English Lessons with Blackadder

1) Why is Blackadder upset?
2) What solution does Baldrick suggest?
3) Why is 'the Shadow' only half way to becoming the next Robin Hood?
4) How does Blackadder think he will solve his money problems?
5) What does Blackadder suggest that the Prince do to solve his own money problems?
6) Why has the newspaper got a large hole in it?
7) What happens when the Prince serenades Amy?
8) Why does Blackadder call the wedding off?
9) Why can't Blackadder find a horse?
10) Why does Blackadder kiss Baldrick?
11) Who is 'The Shadow'?
12) How does George find 10 000 pounds?
13) What's Blackadder's plan for getting his money back?

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Match the words in the left column with words of similar meaning on the right

A highwayman

(adj) having little or no money

(stony) broke

A criminal on horseback who robbed people in carriages

a drawback

An unmarried man

Tax

A disadvantage

A bachelor

Money paid to the government

Stare at s.t

Throw up

A rumour

Look at something for a long time

Vomit

gossip

Disaster

rogue

scoundrel

A precious stone

A jewel

crisis

The loot

Attach someone to something with rope/string

Untie / tie up

Money given in return for some good deed

A reward

The (stolen) treasure/money

Tip off (the authorities)

A person who helps another criminal

An accomplice

Report s.o to the authorities

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1) Want to do (+ to + infinitive) promise, threaten, offer
2) Tell s.o to do (object + to + infinitive) ask, warn, advise, order, persuade
3) Congratulate s.o on doing (object + preposition + gerund) accuse s.o (of), thank s.o (for), praise s.o (for)
4) Avoid doing (+ gerund) deny, admit, regret, suggest, recommend
5) Insist on doing (+ preposition + gerund) apologise for,
6) Say that (+ that + clause) promise, insist, suggest, deny, admit, regret
7) Tell s.o that assure, persuade, convince, warn, advise (NOT ask)

Put the following sentences into reported speech, using the reporting verbs.

1) 'Why don't you become a highwayman?'
Baldrick suggested

2) 'I'm rotten stinking stony broke'
The prince admitted

3) 'Then there's only one solution - you'll have to marry'
Blackadder advised

4) 'Oh that is a lie! The Prince has fine manners'
Blackadder insisted

5) 'Never ask for directions in Wales, Baldrick'
Blackadder warned

6) 'No, there is no-one here. It was just the wind'
Blackadder denied

7) 'You're so brave'
Amy praised

8) 'Father, you did nothing to defend my honour!'
Lady Cheapside accused

Grammar

Second conditional If + past / would + infinitive

We use this form to speak about hypothetical situations in the present

'If we were the last 3 humans on Earth, I'd be trying to start a family with Baldrick.'

Thrid conditional If + had 3rd / would + have + 3rd form

We use this form to speak about hypothetical past actions and their past consequences

Finish the following sentences about the show with your own ideas using 2nd and 3rd conditional.

1) If the Prince hadn't played cards
2) If Blackadder had found a horse
3) If Baldrick were more intelligent
4) If Amy's father was wealthy
5) If the Prince hadn't found the biscuit barrel

1) He's in serious debt.
2) He suggests becoming a highwayman.
3) He steals from the rich, but he hasn't got round to giving it to the poor.
4) He will ask the Prince (his employer)
5) He suggests that he marries someone wealthy
6) Baldrick has cut out the picture of 'The Shadow' because he is a fan.
7) Blackadder pretends to be George (in order to stop him ruining his chances of marriage) and then beats George up after Amy asks him to hit the imposter.
8) He finds out that Amy and her father are poor.
9) Prince George's horse has been injured in an accident, his own horse has been eaten, and it's a very bad time of year to hire a horse for a number of different reasons (which Baldrick lists. Listen carefully!)
10) Because Baldrick complains that he has been carrying him for so long and not even had a kiss!
11) Amy
12) It was the reward money which Blackadder got for tipping off the authorities about the Shadow.
13) A game of cards.

A highwayman

A criminal on horseback who robbed people in carriages

(stony) broke

(adj) having little or no money

a drawback

A disadvantage

Tax

Money paid to the government

A bachelor

An unmarried man

Stare at s.t

Look at something for a long time

A rumour

gossip

Vomit

Throw up

Disaster

crisis

scoundrel

rogue

A jewel

A precious stone

The loot

The (stolen) treasure/money

Untie / tie up

Attach someone to something with rope/string

A reward

Money given in return for some good deed

Tip off (the authorities)

Report s.o to the authorities

An accomplice

A person who helps another criminal