Unit 1 · Sessions 1-2
Learn the language you need to identify people clearly, describe them with tact, explain relationships, and talk naturally about how people meet.
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Sofia is the neighbor who helped me and He is the classmate that invited me have the same basic grammar: a person + an identifying relative clause. The verbs helped and invited do not determine the pronoun. In a defining clause, both choices can be correct. Who is the clearest and safest choice for a person; that is a common alternative in neutral or casual speech.
It is a group of words that follows a noun and adds information about that person. It lets you combine ideas without repeating the person.
I met a neighbor. She organizes the building chat.
I met the neighbor who organizes the building chat.
Use a person noun first, then the relative pronoun, then the action or description that identifies the person.
person + who/that + verb + complement
She is the friend who checks in every week.
A defining clause answers Which person? The sentence needs this information because the noun is not specific enough by itself. Do not use commas.
Who clearly signals a person and works in casual, academic, and professional English.
The neighbor who lives upstairs is trustworthy.
That is also grammatical when the clause is essential and has no commas. It is frequent in everyday conversation.
The classmate that sits near me is very helpful.
A non-defining clause adds a comment about a person who is already clearly identified by a name, a possessive, or the context. Put a comma before and after the clause. Use who, never that.
My neighbor who works nights is usually asleep in the morning.
The clause identifies which neighbor. The speaker may have several neighbors.
Mr. Okafor, who works nights, is usually asleep in the morning.
Mr. Okafor is already identified. His schedule is extra information.
Not: Iris, that was in my evening class, is an old friend.
Correct: Iris, who was in my evening class, is an old friend.
The relative pronoun performs the action. It must stay in the sentence.
person + who/that + verb
The woman who called me is my neighbor.
Not: The woman called me is my neighbor.
Another subject performs the action. In a defining clause, who or that may be omitted.
person + (who/that) + subject + verb
The woman (who/that) I called is my neighbor.
In formal English, whom is possible, but everyday speech usually uses who or no pronoun.
She is the friend who she calls me every Sunday.
She is the friend who calls me every Sunday.
Who is already the subject of calls.Lina, that lives next door, is a nurse.
Lina, who lives next door, is a nurse.
Non-defining clauses for people require who.It is an app who connects people.
It is an app that connects people.
Who refers to people, not things.The neighbor, who has the spare key, is away.
The neighbor who has the spare key is away.
If the clause identifies which neighbor, do not separate it with commas.Softeners do not make an unkind comment automatically polite. They reduce the force of an adjective. The most respectful pattern describes observable behavior in a situation, not the person's complete identity.
Common in conversation. It signals that the description is approximate.
She is kind of quiet when she meets new people.
Means “slightly.” It often softens criticism or an uncomfortable quality.
He can be a bit direct in group chats.
Similar to a bit, but its longer form can sound more careful.
The first date was a little bit awkward at first.
person + can be + kind of / a bit / a little bit + adjective + context
My neighbor is rude.
My neighbor can be a bit direct when the building is noisy.
My coworker is strange.
My coworker is kind of quiet at first, but she is very friendly.
Not: He is a bit noisy neighbor.
He is a bit noisy.
He is a slightly noisy neighbor.
Not: She kind quiet.
She is kind of quiet.
Kind of is a two-word softener here.Not: They are a little bit people.
They are a little bit reserved.
The softener modifies an adjective.Unbalanced: He is a bit annoying.
More useful: He can be a bit intense in meetings, but he listens to feedback.
Add a situation and, when honest, a balancing quality.Meeting someone does not automatically mean dating them. English distinguishes the first meeting, an invitation, a date, a casual relationship, and a committed partnership.
Someone introduces two people who may have shared interests.
People get to know each other while doing something together.
A digital service helps people find and contact possible dates.
Participants have several very short conversations with possible dates.
Two people meet for a date without knowing each other well beforehand.
have a first encounter: I met Jordan at a community event.
learn about the person over time: We got to know each other during the project.
invite the person on a romantic date: Jordan asked Alex out for coffee.
spend planned romantic time together: They went on a date on Saturday.
have an ongoing romantic connection: They are seeing each other.
have a more established commitment: They have been partners for two years.
Traditional polite or protective behavior, especially in dating. Some people appreciate it; others prefer equal, explicitly discussed expectations. It is culturally dependent.
They discussed whether opening doors is chivalry or simply courtesy.
A short, casual romantic or sexual relationship that is not expected to become serious. It is informal and can sound judgmental if used about someone else without care.
They described it as a summer fling, not a long-term relationship.
One sexual encounter with no expected continuing relationship. This is explicit adult vocabulary; use it only when the context genuinely requires the term.
The article distinguishes a one-night stand from an ongoing casual relationship.
Rafael is the coworker who organized our fundraiser. He is kind of quiet at first, but he is very thoughtful. He met Camila through friends and eventually asked her out for coffee.
The relative clause identifies Rafael, the softener makes the personality description tactful, and the dating expression explains the next step.
A phrasal verb normally combines a main verb with a particle or required preposition. In this unit, students should not call every multiword expression a phrasal verb. Catch up, hit it off, ask someone out, and meet up are phrasal verbs because the verb works together with the particle. Get on well with is a phrasal-prepositional verb because the full pattern needs both on and with.
Verb + particle/preposition. The combination acts like one vocabulary item.
Example: ask someone out = invitar a alguien a salir.A common phrase with a stable pattern. It is useful, but it is not necessarily a phrasal verb.
Example: have a lot in common = tener mucho en común.A figurative expression. The full meaning is not literal word by word.
Example: a shoulder to cry on = alguien que te apoya emocionalmente.Meaning: talk after time apart and exchange recent news.
Use it when: you already know the person but have not spoken recently.
Pattern: catch up with + person / catch up over + activity.
Meaning: have a friendly, comfortable relationship.
Use it when: describing how two people relate over time.
Pattern: get on well with + person.
Meaning: like and understand someone quickly after meeting.
Use it when: the first connection feels easy and positive.
Not the same as: a long friendship; it describes the initial connection.
Meaning: invite someone to go on a romantic date.
Use it when: the invitation has a romantic intention.
Word order: put the person between ask and out.
Meaning: meet at an agreed time and place.
Use it when: the meeting can be friendly, professional, or romantic.
Nuance: Unlike ask out, meet up does not automatically mean a date.
These combinations are central to the unit because students need them to describe relationships. However, their grammar is different from phrasal verbs. Teach them as complete chunks with an approximate Spanish meaning, then show the pattern that students must preserve.
Meaning: gradually learn about a person's character, interests, and life.
Approximate Spanish: llegar a conocer a alguien.
Use it when: a relationship develops over time.
Form: get to know + person; not get know.
Meaning: share interests, values, experiences, or qualities.
Approximate Spanish: tener mucho en común.
Use it when: explaining why people connect.
Opposite idea: have very little / nothing in common.
Meaning: continue communicating after a meeting, course, job, or move.
Approximate Spanish: mantenerse en contacto.
Pattern: keep in touch with + person; stay in touch through + channel.
Variant: keep / stay in contact.
Meaning: contact someone again after communication stopped.
Approximate Spanish: volver a ponerse en contacto.
Pattern: get back in touch with + person.
Variant: get back in contact with.
Meaning: stop communicating, usually gradually and without a specific conflict.
Approximate Spanish: perder el contacto.
Pattern: lose touch with + person.
Do not assume: Losing touch does not necessarily mean the friendship ended badly.
Idioms are different from phrasal verbs because the complete phrase carries a figurative meaning. Do not translate them word by word. First understand the situation, then learn one natural example.
Meaning: agree or share the same opinion.
Approximate Spanish: estar de acuerdo; pensar igual.
Use it when: discussing agreement, especially after a difference of opinion.
Pattern: see eye to eye with someone on something.
Meaning: during both good and difficult times.
Approximate Spanish: en las buenas y en las malas.
Use it when: emphasizing loyalty over a long period.
Register: warm, personal, and common in speech and writing.
Meaning: a person who listens and gives comfort when you are upset.
Approximate Spanish: alguien que te escucha y te apoya emocionalmente.
Use it when: describing emotional support, not a literal shoulder.
Pattern: be / need / offer a shoulder to cry on.
Meaning: someone who is friendly when life is easy but disappears during problems.
Approximate Spanish: amigo/a solo en los buenos momentos.
Use it when: criticizing unreliable friendship.
Nuance: This label is strongly negative, so use it carefully.
The goal is not to imitate a voice perfectly. Use the sound cues to make the person, the clause, and the expression easy to understand.
Start with a soft /h/ and hold the long vowel. Do not pronounce a final consonant.
the friend who calledPlace the tongue gently between the teeth and use your voice for /ð/. This is not the /d/ sound.
the friend that calledConnect the final consonant to the next vowel so the expression flows as one unit.
get_on well · keep_in touchIn natural speech, unstressed to is often shorter and weaker.
get tə know each otherA non-defining clause has a light pause where the commas appear in writing.
Iris, / who was in my evening class, / is an old friend.Stress the person and the key description; do not stress every word equally.
TRUSTworthy NEIGHbor · HIT it OFF · KEEP in TOUCHThis model is teaching input. The notes below show why each language choice works.
One of the most important people in my social circle is Camila, who lives two doors down. She is a trustworthy neighbor who helped me when I first moved into the building. At first, she seemed kind of reserved, but once we got to know each other, we discovered that we had a lot in common. We hit it off, and now we get on very well.
Camila later introduced me to Rafael, the coworker that organized our neighborhood fundraiser. He was a little bit quiet at first, but he eventually asked her out for coffee. They are seeing each other now. Camila is also a shoulder to cry on, and I know she will support me through thick and thin. Even when we are busy, we keep in touch.
Camila, who lives two doors down, has extra information after a name, so it needs commas and who. A neighbor who helped me identifies the kind of neighbor; who remains the safest people choice.
The coworker that organized our fundraiser is a defining clause with no commas. It identifies which coworker. Who would also be correct; the action organized does not force that.
Kind of reserved and a little bit quiet at first avoid absolute labels. The time phrase at first shows that the first impression may change.
Hit it off and ask out are phrasal verbs. Have a lot in common and keep in touch are fixed expressions. A shoulder to cry on is an idiom.
Explanation complete
You have the grammar rules, vocabulary, meanings, contrasts, common mistakes, register notes, pronunciation cues, and a complete model. Speaking, reading, listening, pronunciation, and Conversation Coach activities are organized only in Practice Lab.
02 People in your social circleRelationship words plus neighborhood character and behavior vocabulary. +
What are neighbors, and who are your neighbors?
A neighbor is a person who lives near you. A neighbor may become a friend, but the words are not synonyms. A friend is someone with whom you have a personal relationship; a close friend is someone you know and trust deeply.
a person who lives near you
Mr. Okafor is the neighbor who lives across the hall.someone you trust and know very well
Nadia is a close friend who knows my family.a friend you have known for a long time or knew in the past
Iris is an old friend that I recently contacted again.a person who studies in the same class
Owen is the classmate who shares his notes with me.a person who works with you
Leila is a coworker who gives honest advice.a person you met recently and may communicate with again
Gabriel is a new contact that I met at dinner.someone first known through an online space
Jon is a friend who I first met online.someone you stopped communicating with
Ari is a school friend that I lost contact with.someone you know, but not very well
Mara is an acquaintance who works in my building.a person in a committed romantic relationship
Sam is her partner, who works in public health.Character, boundaries, and community life
favor
Meaning: a helpful act.
Pattern: do someone a favor / ask for a favor.
The neighbor who did me a favor is very kind.
trustworthy
Meaning: honest and reliable enough to trust.
Use: people, services, or sources.
I gave the spare key to a trustworthy neighbor.
nosy / nosey
Meaning: too interested in other people's private lives.
Nuance: usually negative; nosy is the more common spelling.
A nosy neighbor asks questions that feel too personal.
noisy
Meaning: making a lot of sound.
Do not confuse: nosy asks about private matters; noisy makes noise.
The apartment upstairs can be noisy at night.
neighborhood
Meaning: the local area where people live.
Note: A neighbor is a person; a neighborhood is a place.
Our neighborhood has a strong community group.
conflict
Meaning: a serious disagreement or problem between people.
Pattern: have / avoid / resolve a conflict.
They resolved the conflict without sharing gossip.
gossip
Meaning: unverified personal information shared about other people.
Grammar: a noun or a verb; normally uncountable as a noun.
Trustworthy friends do not spread gossip.