LEARN PREPOSITION - along with

A frase preposicional "along with (somebody)", significa em português, "junto com (alguém)''.

Exemplos:
* She used to sing along with me. -  Ela costumava cantar junto comigo.
* He always walks to school along with me. -  Ele sempre vai a pé para a escola com seus amigos.

drop of water

DO, GO, PLAY - SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES

Verbs: do, play or go with sports and other activities

Pay attention to the table below. There is a list of sports and activities that collocate with the verbs 'do, go, play':

In British English, you can "do sport". In American English you can "play sports".

A typical mistake non-native speakers make is using the verb practise for sports:
*I love practising sport. This should be: I love sport.
*I usually practise sport every evening. This should be: I usually do sport every evening.

However, in American English you can use the verb practise or practice (as it is spelt there) to mean "to train": The team is practicing for tomorrow's competition.

When other words related to sports are used, we may use other verbs:

"What sports do you do?"
"I play tennis".

HOW TO USE THIS VERBS:

PLAY VOLLEYBALL

Go is used with activities and sports that end in -ing. The verb go here implies that we go somewhere to practice this sport: go swimming. 

GO SWIMMING

Do is used with recreational activities and with individual, non-team sports or sports in which a ball is not used, like martial arts, for example: do a crossword puzzle, do athletics, do karate. 

DO AEROBICS

Play is generally used with team sports and those sports that need a ball or similar object (puck, disc, shuttlecock...). Also, those activities in which two people or teams compete against each other: play football, play poker, play chess.

Some exceptions:

*You use do with three activities that end in -ing: do boxing, do body-building and do weight-lifting, because they don´t imply moving along as the other activities ending in -ing.

*Golf: if there is an idea of competition, you use the verb play. However, you can say go golfing if you do it for pleasure: Tiger Woods plays golf. We'll go golfing at the weekend.

ENGLISH AT WORK BBC - EPISODE 2 - THE INTERRUPTION

ENGLISH AT WORK - EPISODE 2 - THE INTERRUPTION

Tip Top Trading é a empresa que mais cresce no sector de frutas de plástico, e Anna quer desesperadamente fazer parte dela. Sua entrevista de emprego para uma posição em vendas vai ser um desafio. Como ela vai se sair? Acompanhe o segundo episódio, da série ENGLISH AT WORK da BBC Learning English.

Tip Top Trading is the fastest-growing company in the plastic fruit sector, and Anna desperately wants to be a part of it. Her job interview for a position in sales is going to be a challenge. How will she cope?


Anna's job interview continues. But with all the pressure and stress, she has frozen mid-sentence, unable to find the right word in English for what she wants to say.

Structuring answers

The programme looks at useful phrases for structuring answers in a job interview.

Phrases from the programme:

Firstly, this job is an ideal match for my skills and experience.
Secondly,...
Above all, the reason I want this job is...

Listening Challenge

What word is Anna struggling to remember that means being very enthusiastic and wanting very much to succeed?

The answer is at the bottom of the transcript below:

Transcript

Narrator
Hello! Welcome back to the offices of Tip Top Trading, where Anna's interview for a sales job continues. When we last said goodbye, Tip Top boss Paul had asked Anna why she wanted the job. First she said:

Anna
Errr... mmmmm...

Narrator
Since then, she's added:

Anna
Mmmm... errr...

Narrator
And as we join her again, Anna is saying:

Anna
Well, errrr... I'm errr.

Narrator
Come on, Anna! If you can't think of the word you need, find another way of saying it.

Anna
I am... Well, I really, really want this job and I am willing to work very hard if I get it.

Paul
So you’re very motivated, then?

Anna
Motivated! Yes, that’s it. I am really motivated.

Paul
Good! Why?

Narrator
Now over to you Anna; structure your answer! Say, 'firstly', then give your first reason, 'secondly' and then a second reason. Then say, 'above all' and give a really, really good, enthusiastic final reason! Go for it: firstly!

Anna
Firstly!

Paul
Firstly...?

Anna
Firstly, this job is an ideal match for my skills and experience: I've spent several years working in sales and I get on with people easily. Well, I mean, apart from the ones I don't like, of course. Secondly, I know Tip Top Trading is one of the fastest-growing companies in London, and I want to be part of that.

Paul
That's absolutely right. Tip Top Trading is the fastest-growing company in the plastic fruit sector. But enough about the company; this is all about you, Annabel.

Anna
Anna.

Paul
Sorry, Anna. Where were we?

Anna
Well, I said that firstly, this job is an ideal match for my skills and experience, secondly, the company is growing fast... and… and… above all… the reason I want this job is…

Paul
Yes? (knock on the door) Denise! Is everything alright?

Denise
No Paul, it’s not. Everything is not OK!

Paul
You look pale. Here, sit down, drink what's left of my tea.

Denise
Oh, thank you! Oh… what are those bits floating in it?

Paul
Oh they're just lumps of soggy biscuit. In fact, if I can just... get that bit out... with my finger... for you… Mmm, delicious! Now, tell me what happened.

Denise
Well, it's terrible...

Narrator
Oh dear! Just as Anna was doing really well, it looks like her interview has come to a sudden end. What’s happened? Join us next time to find out. But before we go, here's a reminder of how Anna structured her response:

Firstly, this job is an ideal match for my skills and experience
Secondly, I know Tip Top Trading is one of the fastest-growing companiesin London and…
above all… the reason I want this job is…

Anna couldn’t remember the word ‘motivated’, so she just found another way of saying what she meant.

I really, really want the job and I am willing to work very hard if I get it.
Nice work, Anna! Let's hope you get the chance to finish your interview next week!

Listening Challenge - Answer

What word is Anna struggling to remember that means being very enthusiastic
and wanting very much to succeed?
Motivated.

Idiomatic Expressions. (ALL) GREAT MINDS RUN IN THE SAME CHANNEL

. (all) great minds run in the same channel

Pessoas sábias ou inteligentes tendem a ter as mesmas idéias ou pensar de maneira similar. Muitas vezes usadas com humor sobre pensamentos banais que ocorrem simultaneamente entre duas ou mais pessoas. Oh, you wanted to see the same film as me?  (você queria ver o mesmo filme que eu?) All great minds run in the same channel. I guess!

Fonte: Idioms by the Free Dictionary by FARLEX

ENGLISH AT WORK BBC - EPISODE I - THE INTERVIEW

Tip Top Trading é a empresa que mais cresce no sector de frutas de plástico, e Anna quer desesperadamente fazer parte dela. Sua entrevista de emprego para uma posição em vendas vai ser um desafio. Como ela vai se sair? Acompanhe o primeiro episódio, da série ENGLISH AT WORK da BBC Learning English.


Tip Top Trading is the fastest-growing company in the plastic fruit sector, and Anna desperately wants to be a part of it. Her job interview for a position in sales is going to be a challenge. How will she cope?

Language for interviews

This programme focuses on useful language for job interviews.

Phrases from the programme:

A good example that comes to mind…
I'm particularly proud of…
Timekeeping is important to me.
Listening Challenge

What was Anna's role in the university debating society?

The answer is at the bottom of the transcript below.

Transcript of the conversation:

Narrator
Hold tight please! This is Anna, on a bus going to an interview for a job as a sales executive at Tip Top Trading – one of London's fastest growing companies. How are you feeling Anna?

Anna
Oh, a little nervous but I really want this job.

Narrator
Well don't worry Anna, as long as you say the right things, you'll be fine.

Anna
The right things!? Like what?

Narrator
You need to sell yourself, be confident, not arrogant and give examples. Like: A good example that comes to mind. I'm particularly proud of. Timekeeping is important to me.

Anna
Oh right. Thanks. Perhaps you can come with me?

Narrator
Sorry Anna, you're on your own now – but we'll be listening in. Look! You've just arrived. Good luck!

Paul
Come in. Hello, I'm Paul, the Manager of Tip Top Trading. And you must be….?

Anna
It's Anna.

Paul
Yes, very good. Thanks for coming. Now somewhere in this pile, I've got your CV…

Anna
Err, is that it there?

Paul
Oh yes, thanks Hannah. Your qualifications look impressive but what sales experience can you bring to our company?

Anna
I worked in a shop once.

Narrator
 Ohhh Anna! Sell yourself. Give a good example!

Anna
 Oh right…mmm….well a good example that comes to mind is when I was involved with a campaign to promote and sell a new range of clothes – I loved doing it and it was…

Denise
 Oh sorry, excuse me, here's your tea Paul.

Paul
 Thanks Denise. Now Anna, it looks like you've achieved a lot during your time at university. Could you give me an example of good team working during your time there?

Denise
Sorry! I forgot the sugar.

Paul
Thank you Denise.

Anna
Hmm, so you want an example? I was the treasurer of the debating society at university. That was OK I suppose.

Narrator
Come on Anna. Be more enthusiastic – the debating society is exciting!

Anna
I mean… I'm particularly proud of how I organised the finances for the debating society. We had a very small budget and I had to make decisions on what to buy.

Narrator
I like it! "I'm particularly proud of" - Positive but not boasting. You're doing well.

Paul
Very impressive – so you're a good planner Anna! We like organised people here... ooops, silly me. I seemed to have spilt tea over your CV.

Anna
Oh, do you need some help?

Paul
Oh no…I'm sure it'll dry out… carry on please…

Anna
Also… timekeeping is important to me…

Narrator
"Timekeeping is important to me" – that's good!

Anna
I always try to complete my work on time. At university I never handed my assignments in late.

Paul
That's good to hear. We like punctuality here…

Denise
Excuse me Paul. Sorry it's a bit late – but I thought you might like a biscuit with your tea.

Paul
Hmm thanks….oh lovely, custard creams… mmm. Now Hannah, finally I wanted to ask you what exactly made you apply for this job at this company?

Anna
Errrr… ooo… well. The reason I applied is….

Narrator
Yes, yes, yes Anna? Do you need a bit more time to think?

Anna
Errr…mmm…

Narrator
What's she going to say? How would you answer that? Join us next time to find out. Before we go, here's a reminder of some of the great lines Anna's used today… A good example that comes to mind I'm particularly proud of. Timekeeping is important to me. Until next time, bye bye! ·

Listening Challenge - Answer

What was Anna's role in the university debating society?
She was treasurer.

Fonte: BBC Learning English