Intro
Let’s say one of your friends is about to do something that you think is really stupid. Or maybe it’s just something that you don’t agree with. How can you get your friend to change his or her mind? You can try to use force. You can yell at your friend. But often, the best way to convince someone of something is to simply use words. You can try to talk someone out of something.
For example, if your friend is about to go skydiving and you think it seems dangerous, you might say, “Is there any way I can talk you out of it?” Or, if your friend can tell that you disapprove, she might say to you, “There is no way you will talk me out of skydiving!” Basically, you are saying you want to convince her not to go, and she is saying that you will not be able to convince her.
Outside the office, the storm is getting worse. Mason’s got big plans for the weekend, and he’s nervous. In this English lesson video, we learn the meaning of the English idiom “talk someone out of something,” and find out what what Mason’s big plans are.
For example, if your friend is about to go skydiving and you think it seems dangerous, you might say, “Is there any way I can talk you out of it?” Or, if your friend can tell that you disapprove, she might say to you, “There is no way you will talk me out of skydiving!” Basically, you are saying you want to convince her not to go, and she is saying that you will not be able to convince her.
Outside the office, the storm is getting worse. Mason’s got big plans for the weekend, and he’s nervous. In this English lesson video, we learn the meaning of the English idiom “talk someone out of something,” and find out what what Mason’s big plans are.
Dialogue (Download Here)
Amanda: Hon, what are you doing?Mason: Oh, hi sweetie.
Amanda: What is this? Are you crafting a little something for our wedding ceremony this weekend? Like a little lantern?
Jeff: What? You guys are getting married this weekend? Didn’t you just get engaged?
Amanda: Um, yeah. Didn’t you get the Evite? We didn’t have a lot of time, so we’re just gonna have a simple wedding and it’ll be great.
Mason: Well, I wanted to have a big wedding, but Amanda talked me out of it.
Amanda: Well, since I just invested in this company, it’s kind of a challenge to afford a big wedding for Mason.
Mason: We might not be able to even have a wedding this weekend.
Amanda: What are you talking about?
Mason: It’s supposed to be a huge storm. There could be flooding and…I don’t know if it’s gonna happen.
Amanda: Sorry. Like I said, I’ve been kind of busy running this company. I’m not really paying attention to what’s out there.
Mason: Sweetie, I know. I’m sorry. Well, anyway, I’m really concerned about the whole situation, so I want you to know, I’ve got a plan.
Amanda: OK. What kind of plan?
Mason: Well, I’m not sure I should tell you cause you might try to talk me out of it.
Amanda: First of all, I love your crazy plans. And second of all, I can’t remember the last time I was able to talk you out of anything.
Mason: Well, OK. So first, I go out the window and then I wade or swim if necessary, to the river where I’m sure to find a boat. I’m not 100 percent sure on how I’m going to get the boat back here. Tow it. If I’m lucky, it’s got a motor. But one way or another, we will have a boat that will take us to the wedding, so we can get married this weekend.
Amanda: OK, that plan’s insane, even for you.
Mason: I told you, Amanda, I won’t let you talk me out of it.
Amanda: Mason, please.
Mason: Nope!
Amanda: I told you. We’re gonna get married no matter what. If we don’t have a wedding this weekend, it will be next weekend. Just don’t be stupid. Come on. It’s cold out there.
Greta: “Don’t be stupid.” That’s what my manager just told me, too.
Mason: Wait, she didn’t tell you to not work with us?
Greta: No. She talked me out of going out in the storm to make my next appointment. I guess it’s supposed to be the worst storm in a hundred years. But how bad can it be, right? Anyway, is it OK if I hang out for a little while until it lets up?
Amanda: Totally fine. Make yourself at home. Mason, maybe we can table this discussion now that we have a guest?
Mason: Yeah, I guess. I’ll have to see if the venue will give us back our deposit.
Amanda: What was that?
Mason: Nothing, sweetie.
Discussion
Mason is going around the office gathering an odd pile of objects, and Amanda asks what he’s doing. Maybe he’s getting something together for their wedding this weekend. Jeff is surprised, because he didn’t know they were getting married so soon. They’re just having a small party, because Amanda just put a lot of her money into the company.
That is, if the wedding happens at all. Mason is worried that they might have to cancel the wedding because of the storm. But he’s come up with a plan! At first he’s afraid to tell Amanda, because she might tell him not to go through with it. Eventually, though, he explains. It’s something crazy involving a boat and jumping out the window.
And Amanda tells him it’s a stupid idea. She’s not the only one in the office talking about stupid behavior in the storm. Greta’s manager just told her she’d be stupid to go out there. So it turns out she’s going to sit out the storm in the office.
Do you have any friends who make crazy plans? Do you ever try to talk them out of their plans? What are some methods you use?
That is, if the wedding happens at all. Mason is worried that they might have to cancel the wedding because of the storm. But he’s come up with a plan! At first he’s afraid to tell Amanda, because she might tell him not to go through with it. Eventually, though, he explains. It’s something crazy involving a boat and jumping out the window.
And Amanda tells him it’s a stupid idea. She’s not the only one in the office talking about stupid behavior in the storm. Greta’s manager just told her she’d be stupid to go out there. So it turns out she’s going to sit out the storm in the office.
Do you have any friends who make crazy plans? Do you ever try to talk them out of their plans? What are some methods you use?
Grammar Point
Be Able To
Mason says that he and Amanda might not be able to have their wedding this weekend. To be able to means to have the ability to do something.
You can use be able to in any tense. Just change the tense of the verb be. For example, since the wedding is happening in the future, Mason could have used the simple future tense to say, “I wonder if we will be able to have the wedding this weekend.”
Remember that if you are speaking in the negative, you simply put the word not before the word be.
Which is correct, “He will be not able to go with me to the beach tomorrow,” or, “He will not be able to go with me to the beach tomorrow”?
Mason says that he and Amanda might not be able to have their wedding this weekend. To be able to means to have the ability to do something.
You can use be able to in any tense. Just change the tense of the verb be. For example, since the wedding is happening in the future, Mason could have used the simple future tense to say, “I wonder if we will be able to have the wedding this weekend.”
Remember that if you are speaking in the negative, you simply put the word not before the word be.
Which is correct, “He will be not able to go with me to the beach tomorrow,” or, “He will not be able to go with me to the beach tomorrow”?
Quiz
- At first, what does Amanda think Mason is doing?
- Why does Mason want to find a boat?
- If you told someone to make themselves at home, they might __.
- Why is Greta staying at the office?
Answer Key 1:B 2:C 3:D 4:D
Vocabulary
Force: physical strengh
Ex: If you don't open that door right now, I'm going to have to use force.
Talk someone out of something: convince someone not to do something.
Ex: He was going to wear a zebra-print tuxedo to the prom, but I talked him out of it.
Paying attention: giving attention, watching and listening.
Ex: I have trouble paying attention to the teacher because she's so boring.
Table: put on hold a discussion or decision.
Ex: I think we're going to have to table that discussion until everyone's here to give his or her opinion.
Venue: location for an event.
I prefer smaller venues like bars over big ones like stadiums.
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