Learn how to describe where you're from
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Intro |
|---|
| Imagine you're on a plane. Your seatmate wants to know where you're from. What do you say? |
| Hi. Alisha here. |
| There's no need to worry. In this lesson you'll learn how easy it is to tell somebody where you're from! |
| Gustavo and Anna are having just this kind of conversations as their plane lands in New York City. |
| Let’s watch. |
| Dialogue |
| Gustavo: Excuse me, but is that the Statue of Liberty? |
| Anna: Yes, that's right. |
| Gustavo: So, are you from New York? |
| Anna: Yes, I am. And you? Where are you from? |
| Gustavo: I'm from Brazil. |
| Anna: Really? So, are you from Rio? |
| Gustavo: : No, I'm not. I'm from São Paulo. |
| Anna: Oh, São Paulo? |
| Now, with subtitles! |
| Gustavo: Excuse me, but is that the Statue of Liberty? |
| Anna: Yes, that's right. |
| Gustavo: So, are you from New York? |
| Anna: Yes, I am. And you? Where are you from? |
| Gustavo: I'm from Brazil. |
| Anna: Really? So, are you from Rio? |
| Gustavo: : No, I'm not. I'm from São Paulo. |
| Anna: Oh, São Paulo? |
| Vocab |
| Here are the key words from the scene. |
| Brandon: but (slow) but |
| Brandon: that (slow) that |
| Brandon: Statue of Liberty (slow) Statue of Liberty |
| Brandon: That's right. (slow) That's right. |
| Brandon: Brazil (slow) Brazil |
| Brandon: Excuse me. (slow) Excuse me. |
| Brandon: so (slow) so |
| Phrase and Usage |
| Alisha: In the scene, you heard Anna express surprise over something Gustavo said. What did she say? |
| Brandon: Really? |
| Alisha: This is a common short expression meaning, “Is it true?” or “Are you being serious?” It should be said with a rising tone. |
| Brandon: Really? |
| Alisha: Now you try! Say this expression after Gustavo speaks. |
| (freeze action, cue for viewer to speak) |
| Brandon: Really? |
| Alisha: In the scene, Anna replied to a question about where she was from. What did she say? |
| ANNA: Yes, I am. |
| Alisha: At the core of this expression is a short version of the expression |
| Brandon: I am from New York. |
| Alisha: First is the word |
| Brandon: I |
| Alisha: Next is the first person singular of the verb “to be” |
| Brandon: am |
| Alisha: Together it’s |
| Brandon: I am. |
| Alisha: Because its in response to a question, you don’t need to say |
| Brandon: from New York, |
| Alisha: This is understood from context. The entire response to the question is |
| Brandon: Yes, I am. |
| Alisha: First is the word |
| Brandon: yes |
| Alisha: After this is the core phrase. |
| Brandon: I am. |
| Alisha: Together it’s |
| Brandon: Yes, I am. |
| Alisha: Imagine you’re from New York. Try to answer Gustavo’s question |
| GUSTAVO: Are you from New York? |
| Brandon: (freeze action, cue for viewer to speak). Yes, I am. |
| Alisha: In the scene, Gustavo replied to a question from Anna in a way that indicated he wasn't from Rio. What did he say? |
| GUSTAVO: No, I'm not. |
| Alisha: At the core of this response is a short version of the expression, “I am not from Rio.” |
| Brandon: I’m not. |
| Alisha: First is the contracted form of the phrase “I am.” |
| Brandon: I’m |
| Alisha: After this is the word |
| Brandon: not |
| Alisha: Together, it’s |
| Brandon: I’m not. |
| Alisha: Because its in response to a question, you don’t need to say |
| Brandon: from Rio |
| Alisha: This is understood from context. The entire response to the question is |
| Brandon: No, I’m not. |
| Alisha: First is the word |
| Brandon: No |
| Alisha: After this is the core phrase |
| Brandon: I’m not. |
| Alisha: Together it’s |
| Brandon: No, I’m not. |
| Alisha: Now imagine you’re not from Rio. Answer Ann’s question. |
| ANNA: Are you from Rio? (Freeze Action, Cue for viewer to speak) |
| Brandon: No, I’m not. |
| Alisha: In the scene, Anna answered a question, and then used a short phrase to ask Gustavo the same thing. What was this short phrase? |
| Brandon: And you? |
| Alisha: First is the word |
| Brandon: and |
| Alisha: After this is the word |
| Brandon: you |
| Alisha: Together it’s |
| Brandon: And you? |
| Alisha: This expression allows you to ask the same question someone has just asked you. Please note that this is said with a rising intonation. |
| Brandon: And you? |
| Alisha: Now, use the phrase to ask Gustavo the same question after he speaks. |
| Anna: Yes, I am. (freeze action, cue for viewer to speak) |
| Brandon: And you? |
| Focus |
| Alisha: Do you remember how Gustavo explained where he was from? |
| GUSTAVO: I’m from São Paulo. |
| Alisha: First is a contraction, meaning “I am.” |
| Brandon: I’m |
| Alisha: Next is the word |
| Brandon: from |
| Alisha: And last is a place name. |
| Brandon: São Paulo |
| Alisha: Together it’s |
| Brandon: I'm from São Paulo. |
| Alisha: The structure is |
| Brandon: I’m from |
| Alisha: plus the place name. You can use it with cities, countries, or even with regions. Imagine your hometown is Shanghai. What would you say? {pause, cue to speak} |
| Brandon: I’m from Shanghai. |
| Alisha: Now imagine you’re from Egypt. What would you say? |
| Brandon: I’m from Egypt. |
| Alisha: Do you remember how Anna asked Gustavo if he was from Rio de Janeiro? |
| Brandon: Are you from Rio? |
| Alisha: First is the second-person singular form of the verb “to be.” |
| Brandon: are |
| Alisha: Next is the word |
| Brandon: you |
| Alisha: After this is the word |
| Brandon: from |
| Alisha: And last is a city name. |
| Brandon: Rio |
| Alisha: Together it’s |
| Brandon: Are you from Rio? |
| Alisha: The structure is |
| Brandon: Are you from |
| Alisha: plus a place name. It’s similar to the above expression |
| Brandon: I’m from São Paulo. |
| Alisha: except that the verb “to be” which has been contracted with the word |
| Brandon: I |
| Alisha: to make |
| Brandon: I’m |
| Alisha: has been moved to the beginning of the sentence, and put in the second person, along with the subject. |
| Brandon: Are you from Rio? |
| Alisha: Now, imagine you meet someone on the plane. Ask him or her if he or she is from Los Angeles. {pause, cue for viewer to speak} |
| Brandon: Are you from Los Angeles? |
| Alisha: Now imagine you meet someone with an Australian accent. Ask him or her if he or she is from Australia. {pause, cue for viewer to speak} |
| Brandon: Are you from Australia? |
| Alisha: Now, if you have no idea where someone's from, you can ask |
| Brandon: Where are you from? |
| Alisha: In this case, the place name has been removed, and the sentence starts with |
| Brandon: where |
| Alisha: It’s also said with a different intonation. Together it’s |
| Brandon: Where are you from? |
| Alisha: Imagine you meet someone new, but have no idea where they’re from. Ask them where they’re from. |
| Brandon: Where are you from? |
| Practice |
| Alisha: You are at a party and meet an American woman. After introducing yourselves, you want to talk about where you're from. Ready? Here we go. |
| Alisha: How do you ask if she's from New York? |
| (5 second pause) |
| Brandon: Are you from New York? |
| Alisha: If she says no, how would you ask where she's from? |
| (5 second pause) |
| Brandon: Where are you from? |
| Alisha: And if she asked you this question, how would you respond? |
| Anna: Where are you from? |
| (5 second pause) |
| Brandon: I'm from [E: your hometown] |
| Gustavo: I'm from São Paulo. |
| Alisha: Great job! These are very important phrases to know when meeting someone new, so be sure to keep practicing! |
Outro |
| Well done! |
| Now, watch the scene one more time. After that, |
| go out and meet some people, and tell them where you're from — or tell us in the comments! |
| Bye. |
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