Ask about Local Customs | Interactive Lesson

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Lesson Reference Page

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Lesson Beginning · Warm-up

Think about customs in your country. Customs can be about food, visits, gifts, clothing, holidays, and polite behavior.

A friend invites you to dinner at someone’s home. What should you ask about?

Which sentence is polite for asking about a custom?

If a custom is appropriate, it is...

According to the conversation, what kind of gift should a guest bring?

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Conversation Model

Audio 8 · Conversation

Listen, then read the same speech from the book.

Part 1 · Asking politely

A: Do you mind if I ask you about something?

B: Of course not. What’s up?

A: I’m not sure about the customs here. If someone invites you for dinner, should you bring the host a gift?

Part 2 · Giving advice

B: Yes. It’s a good idea. But the gift that you bring should be inexpensive.

A: Would it be appropriate to bring flowers?

B: Definitely!

Part 3 · Closing

A: Thanks. That’s really helpful.

Useful phrases: Do you mind if..., should you..., Would it be appropriate to..., Definitely.

Conversation check

What does speaker A ask about in the conversation?

What should the gift be like?

Which gift does speaker A ask about?

Which sentence gives advice from the conversation?

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Grammar · Adjective Clauses with Object Relative Pronouns

Adjective clauses identify or describe people and things. In this lesson, the relative pronoun can be the object of the clause.

Subject relative pronounThe people who are the guests should bring gifts.

Object relative pronounThe people who you invite should bring gifts.

For peopleUse who, that, or whom.

For thingsUse that.

Omission in speaking

The object relative pronoun is often omitted, especially in speaking.

With pronoun: The people who you invite should bring gifts.

Natural: The people you invite should bring gifts.

With pronoun: The gifts that you bring should be inexpensive.

Natural: The gifts you bring should be inexpensive.

Be careful: When the relative pronoun is the subject of the clause, it cannot be omitted. Also, do not repeat an object pronoun after the verb. Say: The people who you invite should bring gifts. Do not say: The people who you invite them should bring gifts.

Grammar check

In “The people who you invite should bring gifts,” who is...

Which sentence is natural in speaking?

Which pronoun is usually used for things?

When the relative pronoun is the subject of the clause, can we omit it?

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Understand the Grammar · Correct the Error

Choose the corrected sentence.

1. Putting butter on a child's nose is a birthday tradition who people observe on the Atlantic coast of Canada.

2. On the Day of the Dead, Mexicans remember family members who they have died.

3. The tomatoes that people throw them at each other make a terrible mess.

4. The performer sang that traditional holiday song is world-famous.

5. The fireworks people set them off during the summer festivals in Japan are very beautiful.

Which rule explains sentence 5?

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Grammar Practice · Complete the Clause

Use the clue to choose the best adjective clause.

The traditional Chinese dress ____ is called a cheongsam.
Clue: She’s wearing the traditional Chinese dress.

The man ____ plays in a mariachi band.
Clue: You met the man yesterday.

The young people ____ were all wearing traditional costumes.
Clue: You saw the young people in the parade.

People ____ should find out the local customs.
Clue: People visit countries.

Anzac Day is a holiday ____ to remember the soldiers who died in wars.
Clue: People celebrate the holiday in Australia.

Why is “that people celebrate it in Australia” wrong?

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Pronunciation · Thought Groups

Audio 10 · Pronunciation

Listen for how each sentence is grouped.

Thought groups help listeners understand long sentences. Pause naturally after a complete idea.

Sentence	Natural thought group
The person who comes for dinner should bring flowers.	The person who comes for dinner / should bring flowers.
The man we invited to the party is from Senegal.	The man we invited to the party / is from Senegal.
The song that you were listening to is fado music from Portugal.	The song that you were listening to / is fado music from Portugal.
The Cherry Blossom Festival is a tradition that people observe in Japan every spring.	The Cherry Blossom Festival / is a tradition that people observe in Japan every spring.

Pronunciation check

Where is the best thought-group pause? “The person who comes for dinner / should bring flowers.”

What do thought groups clarify?

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Practice · Ask about Local Customs

Conversation activator

A: Do you mind if I ask you about something?

B: ____ What’s up?

A: I’m not sure about the customs here. If ____, should ____?

B: ____

A: Would it be appropriate to ____?

B: ____

A: Thanks. That’s really helpful.

Useful questions

Is it OK if...?Would it be customary to...?Would it be impolite to...?Would it be offensive to...?Should I...?

Ideas

Someone invites you out for dinner.
Someone invites you to a party.
Someone gives you a gift.
Someone makes a special effort to help you.

Advice check

Which question asks for permission politely?

Which sentence is good advice?

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Final Quiz · 5 Important Questions

1. Which sentence is the best polite opening?

2. In the conversation, what kind of gift should the guest bring?

3. Which sentence has an object relative pronoun?

4. Which sentence avoids the repeated object pronoun?

5. What do thought groups help listeners understand?

You’ve completed the second lesson. Awesome!

Keep practicing polite questions and adjective clauses in real conversations.