Lesson 27: Fish out of Water

Summary

Anna visits a friend on her houseboat. She says she wants to live on one. But, is that really a good idea?

Conversation

Anna: Hello, Ms. Weaver!

Ms. Weaver: Oh, Anna. I’ve invited some people to dinner Saturday. We’re going to that new seafood restaurant -- Fish on a Dish.

Ms. Weaver: Why don’t you join us? My treat.

Anna: Thanks, Ms. Weaver. But I already have plans. My friend has invited me to her houseboat.

Ms. Weaver: Houseboat, really? That’s unique.

Anna: Yes, it is. In fact, I’m thinking of living on a houseboat.

Ms. Weaver: Aren’t you too tall and klutzy to live on a houseboat?

Anna: I am not too tall!

(She knocks over a display board.)

Prof. Bot VO: Is Anna really ready for a houseboat?

Prof. Bot: Ms. Weaver invited Anna to dinner. When we make friendly, informal invitations, we use phrases like “Why don’t…?”

Prof. Bot: For example, Ms. Weaver said, “Why don’t you join us? My treat!” That’s: Why don’t plus the subject plus the simple form of the verb.

Prof. Bot: Anna responded to the invitation by saying, “Thanks, but I already have plans.” Keep watching for more examples of informal invitations!

Fanny: Anna, I’m so glad you could come!

Anna: Hi, Fanny!

Fanny: Hi, this is my son, Phoenix.

Anna: Hi, Phoenix.

Fanny: How about you give Anna a tour and I will make some lunch?

Phoenix: Aye, aye, captain!

Fanny: Great!

Anna: Do you really call her “captain”?

Phoenix: I kind of have to.

Anna: So, Phoenix, I think I’d like to live on a houseboat. Do you like living here?

Phoenix: I love it! It’s much different than living in a house.

Anna: Oh, I bet. I bet you had to get rid of a lot of stuff, didn’t you?

Phoenix: No way! We moved from a 3-story house to a boat! So, we really had to downsize!

Anna: I’d have to get rid of a lot of stuff. I have a rock collection and I have some really big rocks.

Anna: Can you stop this boat from rocking for a minute?

Phoenix: No. We’re floating on water. I can’t do that.

Anna: Well, since you live on the water, aren’t you afraid of great white sharks?

Phoenix: No, not really. They don’t live in these waters.

Anna: … that you know of. What about killer whales?

Phoenix: No.

Anna: Electric eels?

Phoenix: No.

Anna: Barracudas?

Phoenix: No.

Anna: Piranhas?

Phoenix: Uh-uh.

Fanny: You know, Anna, if you’re afraid of sea life, maybe you shouldn’t live on a houseboat. Do you have any boating experience?

Anna: Oh, oh yeah, Fanny. I have battled the great waters before -- once on a swan boat and once in a duck boat ... bus. It was a boat that turned into a bus.

Fanny: Yeah, I don’t think that counts.

Anna: Fanny, does this rocking ever bother you?

Fanny: No, I love it. It goes up and down and side to side and up and down. Anna, I love it!

(Because of the rocking, Anna begins to feel seasick.)

Fanny: Anna, are you feeling okay?

Anna: Yeah, yeah. You know, I just need some fresh air.

Fanny: Let me open a window for you.

Anna: No, I need some fresh land air. I mean, I need to breathe air on land. Oh, is that the time? I should really be going.

Anna: Thanks for lunch, Fanny, and a tour of your houseboat. It’s given me a great idea!

Fanny: You’re going to live on a houseboat?

Anna: Sort of. Thanks again!

Anna: Hi! How would you like to hang out on my boat? Great! See you then!

(Ms. Weaver and Anna sit in a boat on land.)

Anna: …and this is my shark net.

Ms. Weaver: Thank you for the invitation, Anna.

Anna: Of course, would you like more orange juice?

Ms. Weaver: Uh...

Anna: (to young man) Ahoy!

New Words

accept - v. to receive or take something offered. 

Aye, aye, captain! - expression. A phrase meaning “Yes, sir!” in naval language. 

barracuda - n. a kind of fierce tropical fish that has strong jaws and sharp teeth. 

battle - v. to try or struggle very hard to do something. 

count - v. to be considered or regarded as something​. 

decline - v. to say that you will not or cannot do something​. 

downsize - v. to make something smaller. 

deck - n. a flat surface that forms the main outside floor of a boat or ship. 

electric eel - n. an eel-like freshwater fish of South America, using pulses of electricity to kill prey, to assist in navigation, and for defense. 

fish out of water - expression. a person or thing is completely clueless or directionless when put into unfamiliar surroundings or an unfamiliar situation​. 

float - v. to rest on top of a liquid. 

get rid of - phrasal verb. to do something so that you no longer have or are affected by something that is unwanted. 

great white shark - n. a large aggressive shark of warm seas, with a brownish or gray back, white underparts, and large triangular teeth. 

houseboat - n. a boat which is or can be moored for use as a house. 

invite - v. to ask someone to go somewhere or do something. 

juice - n. the liquid part that can be squeezed out of vegetables and fruits. 

klutzy - adj. describing a clumsy person. 

killer whale - n. a black-and-white whale that kills and eats other animals. 

kind of - expression. to some extent. 

orange - n. a citrus fruit that is round and that has an orange skin​. 

piranha - n. a small South American fish that has sharp teeth and that eats the flesh of animals. 

respond - v. to say or write something as an answer to a question or request. 

seasick - adj. feeling sick because of the movement of a boat or ship that you are. 

swan - n. a large usually white bird that lives on or near water and that has a very long and graceful neck. 

sort of - expression. in some way. 

story - n. a group of rooms or an area that forms one floor level of a building. 

treat - v. an occurrence in which you pay for someone's food, drink, or entertainment. 

For Teachers

Grammar focus: making invitations

Topics: invitations