Easy English Podcast Talking About Past Simple Tense Of "Tobe" (Episode 2)

Summary

In this episode of Coffee Break English, Josie and Mark discuss various film genres, focusing on the past simple tense of the verb 'to be.' They explore fantasy films, biopics, romantic comedies, and horror films, sharing personal opinions and experiences. The episode delves into film terminology such as 'script,' 'special effects,' and 'plot,' explaining grammar concepts like the use of 'was' and 'were' in the past tense. Through examples and vocabulary, the hosts engage listeners in a lighthearted yet educational conversation about films, helping them improve their English while discussing their movie preferences.

Takeaways

• 😀 The podcast episode focuses on films and uses the past simple tense of the verb 'be' to explain various ideas.
• 😀 The speaker, Josie, loves fantasy films for their exciting stories, and biopics for learning about historical events.
• 😀 A 'biopic' is a film about someone's life, derived from 'biography' and 'picture.'
• 😀 The last biopic Josie watched was 'First Man,' about Neil Armstrong, and she found the script excellent and the special effects impressive.
• 😀 Josie does not like romantic comedies because the stories and characters are unrealistic.
• 😀 The last romantic comedy Josie watched was terrible, with an uninteresting plot and poor acting, making it difficult to stay awake.
• 😀 Josie enjoys horror films but prefers to watch them at home with the lights on after a scary cinema experience watching 'A Quiet Place.'
• 😀 The atmosphere of a film can be tense, as described by Josie when watching 'A Quiet Place,' which had no music and was very dark.
• 😀 The episode provides a simple explanation of the past tense forms of 'be' (was and were) and their use in sentences.
• 😀 The speakers discuss the difference between British English ('film') and American English ('movie').
• 😀 At the end of the episode, Josie and Mark share their favorite childhood films, further reinforcing the theme of discussing films and personal preferences.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of today's episode in Coffee Break English?

The episode focuses on films and the use of the past simple tense of the verb 'be.'

What is a biopic, as explained in the episode?

A biopic is a film about someone's life, typically based on real historical events or a person's biography.

What was the last biopic Josie watched?

Josie watched 'First Man,' a biopic about Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon.

What is the difference between 'film' and 'movie' in the script?

'Film' is commonly used in British English, while 'movie' is used in American English. Both terms are interchangeable.

Why does Josie not enjoy romantic comedies?

Josie finds the stories and characters in romantic comedies unrealistic and uninteresting.

What does the word 'genre' refer to in the context of films?

'Genre' refers to the type or category of a film, such as fantasy, biopic, romantic comedy, or horror.

What was the last romantic comedy Josie watched, and what was her opinion of it?

Josie watched a romantic comedy that she found terrible, with a boring plot and poor actors.

Why does Josie prefer to watch horror films at home rather than in the cinema?

Josie prefers watching horror films at home with the lights on because she finds them too scary in the dark cinema atmosphere.

What does the word 'atmosphere' mean in the context of a film?

The 'atmosphere' of a film refers to the mood or feeling created by its setting, sound, and visuals, which can evoke emotions like tension or excitement.

How is the past tense of the verb 'be' used in the episode?

The past tense of 'be' is used in sentences like 'was' and 'were' to describe events in the past, such as 'The script was excellent' or 'The actors weren't very good.'