Intro
1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.
2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.
Giving someone bad news can be almost as bad as receiving it. You have to watch someone react in horror and you can’t help but feel guilty, even if the news had nothing to do with you.
When you have to deliver bad news to someone, you of course want to do it as nicely as possible. You don’t want to say something shocking with no warning. That will make the news hurt even more. You have to break it to them gently. When you break it to someone, you tell them bad news in a kind way.
If your mechanic determines your car can’t be fixed, he might break it to you by first reminding you that it was a great car for many years. If you are quitting your job, you might break it your boss by telling her how much you’ve enjoyed working for her.
Mason’s friends discovered some bad news about his girlfriend, and they are about to break it to him. See how it goes.
3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.
Dialog
1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.
2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Marni: OK, I’m sure you guys know why I asked you here for a drink.
Jason: Actually, no.
Jeff: I do, but the last thing I need right now is another office romance. I think none of us need that.
Marni: What? What are you talking about?
Jeff: We’re not here on some kind of double date or something?
Marni: I hate to break it to you, but the world does not revolve around you.
Jeff: Yeah, right. Anyway, what is this about then?
Devan: We’re here to talk about Mason. Someone needs to break it to him about Vanessa going behind his back with Dale.
Jeff: Vanessa’s been cheating on Mason with Dale? Wow. I can’t believe that. Poor Mason.
Jason: We did find some love letters from her to Dale in his desk.
Devan: I caught them fooling around outside the office.
Jeff: What?
Devan: And we think that since you guys are such good friends now, that you two should be the ones to break it to him.
Jason: You want us to tell Mason that his girlfriend is cheating on him? I mean, is that really our place?
Jeff: Why do we have to break it to him now? Can’t we just wait and see what happens?
Marni: No.
Jeff: What?
Jason: Why not?
Devan: Jason, he needs to know the truth.
Marni: And…
Mason: Hi, guys.
Marni: ...he’s here.
Jason: Hey, Mason. Yeah…
Mason: Whoa.
Marni: We’re just going. Sit down and catch up. We’ll see you later.
Mason: Where are they going?
Jeff: Have a seat, man.
Jason: Have a seat.
Mason: What’s up?
Jason: We have something to tell you.
Devan: Do you think they’re really gonna tell him?
Marni: I don’t know.
Mason: No!
Marni: Looks like they broke it to him.
Devan: Yup.
Grammar Point
Go Super to learn "Present Perfect Progressive" from this lesson
Quizzes
Lesson MP3
The iTEP® test
-
Sponsored by
Discussion
Devan and Marni have asked Jason and Jeff to meet them at a cafe. They want the guys to tell Mason that his girlfriend is cheating on him.
Jason doesn’t think it’s his place to break it to him, but before he can argue, Mason is there at the table. Jason tells him to have a seat, and gives him the bad news. Mason can’t believe it. He breaks his mop and screams out.
Have you ever had to break bad news to someone? How did you do it?
Comments
Saudi Arabia |
China |
Russian Federation |
Iran, Islamic Republic Of |
Iran, Islamic Republic Of |
China |
Brazil |
Iran, Islamic Republic Of |
Egypt |
China |
Argentina |
Saudi Arabia |
China |
United States |
Turkey |
Pakistan |
Brazil |
Belarus |
Argentina |
China |