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Lesson 99 / Friends & behaviour
5 phrases · 12 minutes · Look, listen and try.
Represent others, stand by friends and recognise unfair treatment.
Match words to pictures →Play What is She/He doing? →
A randomly assigned, fixed male or female synthetic voice for each phrase or sentence · Slow playback at 0.7× preserves pitch.
I cannot speak for everyone, but I enjoyed the activity.
I cannot speak for everyone, but I enjoyed the activity.
She spoke for the group at the meeting.
She spoke for the group at the meeting.
Do not assume someone agrees with you; represent them only when you know their views. The past form of “speak” is “spoke”.
Cambridge Dictionary · speak for
A good friend will stick by you when things are difficult.
A good friend will stick by you when things are difficult.
They stuck by their teammate after the mistake.
They stuck by their teammate after the mistake.
This emphasises continued support during difficulty, rather than standing close or sticking physically to someone; the past form is “stuck”.
Cambridge Dictionary · stick by
You can stand up to unfair treatment and ask an adult for help.
You can stand up to unfair treatment and ask an adult for help.
She stood up to the boy who kept teasing her.
She stood up to the boy who kept teasing her.
Here this means resisting unfair pressure, rather than fighting. Asking an adult for support is appropriate; the past form is “stood”.
It is not fair to pick on someone because they are quiet.
It is not fair to pick on someone because they are quiet.
The teacher stopped the children from picking on the new student.
The teacher stopped the children from picking on the new student.
This means treating someone unfairly, rather than selecting them for a team. Do not separate the phrase.
Can you let me in on the surprise plan?
Can you let me in on the surprise plan?
They let us in on the secret before the party.
They let us in on the secret before the party.
Put the person receiving information between “let” and “in on”. This is not about entering a room; the past form is also “let”.
The examples were written for this course. Usage was checked against Matt Errey’s book, pages 119, 122, 121, 96, 78. A2–B1 is the course’s intended level.
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Sentences using suggestions are counted as needing more practice. Review schedule based on each phrase's meaning.
OBSERVE · UNDERSTAND · MATCH
Drag a wire from the dot beside a phrase to the dot beside its matching picture. You can also tap a phrase, then a picture. Drag again to change a pair before checking.
Read the picture descriptions for more context. Similar expressions are accepted when they fit the particular scene.
Phúc presents the group’s views to the teacher while his group stands beside him and nods.
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Phúc stays beside a friend upset about a broken model and helps gather the pieces.
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Phúc calmly raises a stop hand when a child tries to grab another child’s belongings, with a teacher nearby.
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Phúc looks upset as a child points at his drawing and mocks it; a teacher approaches to intervene.
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Phúc quietly tells a friend about a surprise birthday present, with a gift box in a thought bubble.
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Choose a phrase to begin.
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Read the conversation and find the expressions you have learned.
Can you speak for our group at the meeting?
Can you speak for our group at the meeting?
Yes, but tell me if I have misunderstood anyone.
Yes, but tell me if I have misunderstood anyone.
We will stick by you if the discussion gets difficult.
We will stick by you if the discussion gets difficult.
“Speak for” means represent someone’s views; “stick by” means remain loyal or supportive. Supporting someone does not automatically authorise speaking on their behalf.
Try answering before revealing the suggested answer. This practice is not scored.
The answers below are models. Other answers can also work if they preserve the facts, meaning and structure requested in the task.
A representative is asked to give her group’s shared opinion. Supporting a friend does not mean agreeing to represent him personally.
Describe her authorised role.
She will speak for the group.
The authorised representative can “speak for the group” without claiming to know every private opinion.
Complete: We will stick ___ you during the difficult discussion.
by
“Stick by you” promises continued support during the difficult discussion; “by” introduces the supported person.
Write a careful statement of representation.
I can speak for the group, but I cannot claim to know everyone’s private views.
The statement limits representation to the shared view, distinguishing support from permission to represent each person privately.
The usage comparisons are checked against the Cambridge Dictionary entries linked beside the compared expressions. The additional conversations and exercises are written for this course.
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