Comedy
A film that aims to make you laugh.
A group of friends keeps making the same silly mistake.
Comedy
Audio text
Comedy. A group of friends keeps making the same silly mistake.
Unit 4 · Sessions 9–10
Movies, Reviews,
Music Videos and Trends
Tell the story. Explain your reaction.
Help someone choose what to watch.
Film reviewsPresent perfectMusic & change
Vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation
The language of films and music
Learn to introduce a film, summarize its plot, support a review and compare two music-video selections.
- 01 · NoticeRead or hear a model.
- 02 · UnderstandConnect form and meaning.
- 03 · CompareSee differences in meaning.
- 04 · ListenHear words and expressions.
No matching topic. Try another word.
01Movies and genresRecognize the kind of story before giving an opinion.
Start here
Movies and genres
Your group is choosing a film. Start with its genre, then explain why it fits the audience.
Drama
A story about relationships, emotions or difficult choices.
A musician must choose between a job and her dream.
Drama
Audio text
Drama. A musician must choose between a job and her dream.
Thriller
A tense story that keeps you wondering what will happen.
A detective follows a stranger who knows her secret.
Thriller
Audio text
Thriller. A detective follows a stranger who knows her secret.
Horror
A film that aims to frighten the audience.
Someone hears footsteps in an empty house.
Horror
Audio text
Horror. Someone hears footsteps in an empty house.
Action
A story driven by physical challenges and fast events.
An explorer escapes through a crowded city.
Action
Audio text
Action. An explorer escapes through a crowded city.
Science fiction
A story that imagines science, technology or other worlds.
An astronaut discovers a signal from another planet.
Science fiction
Audio text
Science fiction. An astronaut discovers a signal from another planet.
Animation
A way of making films with drawn or digitally created moving images.
An animated adventure can also be a comedy or a drama.
Animation
Audio text
Animation. An animated adventure can also be a comedy or a drama.
Documentary
A film that explores real people, events or subjects.
A filmmaker follows wildlife in its natural environment.
Documentary
Audio text
Documentary. A filmmaker follows wildlife in its natural environment.
02What makes a movieUse precise words for the story, people and music.
Start here
What makes a movie
“I like everything” gives little information. Name the element you mean: plot, acting, setting or soundtrack.
Tap a vocabulary word to hear it at 0.75× speed.
The connected events of a story.
The plot follows a musician who discovers an unfinished melody.
The place and time of a story.
The film is set in a small railway station in the present day.
A person in the story.
Mara is the main character; she plays the guitar.
The group of actors in a film.
The cast includes both new and experienced actors.
The way an actor plays a role.
The lead actor gives a convincing performance.
One part of a film, usually in one place or period of time.
My favorite scene takes place on the platform.
The final part of the story.
Please do not reveal the ending.
The music used in a film.
The soundtrack connects the scenes through one melody.
Film elements in context
Audio text
Plot. Setting. Character. Cast. Performance. Scene. Ending. Soundtrack. The film is set in a railway station. Mara is the main character. The soundtrack connects the scenes through one melody.
Where does this story belong?
Tap Prequel, Original or Sequel to hear its pronunciation at 0.75×.
- Events before the original story.
- The story we begin with.
- Events after the original story.
03Have you ever seen it?Talk about experiences up to now.
Start here
Have you ever seen it?
Use the present perfect when the experience matters and you do not place it at a finished past time.
Build the present perfect
SubjectI / sheAuxiliaryhave / hasPast participleseen
| Use | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | I/you/we/they + have; he/she/it + has | I have seen it. She has watched it. |
| Negative | have/has + not + participle | I haven’t seen the sequel. He hasn’t heard the soundtrack. |
| Question | Have/Has + subject + participle? | Have you seen the film? Has she heard this song? |
| Short answer | Yes/No + pronoun + auxiliary | Yes, I have. No, she hasn’t. |
Learn the participle, not just the past form
| Base | Past simple | Past participle |
|---|---|---|
| see | saw | seen |
| hear | heard | heard |
| be | was/were | been |
| make | made | made |
| win | won | won |
| watch | watched | watched |
| listen | listened | listened |
Ever and never: a question about experience, or a negative answer
EVER · at any time up to now
In experience questions, ever means “at any time in your life up to now” — alguna vez. It does not tell us whether the experience happened.
Have + subject + ever + past participle…?
Have you ever seen a silent film?
Has she ever heard this soundtrack?
Ever goes after the subject and before the participle in these questions. Possible answers: Yes, I have or No, I haven’t.
NEVER · at no time up to now
Never means “not at any time up to now” — nunca. It states that the experience has happened zero times.
Subject + have/has + never + past participle.
I have never seen a silent film.
She has never heard this soundtrack.
Never goes between have/has and the participle. It already makes the meaning negative, so do not add not.
| Question with ever | Positive answer | Negative answer with never |
|---|---|---|
| Have you ever seen a musical? | Yes, I have. I’ve seen two. | No, I haven’t. I’ve never seen one. |
| Has Elena ever heard this song? | Yes, she has. She knows the chorus. | No, she hasn’t. She has never heard it. |
Already, yet and just
Tap each example to hear the complete sentence at 0.75×.
Already · before now
The action is complete, sometimes earlier than expected.
Already usually goes between have/has and the participle.
Yet · a question
We want to know whether the expected action has happened by now.
Yet usually goes at the end of the question.
Not yet · still incomplete
The action has not happened up to now, but it may happen later.
Yet usually goes at the end of a negative sentence.
Just · a short time ago
The action happened very recently.
Just goes between have/has and the participle.
Have you ever seen it?
Audio text
Have you ever seen a silent film? Yes, I have. I have seen two. Has Elena heard this soundtrack? No, she has not. I have already watched the film, but I have not seen the sequel yet. The band has just released a song.
Extra support · for and since
Use for + duration and since + starting point for a situation continuing until now.
I’ve been a fan for five years.
I’ve been a fan since 2021.
“Since five years” is incorrect: five years is a duration.
04Experience or finished time?Choose the tense for the message you want to communicate.
Start here
Experience or finished time?
“Have you seen it?” asks about experience. “When did you watch it?” asks about a particular occasion.
Experience up to now
Past experiencesNOW
I’ve seen this film twice.
We count experiences in a period that reaches now. No finished past date is given.
A finished past occasion
Last SaturdayNOW
I watched it last Saturday.
The occasion is located in a finished past period: yesterday, last Saturday, two years ago, in 2000.
| Intention | Model | Why this tense? |
|---|---|---|
| Experience | I’ve seen it twice. | Present perfect: experience up to now. |
| A dated occasion | I watched it last Saturday. | Past simple: the time is finished. |
| Plot summary | The story follows a musician. | Present simple: we describe the story as it unfolds in the film. |
From experience to a specific occasion
Audio text
Have you seen The Last Platform? Yes, I have. When did you watch it? I watched it last Saturday. What is it about? The story follows a young musician who finds an unfinished melody.
05Tell the plotBuild a clear summary with a visual sequence.
Start here
Tell the plot
A plot summary explains who wants what, what gets in the way and how the events connect.
Original fictional classroom story · This complete recount includes the final event.
Setting and protagonist
Mara waits at a small railway station with her guitar. She hopes to find work as a musician.
Discovery and goal
She discovers an old melody inside the case. She wants to find the person who wrote it.
Conflict and response
Elena recognizes the music, but the final part is missing. They rehearse together and try to complete it.
A turning point
Eventually, they perform for the commuters. Their music changes an ordinary evening at the station.
Connect the events
- FirstIntroduce the situation.
- ThenAdd the next event.
- HoweverIntroduce a contrast or obstacle.
- EventuallyShow what happens after some time.
The film is set in a railway station. The story follows Mara, a young musician. She discovers a melody and tries to find its composer. However, part of the music is missing.
The Last Platform · plot model
Audio text
The film is set in a small railway station. The story follows Mara, a young musician. First, she discovers an old melody in her guitar case. Then, she meets Elena, a station worker who recognizes it. However, the final part is missing. They rehearse together. Eventually, they perform for the commuters.
06Give an opinion with evidenceMove from “good” and “bad” to specific reasons.
Start here
Give an opinion with evidence
A useful review lets another person understand your reaction, even if they have a different opinion.
/ /
Moving creates a strong emotional response. Gripping holds your attention. Hilarious is extremely funny.
The reunion is moving because the characters finally understand each other.
/ /
Predictable: easy to guess. Confusing: difficult to understand. Disappointing: not as good as expected.
The ending is predictable because every clue points to the same solution.
/
A catchy song is easy to remember. A convincing performance feels believable.
The chorus is catchy; I remembered its melody after one listen.
The work creates an effect; the viewer feels it
| Film / scene: -ing | Viewer: -ed |
|---|---|
| The scene is exciting. | I feel excited. |
| The dialogue is boring. | I feel bored. |
| The ending is disappointing. | I feel disappointed. |
- OpinionThe soundtrack is memorable.
- ReasonBecause one melody connects the story.
- DetailWe hear it at the discovery and the concert.
An opinion with evidence
Audio text
The concert scene is exciting, and I felt excited when the music began. The soundtrack is memorable because one melody connects the story. We hear it when Mara finds the sheet music and again at the concert. Although some scenes are slow, the acting is convincing.
07Write and compare reviewsConnect information, opinion and a recommendation.
Start here
Write and compare reviews
A review helps someone decide whether a film is right for them. Your reasons matter more than a star rating.
Model review · Original fictional film
The Last Platform
1 · Introduce
I’ve seen The Last Platform twice, and I watched it again last Saturday. This fictional drama is set in a small railway station.
2 · Summarize
The story follows Mara, a young musician who finds an unfinished melody. She meets a station worker who recognizes it, and they try to discover its history together.
3 · Evaluate
The acting is convincing, and the soundtrack is especially moving because the same melody connects important scenes. Although the middle is a little slow, the relationship between the two women keeps the story interesting.
4 · Recommend
Overall, I recommend watching it if you enjoy quiet stories about friendship and music. It is worth watching for its warm performances, even if you usually prefer faster films.
A complete film review
Audio text
I’ve seen The Last Platform twice, and I watched it again last Saturday. This fictional drama is set in a small railway station. The story follows Mara, a young musician who finds an unfinished melody. She meets a station worker who recognizes it, and they try to discover its history together. The acting is convincing, and the soundtrack is especially moving because the same melody connects important scenes. Although the middle is a little slow, the relationship between the two women keeps the story interesting. Overall, I recommend watching it if you enjoy quiet stories about friendship and music. It is worth watching for its warm performances, even if you usually prefer faster films.
| Language job | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Give a reason | because + subject + verb | The scene works because the dialogue feels natural. |
| Balance a judgment | although + subject + verb, main idea | Although the plot is predictable, the acting is strong. |
| Add a contrasting sentence | However, + complete sentence | The music is excellent. However, some scenes are slow. |
| Recommend | recommend + -ing / worth + -ing | I recommend watching it. It is worth watching. |
| Name the audience | If you enjoy…, you’ll probably like… | If you enjoy dramas, you’ll probably like this film. |
A vague review
It is a good movie. The actors are good. I like it.
We cannot tell what kind of story it is, what works or who might enjoy it.
A useful revision
This quiet drama follows a musician at a station. The acting feels natural because the two leads listen and react like real friends. I recommend it to viewers who enjoy character-driven stories.
The writer identifies the work, gives evidence and names an audience.
Example · a sequel to the original film
The imagined sequel The Next Platform keeps Mara and the musical theme, but changes the setting and conflict.
In this imagined sequel, Mara travels with her first band. The story explores the pressure of performing away from home. Unlike the original, it moves between several cities.
The same character and musical theme connect the two films; the new setting and conflict make the sequel a different story.
08Music videos and mediaSeparate what you hear from what you see.
Start here
Music videos and media
Listen for the sound, then look for the visual structure. A video can tell a story even when its song belongs to a familiar genre.
Tap a word with the sound symbol to listen at 0.75×.
An individual performer.
The artist sings her own songs.
A group that performs music.
The band includes a drummer and a guitarist.
One recorded piece of music.
My favorite track is the first song.
A collection of recorded pieces.
Their new album contains ten tracks.
The words of a song.
The lyrics tell a story about friendship.
A repeated section of a song.
Everyone sings along with the chorus.
The regular pulse of music.
The drummer keeps a steady beat.
A sequence of notes recognized as a tune.
She plays the melody on the piano.
A visual production made to accompany a song.
The music video shows the band on a train.
Recorded plays of a video.
The video has a thousand views.
A ranked list of songs or albums.
The song is at the top of the chart.
A successful or popular song.
Their latest song is a hit.
Musical genre and video style answer different questions
Pop, rock, hip-hop, electronic music and salsa describe musical genres. Performance, narrative and conceptual describe what the video shows. A rock video can be narrative; a pop video can combine all three styles.
Performance
The artist or band performs the song.
Narrative
Characters take part in a connected story.
Conceptual
Images explore an idea or mood without a conventional storyline.
Music and video vocabulary
Audio text
Artist. Band. Track. Album. Lyrics. Chorus. Beat. Melody. Music video. Views. Chart. Hit. This pop track has a catchy chorus and a steady beat. Its video combines a band performance with a short narrative.
09Then and nowCompare evidence and describe change.
Start here
Then and now
A timeline helps us see differences. A useful comparison examines the same features in both samples.
Selection A · 2000Selection B · 2026
| Compare the same feature | A · 2000 (fictional) | B · 2026 (fictional) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 pop videos; 1 rock video | 1 pop video; 1 hip-hop video; 1 electronic video | |
| 2 solo artists; 1 band | 2 solo artists; 1 band | |
| 2 performance; 1 narrative | 1 performance; 1 narrative; 1 conceptual | |
| All 3 shown on a music TV programme | All 3 shared on an online video platform |
Both selections include two solo artists and one band.
Both identifies something shared.
Selection A contains more pop videos, whereas selection B includes more musical genres.
Whereas contrasts two ideas, each with its own subject and verb.
The range of genres has become wider between these two selections.
Has become focuses on a change and its later result.
In the fictional 2000 selection, all three videos appeared on a music TV programme.
Appeared locates the event in a finished period.
Comparing two selections
Audio text
Both fictional selections include two solo artists and one band. In the 2000 selection, two videos are pop, whereas the 2026 selection includes three different genres. The range of genres has become wider between these samples. Selection A mainly shows performances, while selection B includes a conceptual video. However, three videos from each period are not enough to establish a worldwide trend. These observations describe only the classroom selections.
Both fictional selections include two solo artists and one band. In the 2000 selection, two videos are pop, whereas the 2026 selection includes three different genres. The range of genres has become wider between these samples. Selection A mainly shows performances, while selection B includes a conceptual video. However, three videos from each period are not enough to establish a worldwide trend. These observations describe only the classroom selections.
Extra support · used to
Used to + base verb describes a past habit or situation that is no longer true.
I used to watch music videos on TV. Now I watch them online.
This is a personal example, not a claim about every viewer. Questions use “Did you use to…?”
10Phrasal verbs and idiomsLearn meaning, word order and pronunciation together.
Start here
Phrasal verbs and idioms
“The film came out” does not describe a film walking out of a room. The verb and particle create a meaning together.
What is a phrasal verb?
A main verb and a particle work together as a vocabulary unit: come + out means “be released” in this context. Its meaning and object pattern must be learned together.
Fixed expressions and idioms
A fixed expression is a conventional combination, such as worth watching. An idiom has a figurative meaning, such as steal the show. Not every multiword expression is a phrasal verb.
Six phrasal verbs and three related idioms
Tap an expression to hear it and its examples at 0.75×.
To be released or become available.
Idea en español: estrenarse / salir a la venta.
The sequel came out last month.
It came out last month.
Word order and use: No object follows this meaning of come out. Do not say “come the film out”.
Sound: come OUT · connect the final /m/ to the vowel in out.
To start playing a recording.
Idea en español: poner una canción o grabación.
Put on the soundtrack. / Put the soundtrack on.
Put it on.
Word order and use: A noun can go in either position; a pronoun must go between put and on.
Sound: put it ON · keep the three words in one group.
To increase the volume.
Idea en español: subir el volumen.
Turn up the music. / Turn the music up.
Turn it up.
Word order and use: This meaning concerns volume. The object pronoun goes in the middle.
Sound: turn it UP · link it to up; emphasize the change.
To reduce the volume.
Idea en español: bajar el volumen.
Turn down the music. / Turn the music down.
Turn it down.
Word order and use: This meaning concerns volume. Do not say “turn down it”.
Sound: turn it DOWN · keep the final /n/ clear.
To discover information.
Idea en español: averiguar / descubrir información.
We found out the release date. / We found the release date out.
We found it out yesterday.
Word order and use: A noun object may be separated; the first noun example is more natural here. Pronouns go in the middle. Keep the complete idea (subject + verb) after out: “We found out who wrote it.”
Sound: find OUT · link /d/ to the vowel in out.
To be particularly noticeable.
Idea en español: destacarse.
Her performance stands out.
It stands out.
Word order and use: There is no direct object. You can add “from”: it stands out from the other performances.
Sound: stand OUT · keep the /d/ before the vowel.
To attract the most attention and praise.
Idea en español: llevarse los aplausos / acaparar la atención.
The supporting actor steals the show.
Her performance steals the show.
Word order and use: Informal praise. Nothing is literally stolen.
Sound: steal the SHOW · the is light; stress show.
Very excited or tense because you want to know what happens next.
Idea en español: estar en suspenso.
The final scene kept me on the edge of my seat.
The thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Word order and use: Informal reaction to suspense. Adjust my/your/our to the person.
Sound: on the EDGE of my SEAT · speak as a complete group.
News or words that are very pleasing to hear.
Idea en español: ser una noticia muy grata.
“The concert is free!” That is music to my ears.
Your good news is music to my ears.
Word order and use: This expression reacts to good news; it is not simply a description of a song.
Sound: MUSIC to my EARS · make music and ears prominent.
11Sound clear and put it togetherUse the language in one connected recommendation.
Start here
Sound clear and put it together
Listen for meaning first. Then repeat a short group, keeping auxiliaries, participles and important words clear.
Hear the auxiliary
I’ve seen it. /aɪv/
She’s watched it. /ʃiːz/
He hasn’t heard it. /ˈhæzənt/
In “She’s watched”, ’s means has. In “She’s excited”, ’s means is. The following word helps you interpret it.
Keep the participle audible
see → saw → seen
watch → watched /t/
listen → listened /d/
Keep the final consonant in seen, watched and listened. Do not add a separate syllable to watched.
Group the message
It is set in a small station / and it follows a young musician.
Although the middle is slow / the soundtrack is moving.
The slash marks a possible pause between meaningful groups, not a word to pronounce.
Stress the contrast
I’ve SEEN it / but I haven’t REVIEWED it.
The plot is SIMPLE / but the acting is STRONG.
Emphasize the information that changes or matters most.
Sound clear · phrases and contrasts
Audio text
I have seen it. I’ve seen it. She has watched it. She’s watched it. He hasn’t heard it. Seen. Watched. Listened. It is set in a small station, and it follows a young musician. Although the middle is slow, the soundtrack is moving. I’ve seen it, but I haven’t reviewed it.
Model conversation · choosing for our group
AlexHave you seen The Last Platform?
SamYes, I have. I watched it last Saturday.
AlexWhat is it about?
SamIt follows a young musician who finds an unfinished melody.
AlexWhat stood out for you?
SamThe soundtrack stood out. Its main melody connects the important scenes.
AlexWould you recommend it?
SamYes. Although the middle is slow, the acting is convincing. If you enjoy quiet dramas, it is worth watching.
AlexWhich music-video selection would you choose for our event?
SamI would choose selection B. Both samples include a band, but B contains a wider range of genres.
Choosing a film and a music selection
Audio text
Have you seen The Last Platform? Yes, I have. I watched it last Saturday. What is it about? It follows a young musician who finds an unfinished melody. What stood out for you? The soundtrack stood out. Its main melody connects the important scenes. Would you recommend it? Yes. Although the middle is slow, the acting is convincing. If you enjoy quiet dramas, it is worth watching. Which music-video selection would you choose for our event? I would choose selection B. Both samples include a band, but B contains a wider range of genres.