jason and Jeff to meet them at a cafe. They want the guys to tell Mason that his girlfriend is cheating on him.

Jason doesn’t think it’s his place to break it to him, but before he can argue, Mason is there at the table. Jason tells him to have a seat, and gives him the bad news. Mason can’t believe it. He breaks his mop and screams out.

Have you ever had to break bad news to someone? How did you do it?

 

Comments

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njoshmat

njoshmat

Saudi Arabia

When you are kind you are doing a favour for yourself. Kind words bring life.

(when you say kindly you are not only breaking it to em, but helping em figure out a solution for themselves.)
(coz think about it, if you were in their situation how would you like it to be told to you ? would you be happy if they just broke it to you ?? or be kind and say the simple truth with a Smile :) while assuring that you care for them and are on their side. while holding their hand or touching em in a way they feel that you really are on their side.)

takecare

10:50 AM Sep 30 2012 |

Summer0113

Summer0113

China

I don’t like to hurt others in my heart,but i think it is very important to tell the truth.if not,it will hurt deeply even more.

05:50 AM Sep 09 2012 |

Orchestra

Orchestra

Russian Federation

To tell the truth, I’m not sure it was the suitable moment for breaking these news to Mason in such way. All these clues are not so definite to judge so explicitly Venessa truly cheats on him, I guess. Guys had better to decide on their own what they are to do then.

11:09 PM Sep 08 2012 |

zarin.setare

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

when i want to break bad news i try to tll that person slowly

04:09 PM Sep 08 2012 |

Hasti.abc

Hasti.abc

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Telling the truth even when u are in a bad situation can help u to handle every thing.

03:49 PM Sep 08 2012 |

hearthappy

China

well.the performance suckshaha but thank you~

11:52 AM Sep 08 2012 |

raisacorrea

Brazil

Just once


When I was broke up with my ex boyfriend. I thought during a couple of days and went in his house and I said “I have a bad new for u, u should know what is and I guess u’re ready. I don’t wanna be ur gf anymore”
Clear and short.


;D 

10:38 PM Sep 06 2012 |

DreamyPrincess

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Fortunately , i think it never happen to me .


Everyone like to know good news and we should always say the truth to them even to our enemys . I think we have to be  honest with everyone.

08:01 AM Sep 06 2012 |

La Princesse de la vie

Egypt

Poor Mason! ... That’s better to tell him before it’s too late.. I think they did the right thing… And Amanda is the best now, she looks honest, Mason should think about her… :D



11:05 PM Sep 05 2012 |

YilingHe

YilingHe

China

I do have such kind of experience.my best friend had a crush on a handsome guy who was single at the very beginning.She kept telling me how much she loved him but dare not express her deep pure love to him,unluckily,on a dark night,i caught him foolling around with a girl,i had no choice but broke it to her for her own good.guess what?She accepted the truth finally and was convinced that one day she would meet her soulmate and she shall live happily every day till the day they meet.

01:54 PM Sep 05 2012 |

1 person likes this

 julito

julito

Argentina

Dear LEsya,  maybe you are right, we shouldnt rule out the possibility that  they are faking  a romance to piss Devan and others.

12:29 AM Sep 05 2012 |

1 person likes this

Shiry

Shiry

Saudi Arabia

Umm break it to someone!


I think I haven’t break bad news to someone , but now I know how I can deal with it =)


Thanks!

11:49 PM Sep 04 2012 |

1 person likes this

YLFkaka

YLFkaka

China

one of my friends is suffering from the issue like Mason, and i don’t know how to break the bad new to my friend,coz she loved her boyfriend more than her lives. I fear that she would suicide if she knows her boyfriend cheatting on her. And i don’t know how to deal with it at present. What can i do for her? Am i have a place?

09:12 PM Sep 04 2012 |

ErinDong

ErinDong

United States

no one has ever told me bad news before, But in my group of friends, we usually discuss bad news to tell some one. i’m usually the person who has to break it to them. after i do that, my job is done. the rest of my friends try to cheer the person up. when i break it to someone, i always feel very guilty. i do not like my job in the group of friends. i’m trying to break it to them.

08:26 PM Sep 04 2012 |

Masbarar

MasbararSuper Member!

Turkey

If I was at the place of the friends of Mason,I couldn’t break that news to him.I can not say that to any of my friends.

07:53 PM Sep 04 2012 |

1 person likes this

bellaboo2422

Pakistan


its really hard to break a bad news to someone. its always very painfull at either side you are. its a complexed and complicated situtaion we often face. there would be a mini list if we count experiences like this. matter is how we handle these break its, i think if our inner self is strong with great will power and good cooardination of head and heart then we can cope up these freakenout conditions. there is another thing which is very essential is,....... patience. we should keep ourselves patient. and yes I have a trust on Allah almighty who is always near besides me to help me out.

06:45 PM Sep 04 2012 |

Daniel.paula

Brazil

Unluckily I’ve had to give bad news to my friend… His girlfriend was cheating on him with a friend of ours. So, first of all I got some evidence that it was really happening and I break it to him as faster as I could. But he didn’t believe me and we aren’t friends anymore, but after awhile he discovered what I tried to tell him… 

04:12 PM Sep 04 2012 |

1 person likes this

kotlesya

kotlesya

Belarus

Dear, Julito you know I would  not surprise if love letters  were just a fake – something as a continuation of the innocent fooling around between Dale and Vanessa. What if Vanessa and Dale have decided to play a cruel joke with all of guys to see their reaction? 


I still don’t believe that there is love between Dale and Vanessa. Dale would never accept love from Vanessa. He is a decent guy and a good friend. Smile


03:16 PM Sep 04 2012 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

Dear LESYA , I think that on this particular scenario Mason,s friends should talk to Vanessa and Dale to be honest and break it to Mason ,otherwise they  themselves would spill the beans to Mason  and on top of that  would stop talking to them. 

02:46 PM Sep 04 2012 |

1 person likes this

dream-iou

dream-iou

China

First,they should make the things clearly.and then ,at the right time ,right place break it to him

02:35 PM Sep 04 2012 |

1 person likes this

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