English Lessons with the IT Crowd A course for intermediate students by David Nicholls
A new approach to learning English, this is a series of lessons based on the episodes of the hit UK sitcom ‘The IT Crowd’. Lessons include grammar explanations, exercises, vocabulary tasks and discussion questions. They are ideal for self-study and classroom use.
How to use this ebook This book was written in order to be used in English lessons with my online students. It proved to be a popular and effective resource, and so I have decided to make it available in an e-book format. It could be useful for two different types of readers. Firstly, teachers of English may find it a fun and effective resource for their students. The majority of homework exercises that English teachers give to their students are based on reading and writing skills. This course is an attempt to provide at least a 50% bias towards listening practice. The second type of reader is the independent student who enjoys ‘learning by doing’, and understands that fluency is obtainable once one’s reactions are fast enough to respond to everyday speech. Such speech is found in TV shows, and it would be a crime not to use it. I have included grammar and vocabulary exercises in all of the lessons, as well as some comprehension and discussion questions. As a teacher I give the lesson to the students as homework, and he or she watches the show in their free time and retells me a summary of the plot during the next class. I encourage them to use the target vocabulary and grammar forms during this retell, and we then discuss the questions. Other teachers could do the same, or they may prefer to use the material in some other way. The independent student could watch the shows, complete the answers, and then perhaps discuss the show with a friend. I think the retelling part is essential in order to improve speaking skills and learn the new vocabulary by heart. The book is divided into different episodes. There is one lesson corresponding to each episode of the IT Crowd. Students should read the lesson first and check the meaning of any unfamiliar words. Then they should watch the show and afterwards complete the exercises. Lastly, they can check their answers, and perhaps prepare themselves for the retell. The episodes first focus on some difficult tenses, and then move onto some conditionals and modal forms. The answers for each episode are found after the corresponding exercises. Many students find the first episode difficult, but this is natural and fortunately the show gets easier and easier each time. Practice makes perfect. If the student feels disheartened after the first episode, they should remember that watching the show twice will help.
The I.T Crowd – Series 1
Episode 1 - Yesterday’s Jam Match the phrasal verbs and definitions Deal with s.t/s.o Get on with s.o
Become acquainted with s.o Faint
Get rid of s.t/s.o Get to know s.o Make s.t up Check up on s.o Slip up Tell on s.o Pass out Go out with s.o Hit it off Toss away Get out Look forward to s.t Turn s.t on/off Size s.o up Plug s.t in
Lie or invent s.t Scrutinize s.o’s progress with a task Make a mistake Have a romantic relationship with s.o Connect s.t to the power grid Throw away Wait for s.t with impatience Leave this place (rude) Switch on/off Have a good relationship with s.o Judge or estimate s.o Dispose of, exclude Very quickly attract and be attracted to s.o Do business with s.o/ face s.t Inform authorities about s.o’s misbehaviour
Put the phrasal verbs in these quotes from the episode (include pronouns where necessary): 1) I hope this doesn’t embarrass you Jen, but I find that the best thing to do with a new employee is to ____ ____ ____ with a good, long stare. 2) Once the printer is fixed they ____ ____ ____ like yesterday’s jam. 3) ____ ____ of the lift! 4) Will you stop trying to undermine me! Now get in there and do some work to do with computers. I’ll be in there in a moment to ____ ____ ____ ____ 5) You will ____ ____ one day, and we will be there when you do. There will be some piece of evidence that will prove beyond any shadow of a doubt, that you don’t know anything about computers. – What are you doing? – ____ ____ your computer. 6) I can’t believe you’re going to ____ ____ ____You’re like a pair of old women. 7) I’m a people person and people like you need a person to ____ ____ people. A people person like me. Oh my god. Ideas are coming. What would you say if I told you I had a plan to raise your profile by 100%? - It can’t be done! - What would you say Roy? Roy’s ____ ____
Grammar – Present Perfect/Past simple Present perfect is used to ask questions about general events in life (if we don’t know when they happened, and we don’t know the details yet). Have you seen ‘Titanic’? Have you read ‘War and Peace’? Have you been to France? Or, from the episode: Have you tried turning it off and on again? It is also used to show results in the present. I have done my homework – here it is! Look! My car has disappeared. It has been stolen. Or, from the episode Roy has passed out! Lastly, it is used for long periods of time that continue into the present. These are unfinished periods. We have been married for 5 years and we still love each other very much. For example Moss and Roy have worked at Renholm industries for a long time. Jen has been there a few days. (‘have been working’ is also possible) With finished periods we use past simple They got divorced last year. They were married for 5 years. Present perfect is NEVER used if we say, ask or know WHEN something happened. When Moss tells the story of what happened when they went to Amsterdam, he only uses past simple When we went to Amsterdam we were so drunk that we decided to hire prostitutes. But when they arrived at the hotel we were too scared to do anything and so we brought them to the fair. Some words are a signal to use present perfect. Yet, already, just, ever, never, for and since Some words are a signal to use past simple. Ago, last week, 1998, in August, when Put the following verbs into present perfect or past simple. 1) How many times ____ you ____ to France? (be) 2) When ____ he ____? (arrive) 3) He ____ you about 10 minutes ago. (call) 4) I ____ never ____ that book. (read) 5) Look! The screen is all blue. The computer ____ ____ (break) 6) How long ____ you ____ your boss? (know) 7) I can’t see my dog. Where ____ he ____? (go) 8) I live in the UK now. But I ____ in Russia for 8 years. (live) Questions for discussion:
Who do you find difficult to deal with at work? Is there anyone who you don’t get on with? Who checks up on you at work? In what kind of situations might someone pass out? What are you looking forward to? What have you plugged in so far today? Have you ever gone out with someone and hit it off from the first date? What happened in the end? When you’re getting to know someone, how do you size them up? By their appearance, or by their words?
Answers:
Deal with s.t/s.o Get on with s.o Get rid of s.t/s.o Get to know s.o Make s.t up Check up on s.o Slip up Tell on s.o Pass out Go out with s.o Hit it off Toss away Get out Look forward to s.t Turn s.t on/off Size s.o up Plug s.t in
1) size them up 2) toss us away 3) get out 4) check up on you 5) slip up, plugging in 6) tell on me 7) deal with, passed out Grammar 1) have you been 2) did he arrive 3) called 4) have never read 5) has broken 6) have you known
Do business with s.o/ face s.t Have a good relationship with s.o Dispose of, exclude Become acquainted with s.o Lie or invent s.t Scrutinize s.o’s progress with a task Make a mistake Inform authorities about s.o’s misbehaviour Faint Have a romantic relationship with s.o Very quickly attract and be attracted to s.o Throw away Leave this place (rude) Wait for s.t with impatience Switch s.t on/off Judge or estimate s.o Connect s.t to the power grid
7) has he gone 8) lived
The I.T Crowd – Series 1 Episode 2 - Calamity Jen Match the verbs with the nouns to make collocations:
Burst Dial Ask s.o Declare Turn off Pick up Try on Raise Get in Remove Aim Obsessed with Deal with Look forward to Be subject to Stamp Speak
war (on s.t/s.o) a balloon a pair of glasses the emergency services a few tips a personal question your voice Stress a soldering iron trouble terrible rages harshly the safety clip your feet the nozzle shoes hearing from you
Some more collocations: Pick up - some ideas/a language/a hitchhiker/ Deal with – a difficult client/a problem/a situation Aim – your gun/a missile/a weapon Get in - your car/touch with/contact with Raise - your salary/your arms/taxes/the alarm Dial – the wrong number/999/ Burst – a spot/a blister/into tears/out laughing Declare – oneself bankrupt/your goods (at customs)
Use these collocations in the following discussion questions: 1) What number should you ____ in your country if you require the ____ ____? 2) Do you think the government should ____ ____ or decrease them? 3) When you were a child, did you use to ____ ____ ____? How did you misbehave? How were you punished? 4) When was the last time you were so happy or so sad that you ____ ____ ____ or ____ ____ ____? 5) When you go abroad, do you usually ____ ____ ____ at customs, or walk straight through?
6) When was the last time your employer ____ ____ ____? What percentage did it increase by? 7) How do you ____ ____ stress? Do you have any tips? 8) How do you ____ ____ a language quickly? Grammar – past simple, past continuous, past perfect Past simple = did Past continuous = was/were doing Past perfect = had done We use past simple for consecutive moments which are complete. We use past continuous for incomplete moments which often happen at the same time as other moments. For example Roy screamed (COMPLETE) at the girl when she was waiting (INCOMPLETE) to try the stress machine. We use past simple for consecutive moments (moments in the story that happen one after the other). We use past perfect in the narrative when we want to emphasize that something happened earlier than a past simple moment. For example When Jen took off her shoe she saw that she had broken (EARLIER than other 2 verbs) her toe Put the following verbs in to the correct past tense When Jen (get) to work that morning she immediately (have to) go to a meeting where her boss (declare) war on stress. During the meeting Jen couldn’t stop thinking about the shoes she (see) in the shop window on the way to work. So she (decide) to leave early. The boss also (invite) an expert on stress to give a lecture. The staff reluctantly (agree) to go only after they (be told) about the free buffet. When Roy and Moss (arrive) at the stress lecture, the expert already (start) and everybody (sit) and (listen) to him. He (ask) for a volunteer and a lady (get up) and (try) the stress machine. Then Roy (offer) to be the next volunteer and he (scream) at the lady while she (sit) in her chair. More questions for discussion: If a fire breaks out in your place of work, what is the procedure for employees? How should they raise the alarm? Would you know how to use a fire extinguisher? Do you have an IT department at work? How effective are they? Do they deal with your problems quickly? Have you ever been fired? Have any colleagues been fired recently? How did they/you get in trouble? Do you often raise your voice at work? What sort of thing causes this? Answers:
Burst Dial
a balloon the emergency services
Ask s.o Declare Turn off Pick up Try on Raise Get in Remove Aim Obsessed with Deal with Look forward to Be subject to Stamp Speak 1) Dial, emergency services 2) Raise taxes 3) get in trouble 4) burst out laughing, burst into tears 5) declare your goods 6) raised your salary 7) deal with 8) pick up Grammar 1) got 2) had to 3) declared 4) had seen 5) decided 6) had also invited 7) agreed 8) had been told 9) arrived 10) had already started 11) was sitting and listening 12) asked 13) got up 14) tried 15) offered 16) screamed 17) was sitting
a personal question war (on s.t/s.o) A soldering iron a few tips a pair of glasses your voice Trouble the safety clip the nozzle Shoes Stress hearing from you terrible rages your feet Harshly
The I.T Crowd – Series 1 Episode 3 - 50 50 Answer the following comprehension questions: 1) How does Roy try and chat up the girl in the taxi? 2) What goes wrong with the date? 3) Who finds out about what happened on Roy’s date? 4) What does Jen ask Moss to do? 5) According to Roy, what type of man do all women want? 6) Why does Roy place an advert in a lonely hearts column? 7) What words does the advert start and finish with? 8) Why does the security guard (Daniel) want Jen to be home in the evening? 9) Why does Daniel get so angry in the restaurant?
Match the types of people
A disgusting tramp A perfect gentleman An obnoxious thug A referee A bully A loner A gossip A security guard
A person who likes being by himself A homeless guy A person who likes to physically and mentally abuse others the person in charge of looking after a building The judge of a football match A person who likes to talk about the lives of others A rude and aggressive guy Someone very well-mannered
Grammar – Second and Third conditional If the IT guys were rich, they wouldn’t work at Renholm industries. This is a second conditional sentence. It is used to talk about hypothetical possibilities in the present or future (in spite of the fact that it uses past tense). It follows the formula If + past / would + 1st Moss reminds Jen that the money Daniel lost on the quiz show wasn’t hers (and so maybe she shouldn’t be upset). Jen replies ‘It would have been if I’d married him.’
This is a third conditional sentence. It is used to talk about hypothetical possibilities in the past. It is what would have happened if our lives had been different. Here is the formula If + had 3rd / would have 3rd (N:B ‘I were’ is correct and preferred in 2nd and 3rd conditional. E.g If I were a rich man, I would buy a castle) Finish the following sentences about the show with your own ideas (in 2nd conditional) 1) I (resign) if I (be) in Jen’s shoes. 2) If they (declare) war on my country, I (emigrate). 3) If I (win) 32000 pounds, I (buy) a car. 4) If I (be) in Daniels shoes, I (be) angry with Jen too. 5) If I (get) in trouble, I (dial) the emergency services. Finish the following sentences about the show with your own ideas (in 3rd conditional) 1) If Roy hadn’t wiped chocolate on his forehead 2) Daniel would have won 32000 pounds if 3) Jen wouldn’t have given Roy 20 pounds if 4) If Moss had suggested a better restaurant 5) The clown wouldn’t have been punched Discussion Questions Which quiz shows do you have in your country? Do you have ‘Who wants to be a millionaire?’ Do you watch them? Are online dating sites popular in your country? Have you ever tried them? Are they a good way to find dates? Do you enjoy making bets with friends? Can you think of any which you have won or lost?
Answers: 1) He speaks foreign languages. 2) He wipes chocolate on his forehead. 3) Jen and Roy’s mum. 4) Catch a spider 5) Bastards 6) To prove to Jen that women want bastards 7) Shut up. No dogs. 8) So she can be his ‘phone a friend’ in the quiz show ‘Who wants to be a millionaire’. 9) Because the clown makes fun of him (insults him!) for losing the money on the quiz show.
A disgusting tramp A perfect gentleman An obnoxious thug
A homeless guy Someone very well-mannered A rude and aggressive guy
A referee A bully A loner A gossip A security guard
The judge of a football match A person who likes to physically and mentally abuse others A person who likes being by himself A person who likes to talk about the lives of others the person in charge of looking after a building
Grammar 1) I would resign if I were in Jen’s shoes. 2) If they declared war on my country, I would emigrate. 3) If I won 32000 pounds, I would buy a car. 4) If I were in Daniels shoes, I would be angry with Jen too. 5) If I got in trouble, I would dial the emergency services. Suggested answers 1) he might have been more successful on his date. 2) Jen had answered the question correctly. 3) no-one had answered his advert. 4) they might have enjoyed the meal more. 5) if he hadn’t insulted Daniel.
The I.T Crowd – Series 1 Episode 4 - The Red Door Answer the following comprehension questions: 1) Why didn’t Roy notice that the receptionist was pregnant? 2) What’s Jen eating? 3) What’s a computer ‘plange’? 4) Why mustn’t Jen go through the red door? 5) Who lives behind the red door? What subculture does he represent? 6) Why was Richmond demoted? 7) Why does Roy want Richmond back in his room? 8) How does Moss feel after a chat with Richmond? Match the verbs/expressions with their definitions
Get in trouble be/get stuck under s.t put s.o in charge of s.t (be in charge of s.t) mess around look on the bright side of s.t Pop out progress in leaps and bounds Bring s.o down No point to anything Turn your back on s.o Bleed Miss out on s.t Make s.t up
Muck about (misbehave) Have a problem with some kind of authority figure Not able to move from under s.t Go out progress quickly Delegate responsibility to s.o for s.t Ignore or refuse to help s.o Miss a really exciting event Lose blood Depress s.o Lie, invent To see things in a positive light – optimistic Everything is meaningless
Now use the verbs in the following expressions: 1) Initially Richmond’s career progressed ____ ____ ____ ____ 2) But Richmond got ____ ____ ____ with his boss because he upset him at his father’s funeral. 3) Roy and Moss ____ their ____ on Richmond because they were tired of him ____ them ____ 4) They got rid of him by _____ him in ____ of the equipment in the room with the red door. 5) Richmond only ____ ____ once in a while for supplies. 6) Roy got ____ ____ a desk when he was plugging in a colleagues computer. 7) Moss decided there was ____ ____ ____ anything after a quick chat with Richmond.
Grammar PAST MODALS must/might/could/can’t + have + 3rd form When Jen meets Richmond for the first time he frightens her. She is bleeding. She says: My finger. I MUST HAVE CUT it when I swooned. (I’m sure I cut it when I fainted) We use these modal forms in the past to speculate about past events. E.g The murderer MUST HAVE BEEN left handed – look at the injuries on the victim. You CAN’T HAVE LEFT your keys at home – you were holding them in the restaurant. Complete these sentences with past modals 1) Jen laughed at Roy when she came in the office. Someone ____ ____ told her about his date! 2) Reynholm ____ ____ been angry with Richmond after the funeral. 3) It ____ ____ been easy – working with Richmond when he was so miserable. 4) Roy ____ ____ felt relaxed while he was stuck under the desk. 5) Roy ____ ____ felt better after getting rid of Richmond.
Questions for discussion: Do you have Goths in your country? What do they look like? What other subcultures are there? How do they dress? Have you ever got in trouble at work? What happened? Are your colleagues cheerful or miserable types? What about the IT guys? Do they bring you down? Has anyone ever upset the delicate balance of your working environment? What happened?
Answers: 1) He thought she was stealing office equipment. 2) Goat’s cheese salad 3) It doesn’t exist. Roy made it up to deceive Jen. 4) She mustn’t upset the delicate ecosystem of their office. 5) Richmond. Goth 6) He went to Reynholm’s father’s funeral and upset the family. 7) He brings them down.
8) Miserable. He wants to commit suicide.
Get in trouble with s.o be/get stuck under s.t put s.o in charge of s.t (be in charge of s.t) mess around look on the bright side of s.t Pop out progress in leaps and bounds Bring s.o down No point to anything Turn your back on s.o Bleed Miss out on s.t Make s.t up
Have a problem with some kind of authority figure Not able to move from under s.t Delegate responsibility to s.o for s.t Muck about (misbehave) To see things in a positive light – optimistic Go out Progress quickly Depress s.o Everything is meaningless Ignore or refuse to help s.o Lose blood Miss a really exciting event Lie, invent
Vocabulary 1) in leaps and bounds 2) in trouble 3) turned their backs on, bringing them down 4) putting him in charge of 5) popped out 6) stuck under 7) no point to anything Grammar 1) might/must have 2) must have 3) can’t have 4) can’t have 5) must have
The I.T Crowd – Series 1 Episode 5 - The Haunting of Bill Crouse Comprehension: 1) Why doesn’t Jen like her date? 2) What’s Bill Crouse’s (the man Jen goes out with) nickname? Why? 3) Why does Moss tell Bill that Jen is dead? 4) How did she die, according to Moss? 5) Why does Roy go up to the fifth floor? 6) What does Judy look like, according to Roy? 7) Which famous singer comes to Jen’s memorial?
Match the verbs with their definitions Go on about s.t Lech over s.o Make s.t up Get over s.t Come to terms with s.t Look forward to s.t Hack into Break down Get rid of s.t/s.o
Dispose of s.t, exclude s.o Recover from s.t (a bereavement or illness) Show sexual interest in someone Break into a computer system Keep talking about something Vehicle or machine stops working Wait for an exciting event to happen To gradually accept a sad situation Lie or invent
Now use the verbs in the following expressions: 1) Roy went upstairs to ____ ____ Judy. 2) Jen’s car ____ ____ outside Bill Crouse’s home. 3) Bill Crouse ____ ____ ____ how he’d slept with Jen the whole episode. 4) All of Jen’s colleagues found it difficult to come ____ ____ ____ her death. 5) Jen hadn’t really died – Moss ____ it ____ to get rid of Bill. 6) Moss said exactly the same thing about Roy to ____ ____ ____ Judy.
Grammar PAST MODALS must/might/could/can’t + have + 3rd form When Jen explains how awful her date went, Roy explains: I COULD HAVE SAVED you the trouble. He’s called ‘the News’ because he’s always going on about who he’s slept with.
When Jen can’t get through to Bill’s office she says He MUST HAVE GONE home. Complete these sentences with past modals 1) Jen ____ ____ felt embarrassed when she realised that everyone thought she was dead. 2) Bill ____ ____ been terrified when he heard Jen on voicemail. 3) Roy ____ ____ found a beautiful new girlfriend if he had said July instead of Judy. 4) The waiters ____ ____ put Bill’s food in their trousers before serving. 5) Bill ____ ____ slept with Jen – she didn’t go back with him after the date.
Questions for discussion Has anyone ever leched over you at work? How did you get rid of them? Who has the biggest mouth? Does anyone boast about their private life? Have you ever broken down on a long journey? Or run out of petrol? What happened in the end? What do you think is the best way to come to terms with the death of someone close? Has anyone ever hacked into your computer? Do you know anyone who can? What are you looking forward to?
Answers: 1) Because Bill didn’t like sharing and was rude to the staff. 2) ‘The News’, because he’s always going on about who he’s slept with. 3) To get rid of him. 4) Poisoned by the tapas in the restaurant. 5) To lech over the girls 6) She has hairy eyes and three rows of teeth. 7) Elton John.
Go on about s.t Lech over s.o Make s.t up Get over s.t Come to terms with s.t Look forward to s.t Hack into Break down
Keep talking about something Show sexual interest in someone Lie or invent Recover from s.t (a bereavement or illness) To gradually accept a sad situation Wait for an exciting event to happen Break into a computer system Vehicle or machine stops working
Get rid of s.t/s.o
Dispose of s.t, exclude s.o
Vocabulary
1) Lech over 2) Broke down 3) Went on about 4) Get over / come to terms with 5) Made it up 6) Get rid of Grammar 1) must have 2) must have 3) might have 4) must have 5) can’t have
The I.T Crowd – Series 1 Episode 6 - Aunt Irma visits Comprehension: 1) Who does the boss thank for integrating the new computer system? 2) Who does Roy insult on the phone? 3) What does Jen mean when she says that Aunt Irma is visiting? 4) Why does Moss have to see the psychiatrist? 5) How does Moss feel about seeing the psychiatrist? 6) What does Roy tell the boss he is doing at the snack machine? 7) What are the two explanations Jen gives for the boy’s irrational behaviour? 8) How does Roy feel? 9) What symptoms does Moss describe in the email he sends out? 10) What would cheer Jen up?
Match the expressions with their definitions Run that past me again Cut the red tape Dont get on her nerves Stop getting at me! What’s that got to do with us? They are driving me out of my mind You’ve got big balls If things ever got on top of you… I swear to god
Avoid excessive bureaucracy Stop annoying me Say that to me one more time If things ever became too stressful I promise Why is that important for us They are making me go crazy You’re very brave Don’t annoy her
Grammar PAST CRITICISM should + have + 3rd form Roy told Moss ‘You shouldn’t have sent that email!’ We use should have + 3rd to criticise past actions. Use should or shouldn’t have + suitable verb (3rd form) in the following sentences The boss ____ ____ ____ The IT guys for their hard work. Moss ____ ____ ____ everbody that Jen was dead. Roy ____ ____ ____ the table with his hammer when Jen was in a delicate mood. Roy ____ ____ ____ crisps from the machine. Jen ____ ____ ____ with Moss.
What should/shouldn’t you have done in the past week? Criticise yourself. Discussion questions Have you ever felt like colleagues or bosses have been ungrateful for the hard work you have done? What or who gets on your nerves (at work)? Do you have a psychiatrist at your place of work? Do you think they are a good idea? Should they also work in schools? What do you think are the most common reasons that people commit suicide? What helps to cheer you up if you are in a gloomy mood? Does your company have parties for employees? What are they like?
Answers: 1) The lawyers, the accounts department and the toilet cleaners. 2) His mum. 3) It’s a euphemism for her monthly period. 4) Because he said that Jen was dead in the last episode. 5) Great! The psychiatrist is a lady. 6) Stealing food. 7) Too much sugar, aunt Irma is visiting the boys. 8) Delicate, annoyed and he thinks he is ugly. 9) Headache, weight gain, irritability, anxiety, breast tenderness. 10) A big girls night out
Match the expressions with their definitions Run that past me again Cut the red tape Dont get on her nerves Stop getting at me! What’s that got to do with us? They are driving me out of my mind You’ve got big balls If things ever got on top of you…
Say that to me one more time Avoid excessive bureaucracy Don’t annoy her Stop annoying me Why is that important for us They are making me go crazy You’re very brave If things ever became too stressful
I swear to god
I promise
Grammar (suggested answers) 1) should have thanked 2) shouldn’t have told 3) shouldn’t have banged/hit 4) shouldn’t have stolen 5) shouldn’t have slept