Session 4: Small Pleasures

1I grew up with a dog, so I've always loved animals.

→ I've always loved animals.→ with a dog, so I've always loved animals.

2At the moment I don't have a pet, because my flat is too small.

→ flat is too small.→ a pet, because my flat is too small.

3I think cats are easier to look after than dogs.

→ look after than dogs.

4My neighbour's cat often comes to visit me on the balcony.

→ me on the balcony.→ often comes to visit me on the balcony.

5Having a pet teaches children to be responsible.

→ children to be responsible.

6I'd love to have a dog one day, when I have more space.

→ I have more space.→ dog one day, when I have more space.

7I'm not a big fan of zoos, to be honest.

→ zoos, to be honest.

8Watching animal documentaries is one of my favourite ways to relax.

→ favourite ways to relax.→ is one of my favourite ways to relax.

9I take photos almost every day, but only with my phone.

→ only with my phone.→ almost every day, but only with my phone.

10I mostly take pictures of food and places I visit.

→ and places I visit.

11I don't really like being in photos myself.

→ being in photos myself.

12I keep all the photos on my phone, which isn't very safe.

→ which isn't very safe.→ photos on my phone, which isn't very safe.

13My grandparents have boxes of old printed photos at home.

→ printed photos at home.

14Looking at old photos always brings back good memories.

→ brings back good memories.

15I've been meaning to print some of my favourite pictures.

→ of my favourite pictures.

16I think people take too many photos these days and forget to enjoy the moment.

→ to enjoy the moment.→ these days and forget to enjoy the moment.

17I try to read a little every night before I go to sleep.

→ I go to sleep.→ little every night before I go to sleep.

18I prefer novels, especially ones with a good mystery.

→ with a good mystery.

19When a book is really good, I can't put it down.

→ can't put it down.→ is really good, I can't put it down.

20These days I read more on my phone than on paper.

→ phone than on paper.→ read more on my phone than on paper.

21I still prefer real books, because I like the feel of the pages.

→ feel of the pages.→ because I like the feel of the pages.

22I used to read much more when I was a teenager.

→ I was a teenager.→ read much more when I was a teenager.

23I often read articles in English to improve my vocabulary.

→ to improve my vocabulary.

24The last book I read was recommended by a friend.

→ recommended by a friend.

25There's a big park near my home where I go for a walk.

→ go for a walk.→ my home where I go for a walk.

26Going to the park after work is like a breath of fresh air.

→ breath of fresh air.→ work is like a breath of fresh air.

27At the weekend, the park is full of families and children.

→ of families and children.→ the park is full of families and children.

28I like sitting under a tree and reading for an hour.

→ reading for an hour.→ under a tree and reading for an hour.

29I think every city needs more green spaces.

→ needs more green spaces.

30When I was a child, we had picnics in the park every summer.

→ the park every summer.→ we had picnics in the park every summer.

31I prefer the mountains to the beach, because it's quieter.

→ beach, because it's quieter.

32Spending time in nature helps me forget about my problems.

→ forget about my problems.

33I find it quite hard to choose gifts for other people.

→ gifts for other people.→ quite hard to choose gifts for other people.

34I usually prefer to give something useful rather than something expensive.

→ rather than something expensive.→ to give something useful rather than something expensive.

35The best gift I've ever received was a handwritten letter.

→ was a handwritten letter.

36In my culture, you don't open a gift in front of the person.

→ front of the person.→ open a gift in front of the person.

37To me, it's the thought that counts, not the price.

→ counts, not the price.

38I sometimes give experiences, like concert tickets, instead of things.

→ tickets, instead of things.

39I always keep a few small gifts at home, just in case.

→ home, just in case.→ few small gifts at home, just in case.

40I think children today receive too many presents.

→ receive too many presents.

41I'm usually on time, because I hate keeping people waiting.

→ hate keeping people waiting.

42If I'm running a few minutes late, I always send a message.

→ always send a message.→ few minutes late, I always send a message.

43In my country, people are fairly relaxed about time.

→ fairly relaxed about time.

44I plan my day the night before, so I don't forget anything.

→ I don't forget anything.→ the night before, so I don't forget anything.

45I always seem to have less free time than I want.

→ time than I want.→ to have less free time than I want.

46Time goes by much faster when I'm busy.

→ faster when I'm busy.

47I'm trying to spend less time looking at my phone.

→ looking at my phone.

48If I had one extra hour every day, I'd spend it sleeping.

→ I'd spend it sleeping.→ extra hour every day, I'd spend it sleeping.