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Talking about TV shows

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English Learning: Talking about TV Shows

Dialogue

Alice: Hey, Bob! What are you up to?

Bob: Oh, hi, Alice! Just chilling. Watching some TV. I’m on the edge of my seat!

Alice: TV? Again? What show is it this time? Is it that crazy show about talking vegetables?

Bob: Haha, no, no! “Veggie Tales of Doom” finished last week. This is “The Great Galactic Bake-Off”! It’s so intense!

Alice: Galactic Bake-Off? Bob, you don’t even like baking! You once burnt water!

Bob: I know! But the drama! And the space cakes! They look so good. My alien-proof mouth is watering.

Alice: Hah! You’re hilarious. I thought you only liked sci-fi with explosions.

Bob: Well, sometimes I need a break from alien invasions. This show is my guilty pleasure. Don’t tell anyone!

Alice: Guilty pleasure, huh? Mine is “The Secret Life of Socks.” It’s about a lonely sock trying to find its partner.

Bob: Socks? Seriously, Alice? That sounds… incredibly specific and slightly sad.

Alice: It’s surprisingly addictive! They have tiny adventures and tiny arguments. It’s adorable!

Bob: I guess everyone has their strange shows. Have you seen “Zombie Cheerleaders vs. Prom Queens”? It’s new.

Alice: Zombie cheerleaders? Is it scary, or more like a comedy?

Bob: Definitely more funny! The zombies try to win a dance-off. It’s wild!

Alice: Okay, now that sounds like something I might watch! Maybe tonight?

Bob: Sounds like a plan! I’ll tell you which episode to start with. It’s truly epic.

Alice: Perfect! See you later, Bob!

Bob: Bye, Alice!

Current Situation

In today’s world, watching TV shows is a very popular activity. Most people have access to many different shows through streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, or Amazon Prime Video. There are shows for every taste: comedies to make you laugh, dramas to make you think, action shows with lots of excitement, documentaries to learn new things, and even cooking or baking competitions. People often talk about their favorite shows with friends, recommend new ones, or discuss what happened in the latest episode. It’s a fun way to relax and share experiences!

Key Phrases

  • What are you up to?: A casual way to ask “What are you doing?” or “What are you busy with?”
    “Hey, Sarah, what are you up to this weekend?”
  • On the edge of my seat: To be very excited and nervous because you want to know what happens next.
    “The ending of that movie had me on the edge of my seat!”
  • What show is it?: A direct question to ask the name of the TV program someone is watching.
    “That looks interesting, what show is it?”
  • It’s so intense!: Used to describe something that is very exciting, dramatic, or suspenseful.
    “The final game of the season was so intense!”
  • Guilty pleasure: Something you enjoy doing even though you feel a little embarrassed about it.
    “Reading cheesy romance novels is my guilty pleasure.”
  • Sounds like… (something I might watch): Used to express that something seems appealing or suitable to you.
    “A show about talking animals? Sounds like something my kids might watch.”
  • Have you seen…?: A common way to ask if someone has watched a particular movie, show, or event.
    “Have you seen the new superhero movie yet?”
  • My mouth is watering: To produce a lot of saliva because you see, smell, or think about delicious food.
    “That pizza looks amazing, my mouth is watering!”
  • Just chilling: A casual expression meaning to relax and do nothing special.
    “I’m just chilling at home tonight, watching movies.”
  • Finished last week: Indicates that something (like a TV series or a season) concluded in the previous week.
    “The new season of ‘Space Explorers’ finished last week.”
  • Start with (an episode): To recommend a specific point to begin watching a series.
    “If you want to watch ‘The Crown,’ I recommend you start with Season 1, Episode 1.”

Grammar Points

1. Present Continuous (for current actions or temporary situations)

We use the Present Continuous (am/is/are + verb-ing) to talk about actions happening right now or around the present time.

  • What are you up to? (What are you doing right now?)
  • I’m just chilling. (I am relaxing now.)
  • My mouth is watering. (It’s happening now as I think about food.)

2. Simple Present (for habits, facts, preferences, or general truths)

We use the Simple Present (verb or verb + -s/-es for he/she/it) to talk about things that are generally true, happen regularly, or describe personal preferences.

  • Bob, you don’t even like baking! (This is a general fact about Bob.)
  • I know! (This is a general statement of knowledge.)
  • They look so good. (This is a general observation about the cakes.)
  • Everyone has their strange shows. (A general truth.)

3. Simple Past (for completed actions in the past)

We use the Simple Past (verb + -ed for regular verbs, or irregular past forms) to talk about actions that started and finished at a specific time in the past.

  • “Veggie Tales of Doom” finished last week. (The show ended in the past.)
  • You once burnt water! (This action happened in the past.)

4. Question Words and Structures

What…? Used to ask for information about something.

  • What are you up to?
  • What show is it?

Is it…? Used to ask a yes/no question about a specific item or situation.

  • Is it that crazy show…?
  • Is it scary?

Have you seen…? Used to ask if someone has experienced or watched something before.

  • Have you seen “Zombie Cheerleaders vs. Prom Queens”?

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks (Choose the correct verb form)

  1. I usually ______ (watch / am watching) TV in the evenings.
  2. Right now, my brother ______ (play / is playing) video games.
  3. That TV show ______ (finish / finished) yesterday.
  4. She never ______ (likes / like) horror movies.
  5. What ______ (do / are) you ______ (do / doing) after work today?

  1. watch
  2. is playing
  3. finished
  4. likes
  5. are… doing

Exercise 2: Match the Phrase (Connect the key phrase to its meaning)

  1. On the edge of my seat
  2. Guilty pleasure
  3. Just chilling
  4. My mouth is watering
  1. Something you enjoy but maybe feel a little silly about.
  2. To be very excited and anxious about what will happen next.
  3. To relax and not do much.
  4. When you really want to eat something delicious.

A: 2

B: 1

C: 3

D: 4

Exercise 3: Answer the Questions (Based on the dialogue)

  1. What show is Bob watching at the beginning of the dialogue?
  2. Why does Alice find it funny that Bob watches “The Great Galactic Bake-Off”?
  3. What is Alice’s “guilty pleasure” TV show?
  4. What kind of show is “Zombie Cheerleaders vs. Prom Queens”? Scary or funny?

  1. Bob is watching “The Great Galactic Bake-Off.”
  2. Alice finds it funny because Bob doesn’t like baking and once burnt water.
  3. Alice’s “guilty pleasure” TV show is “The Secret Life of Socks.”
  4. It’s more funny.

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