TrendSpeak English

Art & design

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English for Beginners: Art & Design

Dialogue

Alice: Hey Bob, fancy seeing you here! What are you doing in the art gallery?

Bob: Alice! Fancy meeting you too! I’m… uh… admiring the snacks in the cafe, mostly. But I saw you looking at this giant canvas.

Alice: This isn’t just a canvas, Bob. It’s a modern masterpiece! It’s called “Crimson Chaos.”

Bob: Crimson Chaos? It looks like someone spilled red paint on a really big napkin. Is that art?

Alice: Yes, it is! Art can be many things. It makes you feel something. What do you feel?

Bob: Hungry. And a little confused. Like, where’s the dog? Or a nice landscape?

Alice: Not all art has dogs or landscapes. This is abstract. It’s about color and form.

Bob: So, if I spill my coffee, is that abstract art? Because I’m quite good at that.

Alice: Maybe! If you frame it and give it a fancy title. “Espresso Explosion.”

Bob: Ha! I like that! I could be an artist! What about design? Is spilling coffee good design?

Alice: Not usually for a coffee table! Design is more about making things useful and beautiful. Like, the design of this gallery space. It’s so open and bright.

Bob: Oh, I see! So, the coffee machine at home? Good design, because it makes coffee. But my coffee spill? Bad design for the table, but maybe good art for the wall.

Alice: Exactly! You’re getting it! Art is expression, design is solution.

Bob: So, my red square earlier could be art. And a red square traffic sign is design?

Alice: Perfect! Now, let’s find some art that doesn’t make you hungry.

Bob: Deal! But if I see a painting of a giant pizza, I call dibs on it for my collection.

Current Situation

Art and design are everywhere around us, even if we don’t always notice them! Art is a way for people to express themselves, their feelings, and ideas, often through paintings, sculptures, music, or performance. Design, on the other hand, is about creating things that are not only beautiful but also functional and useful. From the clothes we wear and the phones we use, to the buildings we live in and the websites we browse, good design makes our lives better and easier. Both art and design play a huge role in our culture, shaping how we see the world and interact with it.

Key Phrases

  • Fancy seeing you here!: A friendly way to say you’re surprised or happy to see someone.
    • Example: “Fancy seeing you here at the park! What a coincidence.”
  • What are you up to?: Another way to ask “What are you doing?” or “What are your plans?”
    • Example: “Hey, what are you up to this weekend?”
  • It looks like…: Used to describe what something appears to be.
    • Example: “It looks like rain outside. Don’t forget your umbrella!”
  • Makes you feel something: Used when something evokes an emotion.
    • Example: “That sad song always makes me feel something.”
  • Good at that: Means you have a skill or ability in something.
    • Example: “She’s really good at painting portraits.”
  • Getting it: Means you are starting to understand something.
    • Example: “Ah, I’m finally getting it! This puzzle is not so hard.”
  • Call dibs on it: To claim something for yourself before anyone else.
    • Example: “That last piece of cake looks delicious! I call dibs on it!”

Grammar Points

  1. Present Simple Tense

    We use the Present Simple for things that are generally true, facts, or habits.

    • Example from dialogue: “Art is expression.” (a general truth)
    • Example from dialogue: “It makes you feel something.” (a general effect)
    • Your turn: “The sun rises in the east.”

  2. Present Continuous Tense

    We use the Present Continuous for actions happening right now, at the moment of speaking.

    • Example from dialogue: “What are you doing?” (asking about current action)
    • Example from dialogue: “I’m looking at this giant canvas.” (an action happening now)
    • Your turn: “She is learning English right now.”

  3. “Like” for Comparison and Example

    We use “like” to show similarity between two things or to give examples.

    • Example from dialogue (comparison): “It looks like someone spilled red paint…”
    • Example from dialogue (example): “Design is more about making things useful and beautiful. Like, the design of this gallery space.”
    • Your turn: “He sings like a professional.”

  4. “Can” and “Can’t” (or “Cannot”)

    We use “can” to express ability or possibility, and “can’t” (or “cannot”) for lack of ability or impossibility.

    • Example from dialogue (possibility): “Art can be many things.”
    • Example from dialogue (ability): “I can paint a blue square.”
    • Your turn: “I can speak English a little.”

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Choose the correct verb tense (Present Simple or Present Continuous).

  1. Alice (look / is looking) at a painting right now.
  2. Bob often (doesn’t understand / isn’t understanding) modern art.
  3. What (do you do / are you doing) this afternoon?
  4. Good design (make / makes) things useful.
  5. I (don’t feel / am not feeling) hungry today.

Exercise 2: Match the key phrase to its meaning.

  1. Fancy seeing you here!
  2. Call dibs on it!
  3. Getting it.
  4. It looks like…

a. I’m starting to understand.
b. I claim this for myself.
c. You describe what something appears to be.
d. I’m happy and surprised to see you.

Exercise 3: Complete the sentences using “like” or “can/can’t”.

  1. This painting feels ______ a dream. (comparison)
  2. I ______ draw well, but I ______ try. (ability)
  3. The new chair is comfortable, ______ a sofa. (comparison)
  4. We ______ go to the museum tomorrow, if you want. (possibility)
  5. My brother ______ play the guitar very well. (ability)

Answers

Answers to Exercise 1:

  1. is looking
  2. doesn’t understand
  3. are you doing
  4. makes
  5. don’t feel

Answers to Exercise 2:

  1. d
  2. b
  3. a
  4. c

Answers to Exercise 3:

  1. like
  2. can’t / can
  3. like
  4. can
  5. can

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