Intro
So you meet a great person that you want to date, but there’s just one catch: he or she lives in another city, or another province or state, or even another country. But you really like the person, so what are you going to do? Start a long-distance relationship!
Long-distance relationships can have their benefits, like allowing each person to be independent, but they also have plenty of drawbacks. Can they work out in the long run? Hear Dale and Amy discuss the pros and cons of long-distance relationships.
Dale: I think it’s very difficult to have a long-distance relationship.
Amy: Really? I had one for a while once, and I kind of liked it, because I had so much freedom and independence, you know?
Dale: Really? I always felt that I needed to be close to the person. How do you think you make it work? How did you make it work?
Amy: Well, I think you have to be really clear about what the terms of the relationship are. Like, are both people going to be exclusive, or is it going to be more of a casual thing? You have to be very trusting, though.
Dale: Do you think the amount of distance actually will be damaging to the relationship?
Amy: Like if you live just in the next town, that might be easier than if you live across the country?
Dale: Correct. Do you think so?
Amy: When I was in a long-distance relationship, it was about a two-hour plane ride, so it wasn’t really far, but it was far enough that it was a big deal for us to see each other. Like I said, it worked for awhile, and we definitely talked every day and kept in touch and stuff, but I guess ultimately we both wanted someone who could be there all the time, because it didn’t work out in the end.
Dale: So I guess I’m right.
Amy: I guess so.
Long-distance relationships can have their benefits, like allowing each person to be independent, but they also have plenty of drawbacks. Can they work out in the long run? Hear Dale and Amy discuss the pros and cons of long-distance relationships.
Dialogue (Download Audio Here)
Amy: Really? I had one for a while once, and I kind of liked it, because I had so much freedom and independence, you know?
Dale: Really? I always felt that I needed to be close to the person. How do you think you make it work? How did you make it work?
Amy: Well, I think you have to be really clear about what the terms of the relationship are. Like, are both people going to be exclusive, or is it going to be more of a casual thing? You have to be very trusting, though.
Dale: Do you think the amount of distance actually will be damaging to the relationship?
Amy: Like if you live just in the next town, that might be easier than if you live across the country?
Dale: Correct. Do you think so?
Amy: When I was in a long-distance relationship, it was about a two-hour plane ride, so it wasn’t really far, but it was far enough that it was a big deal for us to see each other. Like I said, it worked for awhile, and we definitely talked every day and kept in touch and stuff, but I guess ultimately we both wanted someone who could be there all the time, because it didn’t work out in the end.
Dale: So I guess I’m right.
Amy: I guess so.
Discussion
Dale is definitely not interested in having a long-distance relationship. He prefers to be in the same place as the person he’s dating.
Amy, on the other hand, thinks long-distance relationships are not all that bad. She likes the independence she was able to maintain when she was in one. She does realize that maintaining this kind of relationship requires great communication, and lots of trust between the two people, however.
Amy’s long-distance relationship wasn’t easy. The person she was dating was a two-hour plane ride away. In the end, even Amy admits that a long-distance relationship is difficult to maintain in the long run.
Have you ever been in a long-distance relationship? Did it work out? Why or why not?
Amy, on the other hand, thinks long-distance relationships are not all that bad. She likes the independence she was able to maintain when she was in one. She does realize that maintaining this kind of relationship requires great communication, and lots of trust between the two people, however.
Amy’s long-distance relationship wasn’t easy. The person she was dating was a two-hour plane ride away. In the end, even Amy admits that a long-distance relationship is difficult to maintain in the long run.
Have you ever been in a long-distance relationship? Did it work out? Why or why not?
Grammar Point
Simple Past Tense
Amy says that when she was in a long-distance relationship, it worked for a while, and she and her partner talked every day. She used to be in a long-distance relationship, but she’s not now. Therefore, she talks about the relationship in the simple past tense.
For most regular verbs, add “ed” to the end of the verb to form the simple past tense. For example, “I hated being in a long-distance relationship because I missed my girlfriend so much.”
Which is correct, “When I was in a long-distance relationship, I cried every day,” or, “When I was in a long-distance relationship, I will cry every day”?
Amy says that when she was in a long-distance relationship, it worked for a while, and she and her partner talked every day. She used to be in a long-distance relationship, but she’s not now. Therefore, she talks about the relationship in the simple past tense.
For most regular verbs, add “ed” to the end of the verb to form the simple past tense. For example, “I hated being in a long-distance relationship because I missed my girlfriend so much.”
Which is correct, “When I was in a long-distance relationship, I cried every day,” or, “When I was in a long-distance relationship, I will cry every day”?
Quiz
- What does Amy think is important, if two people are going to have a long-distance relationship?
- Why does Dale say “I guess I’m right” at the end?
- If you trust your partner, then you __.
- If I say to you, “Let’s keep in touch!”, I mean that __.
- Why didn’t Amy’s long-distance relationship work out in the end?
Answer Key: 1:C 2:B 3:D 4:D 5:A
Help
- catch: trick, hidden requirement or problem
- allow: to let something happen
- drawback: negative aspects, disadvantages
- in the long run: in the future, down the line
- terms: particular rules, for a contract or argreement
- casual: not serious, informal
- trust: believe in
- exclusive: when two people only date each other
- big deal: an important thing
- keep int touch: stay in contact
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