This topic explores the idea of not completing a routine or expected task—in this case, making dinner. There are many reasons someone might not make dinner, such as being too busy, forgetting, or simply not having the ingredients. We’ll learn vocabulary related to preparing meals, grammar for discussing past actions, useful expressions, sentences, questions and answers, a conversation, and a reading passage on this topic.
Grammar Focus:
Past Simple Negative with “Didn’t”
Usage: In English, “didn’t” (did not) is used to express that something did not happen in the past. This structure is common when talking about things we forgot to do, didn’t have time for, or simply didn’t do.
- Structure: Subject + didn’t + base verb + complement
- Examples:
- "I didn’t make dinner because I was tired."
- "He didn’t cook last night."
- Examples:
- Examples in Context:
- "They didn’t prepare dinner because they went out to eat."
- "She didn’t have time to make dinner yesterday."
Vocabulary:
- Dinner - The main meal of the day, usually eaten in the evening.
- Cook - To prepare food by heating it.
- Ingredients - The different foods used to make a dish.
- Recipe - Instructions for preparing a particular meal.
- Takeout - Food ordered from a restaurant to eat at home.
- Meal - An occasion when food is eaten.
- Forget - To not remember to do something.
- Prepare - To make food ready to eat.
- Busy - Having a lot to do.
- Plan - To make a decision about what you’ll do in the future.
Useful Expressions:
- "I didn’t make dinner because I was busy."
- "We ordered takeout instead of cooking."
- "I forgot to prepare dinner."
- "I didn’t have all the ingredients for dinner."
- "I planned to cook, but something came up."
- "We went out to eat because no one made dinner."
- "I didn’t feel like cooking last night."
- "Dinner wasn’t ready because I didn’t make it."
Sentences:
- I didn’t make dinner last night because I was too tired.
- We ordered takeout since I didn’t cook.
- I forgot to buy ingredients, so I didn’t make dinner.
- He didn’t make dinner because he got home late.
- We didn’t prepare anything and decided to eat leftovers.
Questions and Answers:
Q: Why didn’t you make dinner?
- A: I didn’t make dinner because I was too busy.
Q: Did you plan to make dinner?
- A: Yes, but I didn’t have enough ingredients.
Q: What did you do instead of making dinner?
- A: We ordered takeout.
Q: Did anyone else make dinner?
- A: No, we didn’t make dinner at all.
Q: Do you often skip making dinner?
- A: Not usually, but sometimes if I’m very tired.
Conversation:
Situation: Emma and Sara talk about their dinner plans.
Sara: Hey, Emma! Did you make dinner last night?
Emma: No, I didn’t make dinner. I was too busy with work. How about you?
Sara: I didn’t either! I forgot to buy some ingredients.
Emma: So, what did you do for dinner?
Sara: I ended up ordering takeout. I didn’t feel like going out after a long day.
Emma: That sounds nice! I just had some leftovers from the fridge.
Sara: Sometimes it’s nice to skip cooking and take a break.
Emma: Absolutely. I’ll probably make dinner tonight, though.
Sara: Me too! I actually miss cooking when I skip it for a day.
Reading:
Skipping Dinner Prep: A Common Occurrence
Preparing dinner is part of many people’s daily routine, but sometimes life gets too busy, and the task of making dinner is skipped. There are many reasons people might not make dinner: perhaps they are tired, don’t have the ingredients, or simply prefer to order food from a restaurant. In such cases, takeout becomes a convenient option, allowing people to enjoy a meal without the work of preparing it. Skipping dinner prep occasionally can be a break from routine, giving people time to relax or focus on other tasks. However, many people enjoy cooking as a way to unwind and create something tasty. When people skip making dinner, they may feel a sense of relief or, sometimes, a bit of guilt for not following through with their usual routine. Regardless, everyone needs a break sometimes, and not making dinner is just one way to balance a busy life.
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