Let’s Go Camping
Two friends discuss a weekend camping. The Grammar focus is on Adverbials.
Tariq: “I want to go camping this weekend.”
Kiefer: “Where will you go?”
Tariq: “I’m thinking about that lake up north. We went there once.”
Kiefer: “Yes, I remember. Do you still have everything?”
Tariq: “What do you mean?”
Kiefer: “You know, not just the tent. The poles, the stakes, maybe some rope. And a hammer or an axe.”
Tariq: “Yes, I still have everything. Do you want to go?”
Kiefer: “I like the idea. I’ve been in town too long, I’ve got cabin fever. It will be great to get out of town.”
Tariq: “I feel that way too. Terrific! Let’s leave Saturday morning.”
Kiefer: “I’ll be ready. I’ll bring the big cooler with lots of ice.”
VOCABULARY WITH IDIOMS
Cabin fever means boredom, restlessness or instability from being in one place or by oneself too long. See online Idioms Dictionary.
Get out means leave, depart, or flee. See online Idioms Dictionary.
Cooler means a device or insulated container that keeps food etc. cool. See online Dictionary.
ENGLISH GRAMMAR
Suggested Topic for Comments: Adverbials
“I want to go camping this weekend.” The phrase at the end of this sentence, “this weekend,” is called an adverbial of time. Adverbials can expand the predicate in the form of adverbial clauses, adverbial phrases, or prepositional phrases. If there is more than one sentence-final adverbial, their ordering is not random. Adverbials of time and frequency tend to follow adverbials of manner, direction and position.
INTERMEDIATE-ADVANCED DIALOGUE
Two new Idioms are “Thin out” and “Make hay while the sun shines.” The Grammar focus is on Adverbials.
Salim: “I think it’s perfect weather for camping.”
Garry: “I agree. Should we go?”
Salim: “Why not? We’re close to that gorge we visited last summer.”
Garry: “There were many hiking trails that went up and down the mountainside.”
Salim: “All you have to worry about is bears.”
Garry: “I carry my .45, I’m not worried.”
Salim: “OK I’ll bring mine, too.”
Garry: “It’s safer that way.”
Salim: “Let’s do that, then. We can go miles into the forest.”
Garry: “It thins out the higher you go.”
Salim: “That’s good. I want my Vitamin D from the sun.”
Garry: “Then let’s make hay while the sun shines.”
Salim: “Should we bring all our gear and camp higher up?”
Garry: “No, let’s pitch camp first and then go for a hike.”
Salim: “Sounds good.”
VOCABULARY WITH IDIOMS
Worry about means to feel uneasy, fretful or anxious about something. See online Idioms Dictionary.
Thin out means to become less dense in a particular area. See online Idioms Dictionary.
Make hay while the sun shines means to take advantage of favorable conditions, to make the most of an opportunity when it is available. See online Idioms Dictionary.
Pitch camp means to set up or arrange a campsite. See online Idioms Dictionary.
ENGLISH GRAMMAR
Suggested Topic for Comments: Adverbials
“We can go miles into the forest.” Here, the sentence-final Adverbial of Direction is “into the forest,” a prepositional phrase.
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