Ep.5 Pet Peeves

英語 × 英文 × 樂詞不疲

❶　Intro
Different things can annoy one person but not bother another person. It can be something little like watching someone chew their food with their mouth open. Or it may be something that bothers a lot of people like drivers who don’t obey traffic laws.
Everyone has pet peeves. Since we can’t control the way people behave, we are sure to find people who act in a way that we don’t like. Even if you try to ignore a pet peeve, sometimes it’s so annoying that it’s all you can think about.
Marni complains to Kellie about the kinds of people who annoy her. Find out more in today’s English lesson about pet peeves.
❷　Dialogue
Marni: Kellie, one of my biggest pet peeves is when people just stand around when you’re trying to walk and get around somebody. People are just so oblivious to their personal space.
Kellie: Oh, really? Yeah, I can see how that would be annoying. But I try not to get hung up on something like that.
Marni: I was driving here and then I got cut off. People are just so inconsiderate.
Kellie: That is rude, but maybe you need to just let go.
Marni: Really?
Kellie: Yeah. You don’t have to think about these things. Refocus your energy on something else.
Marni: I guess I just have so many pet peeves. People just don’t consider other people. And that really irks me.
Kellie: I understand. I used to be like that. But then I just try to think about the positive.
Marni: Alright, I guess, I’ll try to take some advice from you. But perky people are also a pet peeve of mine.
❸　Discussion
Marni seems very annoyed lately. She’s recently had some rude experiences with other people and tells Kellie about it. Inconsiderate people are a big pet peeve to Marni.
Kellie understands Marni’s feelings because she used to be bothered by other people’s behavior, too. She tells Marni that she tries not to let things annoy her and it helps. Positive thinking has also helped Kellie deal with her pet peeves.
Are there any little things that bother you? What are your pet peeves?
❹　Grammar Point
Used to Do vs Be Used to
Kellie says, ” I used to be like that. But then I just try to think about the positive.” Kellie uses used to do.
It’s easy to confuse used to do and be used to. Both forms look alike, but they have very different meanings and structures.
First let’s look at used to do, or used to + verb. When I say I used to do something, I mean that I did something regularly in the past which I no longer do now. For example, “When I was a child, I used to fight with my brother, but now we get along.”
We can also use used to do to talk about something that was true in the past but is not true now. For example, “Playing with dolls used to be Sarah’s favorite activity.” In other words, Sarah’s favorite activity in the past was playing with dolls, but it is no longer something she likes to do. Kellie had pet peeves in the past, but she doesn’t think about them anymore.
Be used to means something different. If you are used to something, you are accustomed to it. It is normal or usual for you. Be used to is always followed by a noun or gerund (verb ending in -ing). For example, I can say “I am used to the rain,” or that “I am used to staying up late.”
Which is correct, “She used to go to school there,” or, “She used to be go to school there”?
❺　Quiz
⒈ What are some of Marni’s pet peeves?
❶ People who stand in her path.
❷ Bad drivers.
❸ People who don’t cook well.
❹ Both #1 and #2.　✓
⒉ What does Kellie suggest to Marni?
❶ Ask people to stop being rude.
❷ Just let it go.　✓
❸ Kellie doesn’t have any advice.
❹ Kellie tells Marni she’s being silly.
⒊ Stop being so __ on everything. It’s going to be OK.
❶ irks
❷ hung up　✓
❸ behave
❹ perky
⒋ Which is incorrect?
❶ Ernest used to be a chemistry professor.
❷ Will I ever get used to being a college student?
❸ Steph didn’t used to ride bicycles.　✓
❹ She used to go to school with me.
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