Ben: I have to tell you about my trip to Cartagena last month.
Sofía: Oh no, what happened this time?
Ben: I was swimming in the sea when a big wave took my phone. It just disappeared!
Kenji: Some things never change.
Common mistake: “Yesterday, when Ben arrive at the hotel, there was no towels.” — Correct: “Yesterday, when Ben arrived at the hotel, there were no towels.”
This is everything A2 gave you, working together: the past, descriptions, comparisons and plans — one level, one story.
your A2 map
Topic
Key example
Was/were
The weekend was fantastic
Past simple
Ben lost his phone / Kenji flew to Bogotá
Past continuous
I was having dinner when Dani called
There is/are
There are two bedrooms
Countables
There isn't much sugar
Comparatives
Pizza is more delicious than a burger
Going to
We're going to travel next month
The weekend in Cartagena was fantastic, but the hotel wasn't cheap.
Ben was swimming when a big wave took his phone.
There were two beds and a small balcony in the room.
There wasn't much water in the mini fridge, so they bought some juice.
The beach was more crowded than last year, but the food was cheaper.
Next month, they are going to visit Kenji in Japan.
Sofía finished her design project a week before the trip.
Kenji flew to Bogotá and thought the food was amazing.
Practice
Ben ___ in the sea when a big wave took his phone. (was swimming, swam, is swimming)
___ two beds in the room. (There is, There are, There was)
The beach was ___ than last year. (crowded, more crowded, most crowded)
'The players was sad' is correct.
We use 'going to' for a plan we already decided.
There ___ much water in the mini fridge, so they bought some juice.
Kenji ___ (fly) to Bogotá and thought the food was amazing.
Next month, they ___ (go) to visit Kenji in Japan.
Unscramble: a, There, balcony, small, was
Unscramble: dinner, when, called, I, having, Dani, was
Find the mistake: The weekend were fantastic.
Find the mistake: The food was more cheap than the hotel.
Find the mistake: There is many hotels in Cartagena.
Sofía finishes her design project. — Put it in the past (it happened a week before the trip).
The hotel room is small. — Compare it with 'the beach house' (bigger).
The hotel was cheap. — Write the negative.
What are you going to do next weekend?
What were you doing yesterday at 8 pm, and what happened?
Listening
Ben: I have to tell you about my trip to Cartagena last month.
Sofía: Oh no, what happened this time?
Ben: I was swimming in the sea when a big wave took my phone. It just disappeared!
Kenji: That's terrible! Was the hotel at least nice?
Ben: It was okay. There were two beds and a small balcony, but there wasn't much water in the mini fridge.
Sofía: Well, next time you're going to bring a waterproof bag.
Ben: You're right. I'm going to buy one this week.
Reading
It is the end of a busy month for everyone. Ben's trip to Cartagena wasn't perfect — he lost his phone in the sea, but the food was better than he expected. Sofía finished her biggest project yet: a logo for a client who wanted 'more blue, but less blue' at the same time. There wasn't much time to rest, but there was always coffee. Next month, the friends are going to meet in Bogotá, and this time, Ben is going to bring a waterproof bag. Some things change; others, like Ben's bad luck with phones, probably won't.
Ben's food in Cartagena was worse than he expected.
Sofía finished her biggest project yet.
The friends are going to meet in Medellín next month.