Favorites
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Shawn
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Todd
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Todd: OK, Shawn, I'm going to talk about your favorites.
Shawn: Sure
Todd: What's your favorite color?
Shawn: I say, green.
Todd: Green.
Shawn: Yes.
Todd: OK. And what's your favorite fruit?
Shawn: My favorite fruit: orange.
Todd: Orange!
Shawn: Oranges. I love oranges. Very sweet and good for the body.
Todd: Yeah, have you had any of the oranges in Japan?
Shawn: I've had a couple. Much better than the ones I have back in Canada.
Todd: Oh, really. OK. Um, what's your favorite season?
Shawn: I'd say spring, cause it's a combination of warm weather, at the same time it's not hot like it is in the summer. In spring it's a bit cool. You can walk around very relaxed. It the best. It's a combination of all the seasons in one.
Todd: OK. what's your favorite movie?
Shawn: My favorite movie! I'd have to say "Gladiator." Russel Crow. It's a tragic movie about a very strong leader who, how-should-I-say, triumphs over, how-should-I-say, over very overpowering conflicts. It's, um, plus, I'm a bit of an action movie buff. I know it's sad to hear but, it's definitely an interesting movie.
favorites
Let's talk about your favorites.
Your 'favorites' are things that you like the best. Notice the following:
- Most of my favorite restaurants are in this area.
- This movie is one of my favorites.
at the same time
In spring, it's warm, but at the same time, it's a bit cool.
In this case 'at the same time' can be replaced with 'but also.' We use this phrase most frequently when we want to demonstrate that sometime has opposite or conflicting properties. Notice the following:
- I'm having a good time, but at the same time, I'm ready to go home.
- She's a good friend, but at the same time, I don't trust her at all.
combination
For me, spring is a combination of all the seasons in one.
A 'combination' is many different things which have been put together. Notice the following:
- The sauce is a combination of tomatoes, onions, garlic and seasoning.
- Her paintings have an interesting combination of colors.
tragic
"The Gladiator" is a tragic movie.
If something is 'tragic' it is very sad or disastrous. Notice the following:
- The book was tragic and made me cry.
- Her childhood was very tragic.
triumph or overpowering
The movie is about a leader who triumphs over overpowering conflicts.
If you 'triumph' over something you have success or victory after battling against something difficult. If something is 'overpowering' it is difficult to conquer or master, if it is against you it is very strongly negative. In the case of the example it is a strong force against you. Notice the following:
- Passing that class was a personal triumph.
- The garbage has an overpowering smell right now.
Vocabulary Quiz
tragic • overpowering • triumphs
