Pre-viewing

Match the words in the left-hand column with their explana­tions in the right-hand one.

 

	А	B
A	Tuxedo	1. nervous feeling;
B	The jitters	2. a close male friend or relative who participates in the wedding ceremony;
C	The groom	3. a black or white jacket that men wear with a bow tie at formal social events;
D	A best man	4. the man who is getting married;
E	A fiancée	5. a close female friend or relative who takes part in the ceremony, single;
F	Maid of honor	6. woman to whom one is engaged to be married;
D	Matron of honor	7. a close female friend or relative who takes part in the ceremony, married.

 

The words "tuxedo" and "maid (matron) of honor" are used mainly in American English.

Give their British equivalents.

Post-viewing

 

1. Having viewed the first Act, you can easily answer the questions:

1) Whom did Harry choose as his best man at the cere­mony?

2) How did Grandpa tie his bow tie at his wedding?

3) Where did Richard pick up a clip-on bow tie for Harry?

4) Why was Harry nervous and even upset?

 

2. Change the underlined words and phrases with those from Act 1.

Richard: If we can't tie the tie, then there can't be a wedding.

Robbie: If you make Harry more nervous, there will be a problem (to Harry). Don't worry. We'll find a way ... .

Grandpa: I have always worn a clip-on bow tie. All you do is clip it around under your collar.

Richard: We all need one of those.

Robbie: The tuxedo rental store. Do you think they are open?

Phillip: Should be. They have many customers on Sunday.

Richard: I'll call and find out.

Grandpa: Poor Harry. I know the feeling. Wedding-day nervousness.

Robbie: Are they open?

Richard: We are lucky. They are open! And they have lots of clip-on bow ties.

 

3. Interpret the meaning of the modal verb "should" in the sentences.

Example: The guests should enjoy the wedding. (They probably will); expresses probability.

The best man should keep the rings. Harry should try to relax.

The store should be open on Sunday. The guests shouldn't smoke so much.

 

4. Complete the sentences with "had better" or "to be sup­posed to" and the verb in brackets. Some answers must be negative.

a) What is John doing at home? He [to be] at school.

b) Please, stop smoking. You [to smoke] in this compart­ment.

c) I [be off]. I can miss "Santa Barbara", I'm afraid.

d) You don't look very well. You [to go] to the University to­day.

e) The train [to arrive] at 10 but it was 30 minutes late.

f) I [to go] to a meeting now, but maybe I can call to cancel it.

g) I think you [to take] an umbrella. It might rain.