Family Traits
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Adrienne
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Todd
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Todd: Adrienne, we are talking about your family. Can describe the people in your family? Like, what's your mother like, and your father like and your sister?
Adrienne: OK, well, let me start with my mother. I'm hoping she doesn't listen to this, though, maybe. My mother is a very interesting. She has a great sense of humor and she's a very kind woman, very generous woman. She's also not afraid to say what she is thinking, which is a quality I admire about her very much.
Todd: What about your father? How would you describe your dad?
Adrienne: My dad is probably the nicest man you'll ever meet. He's very kind, very generous, very warm-heart and he's really a good guy and I love him very much.
Todd: And actually I met your father and he's a very big guy.
Adrienne: He is. Which means he has a very big heart.
Todd: Right.
Adrienne: He is. My dad's very tall and takes up a lot of space. It's true.
Todd: Gentle-Giant, right?
Adrienne: Something like that. Yeah. Yeah.
Todd: OK, now you have a sister. Is she younger or older?
Adrienne: Younger sister.
Todd: Oh, younger sister. How would you describe her personality?
Adrienne: My sister is actually quite similar to my dad in that she has a very good heart and she's very generous and very open, very friendly and giving personality and she is probably the only person on the planet who can make me laugh at any moment.
Todd: That's nice.
Adrienne: She cracks me up. So, She's got a great sense of humor, but part of that probably comes from being sisters too.
Todd: Now you said that your sister is very similar to your father, so you are very similar to your mother?
Adrienne: Coincidentally, yes, actually. My mother and I have a lot in common in terms of our personality, which means that we get along very well and then sometimes we don't. Cause we remind each other of each other perhaps.
Todd: So, like what traits do you have in common?
Adrienne: I would say that we both very often say what we're thinking, which not everybody likes all of the time.
Todd: I think being outspoken is good.
Adrienne: It can be. It can be which is why I think it's a good quality but it sometimes can lead to more conflict than you're prepared for.
Todd: Right. Well, it sounds like you have a nice balance.
Adrienne: Mm, we do.
sense of humor
My mother is a very kind woman and she has a great sense of
humor.
Your 'sense of humor' is what you consider to be funny. Someone who has a great sense of humor would not take life to seriously and would be able to laugh at herself and at situations. Notice the following:
- Her great sense of humor makes even bad situations
pleasant.
- All of my friends have good senses of humor.
the .... you'll ever
My dad is probably the nicest man you'll ever meet, because
he's very kind and warm-hearted.
Here we are using the superlative or extreme for of an adjective to show that the person or thing we are talking about is the most extreme that you will come in contact with. In the example, there is nobody who is nicer than Adrienne's father. Notice the following:
- He is the tallest man you'll ever meet.
- This is the spiciest food you'll ever eat.
take up space
My dad's very tall and takes up a lot of space.
Someone who 'takes up a lot of space' is very tall and big in structure but not necessarily fat. Notice the following:
- I'm an average-sized person, but in some countries I
feel like I take up a lot of space.
- Whenever I am visiting someone, I try not to take up too
much space at their house.
open
My sister has a very good heart, and she's very generous
and very open.
Someone who is 'open' is easy to approach and talk to. Notice the following:
- It's nice to be open about how you feel.
- He is one of the most open and caring people I have ever
met.
cracks me up
She's got a great sense of humor and she cracks me up.
Someone who 'cracks you up' makes you laugh. Notice the following:
- I love working with her, because she cracks me up.
- This movie really cracks me up.
Vocabulary Quiz
open • cracks
