A JOB INTERVIEW

ANDREA CAROLINA GUTIÉRREZ R.

Unit 3 - Past Simple

  

OBJECTIVES

-   Use vocabulary and expressions to talk about previous working experience.

-   Use get with different meaning and in colloquial expressions.

-   Use gerunds after prepositions.

SHORT READING ABOUT THE TOPIC.

A JOB INTERVIEW

(Daniel has arranged an interview with Mr Nuthall, the owner of the Home Beauty -

Landscape Service).

 MR NUTHALL: (Shaking hands with Daniel) Good Morning, Mr Rangel. Nice to meet You.

DANIEL: Nice to meet you, too. Mr Nuthall.

NUTHALL: Sit down, please. Now, how about telling me why you´re interested in working for us.

DANIEL: Well, I read your ad and it said the hours were flexible. I would like a job working outdoors, too.

NUTHALL: Do you have any experience in landscaping?

DANIEL: Well, sometimes I get a little extra money by mowing lawns and weeding peoples gardens at weekends.

NUTHALL: Well that´s a good start. The work is hard, however, and we need fit people. It takes time to get used to it. Is your health good?

DANIEL: Very good. I keep fit by working out every day and jogging every morning.

NUTHALL: Good. Do you get along well with people? DANIEL: Yes, I do.

HUTHALL: Our working hours are flexible but you must work at least 30 hours a week after signing on with us.

DANIEL: Yes, that´s all right with me. Can I get any time off in the week, you said the hours were flexible?

NUTHALL: Yes, you can. But you should let us know at least two days ahead of time so we can find someone to replace you. Do you have any more questions?

DANIEL: No, that´s all, thanks.

NUTHALL: Well, thank you for coming in, Mr Rangel. We will get in touch with you soon. Good-bye.

DEFINITION AND SHORT DESCRIPTION.

A job interview

-   Talking about previous experience and employment history.

-   Talk about qualifications for a job.

 Gerunds after Prepositions

This is one of the few rules in English with no exceptions. After a preposition, if we use a verb, it is always a gerund. It is impossible to use an infinitive or any other verb form after a preposition.

	Preposition	+ gerund
You´re interested	in	working for us.
I keep fit	by	working out every day

I make some extra money

by

mowing lawns

Here are other gerunds after prepositions:

 Preposition                               + gerund

How	about	going to the movies tonight?
You should eat	before	going to school.
She is tired	of	cooking and cleaning everyday.
I´m	against	destroying animal habitats to create urban land.
She is good	at	acting and singing.

PRACTICE WITH AT LEAST 5 EXERCISES

	Exercise 1

 

             Select the right word to complete each sentence:

       1.   My sister went shopping yesterday and got                                 at Marshall´s.

      2.   She bathed on a polluted river and got                           .

      3.   Please, go to my room and get me _                      that are on my nightstand.

     4.   I got to _                   by plane and took a taxi there to a little nearby town.

     5.   She got                          from her friends on her birthday.

     6.   Artists usually get               before their show begins.

    7.   He always gets                             in the middle of the night.

    8.   Can you please get me                            from the mailbox?

Exercise 2

Indicate the functions in the dialogue and copy the sentence.

 1.     Greet somebody: Good Morning. Nice to meet you.

2.     Respond to the greeting:

3.     Offer someone a seat:

4.     Ask someone about previous experience:

5.     Enquire about someone´s health:

6.     Ask for free time from a job:

7.     Give permission for this:

8.     Ask about more questions:

9.     Respond negatively:

10.   Thank a person for visiting you:

Exercise 3

 Fill in the following blanks with the preposition and the gerund of the verbs in parenthesis.

  1.   I´m thinking (about/have)                              a party for my birthday.

2.   He became a great painter (by/learn) _                                 various techniques.

3.   They finished the report (before/go)                                     home.

4.   I always dream (about/having) _                            a house by the beach.

5.   They are experts (at/remodel)                              and redecorating old houses.

6.   My brother is interested (in/design)                      computer software.

7.   The coach congratulated me (for/have) _                         won the tennis championship.

8.   The president of the company voted (against/allow)                            employees to take more days off.

 Exercise 4

 English exercise "Gerund after prepositions".

1.   Keith is good                          speaking English.

2.   Julie complains                     losing her books.

3.   Stephen and Mark are afraid                          losing their books.

4.   Margaret doesn't feel                        doing her English homework.

5.   They are looking forward                            going to France.

6.   Anne dreams                          living in the countryside.

7.   Dale said he was sorry                          being late.

8.   He thinks                 playing cricket after work.

9.   Sarah insists                        going out with Wendy.

10.    Do you agree                          staying on strike?

 Exercise 5

Complete the sentences with the gerund form of the verbs in parentheses.

1.      She is good at (dance)                         .

2.      He is crazy about (sing)                            .

3.      I don't like (play)                               cards.

4.      They are afraid of (swim)                      in the sea.

5.      You should give up (smoke)                             .

6.      Sam dreams of (be)                               a popstar.

7.      He is interested in (make)                        friends.

8.      My uncle is afraid of (go)                         by plane.

9.      We insist on (cook)                               the dinner ourselves.

References

-          Exercise 4 - ToLearnEnglish.com

Taken from: https://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english- 2/exercise-english-85470.php

Exercise 5 - English Grammar Online, Taken from: https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/infinitive-gerund/exercises?21

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