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LESSON 6

Lesson At the circus

Review of past perfect

We use the past perfect tense to describe an activity or situation
before another time or event in the past.
Jim had arrived at the circus before 9:00.
The juggler had already left by 6:00.
The clowns hadn’t put on their costumes by then.
The lion tamer had woken up by that time.

The form for the past perfect is had + past participle. The negative form is hadn’t + past participle.

Time expressions used with this tense include:

before never
by then still
by that time yet
already ever

Adverbs of frequency have the same placement as with the present perfect tense.
He had never arrived before 7:00.

Two clauses can be used in sentences using the past perfect. The first action uses the past perfect.
The second action uses the simple past.
I had already left the circus when the storm began.
The acrobat had fallen before the crowd arrived.
The seal had just jumped through the hoop when the fire started.
The clown hadn’t even put on his make-up when it was time for him to leave.

The past perfect is used in the main clause in each of these sentences. It is used to express the
activity that occurred first.

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks the past perfect of the verbs in parentheses.

Example:
The Davis family _________________ (arrive) before the clowns
welcomed the crowd.
The Davis family had arrived before the clowns welcomed the crowd.

The woman screamed after the acrobat _________________ (fall).

The circus __________________ (already close) when the tent fell down.

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After the juggler _____________________ (drop) the pin, he started to cry.

The trapeze artists ________________________ (arrive) before 10:00.

Before the elephant entered the tent, the clowns ______________ (start) their act.

We ____________________ (already take) our seats near when the show began.

The seals ___________________ (toss) the ball twice when the clown entered the ring.

The lion tamer ___________________ (cut) his arm before the show.

Jeff __________________ (just finish) his popcorn when the ringmaster entered.

The dogs ___________________ (start) their tricks when the electricity went off.

Review of wish
We use the verb to wish when we want reality to be different. We want it to be the
opposite of the true situation.
I wish I knew what time the circus started.
The ill acrobat wishes he were home in bed.
Yvonne wishes she could be a clown.
Her brother wishes he could be a trapeze artist.

When a speaker expresses a wish about a present situation, he or she uses the past form.
With the verb to be, were is used for all forms.
I wish I were a tightrope walker.
Do you wish you were a tightrope walker?
Exercise 2: Pretend these people are going to join the circus. What do you wish you were?
Your answers might be different.
Example: Tom loves to be in high places.
He wishes he were a trapeze artist.
He wishes he were a tightrope walker.

Ellen loves animals.

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

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Fred loves to make people laugh.

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

Jerry likes to talk with people.

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

I ___________________________________________________

I ___________________________________________________

Now, let’s look at wishes about past situations.

I wish I had gone to the circus.
I wish I had bought a ticket for the circus earlier.
Ken wishes he hadn’t become a lion tamer.
The ringmaster wishes the circus had stopped at that town.

The past perfect is used after wish when people make wishes about past actions. The negative
form is hadn’t + past participle.

Exercise 3:Write three sentences using wish for past situations.

Jack is in the hospital. He had an accident. He fell from the tightrope.

_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

Jane is in the circus but she is lonely. She doesn’t have much money.
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

Tom is a lion-tamer. He was frightened last night during the show.

_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

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Hope versus wish
The verb hope is used to express optimism. The speaker thinks
something is possible.
The verb wish is used to express impossibility or improbability.
The speaker wants reality to change.
I hope that the circus will come to our town.
I wish that the circus could come to our town.
I hope the circus has a lot of clowns.
I wish the circus had a lot of clowns.

In the first sentence, the speaker is optimistic that the circus will come to town.
In the second sentence, the speaker wishes the circus could come but it is doubtful that it
will come.
In the third sentence, it is possible that the circus will have a lot of clowns.
In the fourth sentence, it is doubtful that the circus has a lot of clowns.

Exercise 4: Complete the sentences.

Example: I wish the circus ____________________ (not have) lions!

I wish the circus didn’t have lions!

I hope the clowns ____________________ (be) funny.

I hope I ______________________ (can, go) to the circus again next year.

I wish I _______________________ (have) a boyfriend to go with me.

I wish I ________________________________ (bring) more money with me to the circus.

I hope the circus _________________________ (have) four rings next year.

Ken wishes he ______________(have) more time to go to the circus when he was younger.

The lion tamer hopes the lions __________(not be hungry) tomorrow.

The seals wish the clowns _____________ (give) them bigger fish to eat.

Julie hopes that she __________________ (meet) the acrobats.

The clown wishes that he _____________(pursue) a different career when he was at university.

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LESSON 6
Conditional present
The conditional present is used to refer to habitual activities or to true
situations.
If a circus is in town, people come.
A lion tamer shouldn’t step into a lion cage unless he has a whip.
If a circus isn’t organized well, it can close.
The circus can leave town early if people don’t buy tickets.

Conditional present sentences with if and unless use the simple present tense. They can also use
modal auxiliaries such as should or can. Unless means if not in many sentences.

Exercise 5: Fill in the blanks using if or unless.

_____ the tightrope walker falls, he will die.

______ the tightrope walker falls, we will enjoy the show.

We can’t sit near the center ring __________ we get there early.

_____ we don’t get there early, we can’t sit next to the center ring.

_______ we can sit near the clowns, I don’t want to go to the circus.

_______ we can sit next to the clowns, I’d love to go to the circus.

A person can’t be an acrobat _____ he can jump well.

____ a person can jump well, he could be an acrobat.

The tigers will be angry _____ they aren’t fed.

___________ the tigers are fed, they will be angry.

Conditional future
In the conditional future, if is followed by a verb in the present simple tense.
If the lion tamer continues to use his whip, he will hurt the animals.
The lion tamer will hurt the animals if he continues to use his whip.
If it rains tomorrow, I’m not going to go to the circus.
I’m not going to go to the circus if it rains tomorrow.

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Remember, we don’t use will in conditional sentences!
*If I will be late for the circus, don’t wait for me. This sentence is incorrect!
The correct sentence is: If I am late for the circus, don’t wait for me.

When a sentence begins with the word if, a comma must follow the if clause.
If the tightrope walker falls, I will cry.
This sentence begins with the word if so a comma must follow the if clause.
I will cry if the tightrope walker falls.
If is in the middle of this sentence, so no comma is necessary.

Either clause can be in the negative or they both can be in the negative.
If the tightrope walker doesn’t fall, I will cry.
If the tightrope walker falls, I won’t cry.
If the tightrope walker doesn’t fall, I won’t cry.

When a question begins with if, the simple present is still used in the if clause.
Will you cry if the tightrope walker falls?

Exercise 6: Fill in the blanks with an appropriate verb using a future conditional.

Example: If I save some money, I ______________________ a circus.

If I save some money, I am going to buy a circus.

The acrobat ____________________ if he isn’t careful.

The ringmaster ___________________ heartbroken if no one comes to the circus.

If there is an accident, the circus _________________.

The seals _____________ if they get some big fish for lunch.

If the elephants don’t get some exercise, their legs _______________ sore.

The lion tamer _______________ if the lions relax.

The acrobats _____________________ tonight if their legs don’t ache.

If Michael goes to the circus, his ex-wife ________________.

Judy _____________________ if she can’t see the clowns.

If that trapeze artist falls, I ________________________.

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Exercise 7: Fill in the blanks.

Ronny is a clown, Lane is a lion tamer and Marilyn is a ringmaster.

M: So you want to work at my circus. If you want to work here, you _________ all the time.

L: That’s not a problem. I ___ already _________ on practicing a lot before I came here.

R: I ____ just _______ my make-up when you telephoned me to come for an interview.
I hope it isn’t a problem.

M: No, you look good. I wish I _________ both of you. I don’t have enough money for that. If

someone in the crowd doesn’t laugh at you, what ___ you ___, Ronny?

R: I _________ harder if he or she doesn’t laugh. I am very funny. I hope everyone laughs.

M: What ____ you ______ if the lions don’t obey you, Lane?

L: I _________ a big problem if the lions don’t obey me. You will have to find a new lion tamer.

M: You are funny. I have made my decision. I will hire you, Lane. I am sorry, Ronny. There are

lots of good clowns but there aren’t many good lion tamers. I hope you _______ a job at another
circus, Ronny.

R: That’s okay. I am ready to retire, anyway.

Reading
You can guess the meanings of some words from the context.
The words for example, for instance and such as introduce examples that may help you.
Example: Ellen loves to work with wild animals such as lions and tigers.
You can guess that wild animals are not pets.

Sometimes another word or words in a different sentence has the opposite meaning of the new
vocabulary word.
Example: Instead of working with wild animals, Jane likes to work with more controlled animals
such as dogs and seals.
You can guess that wild is the opposite of controlled.

A definition follows the connecting words that is or in other words.

Example: The lion tamer was using a whip, in other words, a long piece of rope or leather used
for making animals move.
A whip is a long piece of rope or leather used for making animals move.

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Now, read the passage and answer the questions.

T hink of yourself 70 feet above the ground on a platform, as thousands of

faces watch and wait for you to start. Now imagine taking a step, with only
a metal wire between you and the ground. This is the world of high wire.
High wire’s roots, that is, origins, are as old as ancient Egypt and first century
China, where the art of "rope dancing" was performed over knives. In the 1850s,
Jean Gravelet received world acclaim for cooking and eating an omelet (with stove
and table) on a high wire stretched over Niagara Falls. While on the wire, he even
cut onions and peppers for the omelet!
Two types of tightrope walking have evolved. Slack wire is popular for juggling,
clowning and sword fights; however, the most popular of all is the high-wire act,
where a tight wire is used for acrobatic tricks and feats of balancing.
The artist often carries a balancing pole. It may be as long as 40 feet. This pole
increases the rotational inertia of the artist, which allows more time to move his or
her center of mass back to the desired position. The pole also helps them by lower-
ing the center of gravity. High-wire artists use drooping (bending downwards),
rather than rigid, balancing poles.
Acrobats practice for years and use mechanics
to safely develop routines. Although a high-wire
act may seem like a combination of courage and
magic, there is a lot of physics thrown into the
balance as well.

1). What is the meaning of roots? (paragraph 2, line 1)

2).Who does he refer to? (paragraph 2, line 4)

3). What is the probable meaning of slack? (paragraph 3, line 1)

4). What does it refer to? (paragraph 4, line 1)

5). What does drooping mean? (paragraph 4, line 5)

6). Who does them refer to? (paragraph 4, line 3)

7). Where did tightrope walking originate?

8). Where did Jean Gravelet enjoy an omelet?

9). What does the artist often carry?

10). Does the pole lower or raise the center of gravity?

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LESSON 6
ANSWER KEY Lesson 6

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with appropriate verbs in the past present.Your answers might be
different.
The woman screamed after the acrobat had fallen.
The circus had already closed when the tent fell down.
After the juggler had dropped the pin, he started to cry.
The trapeze artists had arrived before 10:00.
Before the elephants entered the tent, the clowns had started their act.
We had already taken our seats when the show began.
The seals had tossed the ball twice when the clowns entered the ring.
The lion tamer had cut his arm before the show.
Jeff had just finished his popcorn when the ringmaster entered.
The dogs had started their tricks when the electricity went off.

Exercise 2: Pretend these people are going to join the circus. What do you wish you were? Your
answers might be different.
Ellen loves animals.
She wishes she were a lion tamer.
She wishes she could be the animal’s caretaker.

Fred loves to make people laugh.

He wishes he were a clown.
He wishes he were an acrobat.

Jerry likes to talk with people.

He wishes he were a circus manager.
He wishes he could sell cotton candy at a circus.

I wish I _______________
I wish __________________

Exercise 3: Write three sentences using wish for past situations. Your answers might be different.

Jack is in the hospital. He had an accident. He fell from the tightrope.

I wish I had used a balancing pole.
I wish there had been a net under me.
I wish I had listened to my mother. She didn’t want me to join the circus.

Jane is in the circus but she is lonely. She doesn’t have much money.
I wish my friends had joined the circus, too.
I wish I had not joined the circus.
I wish I hadn’t left school. Clowns don’t make much money!

Tom is a lion-tamer. He was frightened last night during the show.

I wish I weren’t a lion tamer. I don’t like lions.
I wish the lions hadn’t been so hungry. They were so angry!
I wish I had had two whips last night. I was very frightened.
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Exercise 4: Complete the sentences.

I hope the clowns are funny.

I hope I can go to the circus again next year.
I wish I had a boyfriend to go with me.
I wish I had brought more money with me to the circus.
I hope the circus has four rings next year.
Ken wishes he had had more time to go to the circus when he was younger.
The lion tamer hopes the lions won’t be hungry tomorrow.
The seals wish the clowns would give them bigger fish to eat.
Julie hopes that she can meet the acrobats.
The clown wishes that he had pursued a different career when he was at university.

Exercise 5: Fill in the blanks with if or unless.

If the tightrope walker falls, he will die.

Unless the tightrope walker falls, we will enjoy the show.
We can’t sit near the center ring unless we get there early.
If we get there early, we can sit near the center ring.
Unless we can sit next to the clowns, I don’t want to go to the circus.
If we can sit next to the clowns, I’d love to go to the circus.
A person can’t be an acrobat unless he can jump well.
If a person can jump well, he could be an acrobat.
The tigers will be angry if they aren’t fed.
Unless the tigers are fed, they will be angry.

Exercise 6: Fill in the blanks with an appropriate verb using a future conditional.

The acrobat is going to/will fall if he isn’t careful.

The ringmaster will be heartbroken if no one comes to the circus.
If there is an accident, the circus will close.
The seals will jump if they get some fish for lunch.
If the elephants don’t get some exercise, their legs will be sore.
The lion tamer will start if the lions relax.
The acrobats are going to/will perform tonight if their legs don’t ache.
If Michael goes to the circus, his ex-wife will not come.
Judy will cry if she can’t see the clowns.
If that trapeze artist falls, I am going to scream.

Exercise 7: Fill in the blanks.

M: So you want to work at my circus. If you want to work here, you will practice all the time.
L: That’s not a problem. I had already planned on practicing a lot before I came here.
R: I had just put on my make-up when you telephoned me to come for an interview. I hope it
isn’t a problem.
M: No, you look good. I wish I could hire both of you. I don’t have enough money for that. If

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someone in the crowd doesn’t laugh at you, what will you do, Ronny?
R: I will try harder if he or she doesn’t laugh. I am very funny. I hope everyone laughs.
M: What will you do if the lions don’t obey you, Lane?
L: I will have a big problem if the lions don’t obey me. You will have to find a new lion tamer.
M: You are funny. I have made my decision. I will hire you, Lane. I am sorry, Ronny. There are
lots of good clowns but there aren’t many good lion tamers. I hope you can find a job at another
circus, Ronny.
R: That’s okay. I am ready to retire, anyway.

Reading
1). The meaning of roots is origins.
2). He refers to Jean Gravelet.
3). Slack is probably the opposite of tight.
4). It refers to balancing pole.
5). Drooping means bending downwards.
6). Them refers to artists.
7). Tightrope walking originated in Egypt and China.
8). Jean Gravelet enjoyed an omelet on a wire over Niagara Falls.
9). The artist often carries a balancing pole.
10). The pole lowers the center of gravity.

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vocabulary list
NOUNS VERBS ADJECTIVES ADVERBS PREPOSITIONS
baton include annoying quickly above
circus juggle athletic soon around
clown obey doubtful tightly at
souvenir retire stretched usually by
tamer swing in
tent of
trick on
tuxedo through
whip under
with
CONJUNCTIONS QUESTION WORDS
because how many
but what
or where
why

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