Settlement Expansion
Friends discuss settlement expansion in Israel. The Grammar focus is on the Present Perfect Tense and also Prepositional phrases.
Kalina: “Israel has a new Prime Minister.”
Felicity: “I saw that in the news. Netanyahu got the votes.”
Kalina: “But now the country will be more violent.”
Felicity: “Why do you think so?”
Kalina: “Settlement expansion will increase.”
Felicity: “Is it a far-right majority in government?”
Kalina: “Yes, and they are extremist politicians.”
Felicity: “This is bad for Palestinians.”
Kalina: “Yes, and they will marginalize minorities in general.”
VOCABULARY WITH IDIOMS
I think so is called an idiom by Merriam-Webster. It is used to express a positive opinion about something. See online Dictionary.
Settlement means the settling or establishment of a person or a group of people, as in a new region or in a business. Here it refers to Israelis. See online Dictionary.
Marginalize means to place in a position of marginal importance, influence, or power. See online Dictionary.
Minority means a group having little power or representation relative to other groups within a society. See online Dictionary.
In general is an idiom which means generally. See online Idioms Dictionary.
ENGLISH GRAMMAR
Suggested Topic for Comments: Prepositional Phrase
“I saw that in the news.” This sentence demonstrates a common structure in English, which is subject-verb-object followed by sentence-final adverbial, which in this case is the prepositional phrase “in the news.”
INTERMEDIATE-ADVANCED DIALOGUE
New Idioms are “Bode well” and “Not to mention.” The Grammar focus is on the Present Perfect Tense.
Alice: “I’m not sure I like this in Israel.”
Bonnie: “Why? What’s going on?”
Alice: “You know Netanyahu has returned to power with a majority of religious and far-right lawmakers?”
Bonnie: “Oh, I see. They’ll expand West Bank settlements or even try to annex the occupied territories.”
Alice: “Not to mention various steps to marginalize Palestinians, LGBTQ people and other minority groups.”
Bonnie: “Fighting in the West Bank is already the worst it’s been in years.“
Alice: “That could spread across Israel and spill over into the Gaza Strip.”
Bonnie: “If they make settlement expansion a top policy, as I think he promised, then trouble is ahead, no question about it.”
Alice: “I know Biden opposes extremist politicians in the new government.”
Bonnie: “Netanyahu will pursue hard-line policies towards the Palestinians. That does not bode well for peace.”
Alice: “They kept him sidelined for a long time. But now, observers are saying this is the most extreme government ever in the history of Israel.”
Bonnie: “I guess we’ll see what happens.”
VOCABULARY WITH IDIOMS
Marginalize means to place in a position of marginal importance, influence or power. See online Dictionary.
Not to mention means in addition to; as well as. See online Idioms Dictionary.
Minority groups refers to groups of people whose practices, race, religion or other characteristics are lesser in numbers than the main groups; they tend to experience relative disadvantage as compared to dominant social groups. See online Dictionary.
Spill over means to overflow. See online Idioms Dictionary.
Bode well means to be a sign of good things to come. See online Idioms Dictionary.
ENGLISH GRAMMAR
Suggested Topic for Comments: Present Perfect Tense
“Fighting in the West Bank is already the worst it’s been in years.” The use of the Present Perfect Tense signifies that although the action began in the past, its relevance continues right up into the Present.
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