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Be Beside Oneself

Intro  
Have you ever felt so excited, or angry, or scared, that you couldn’t recognize yourself? Have you ever been so emotional that you behaved like a different person? To be beside oneself is to act in a way that is not normal for you. It’s used with all kinds of emotions, from feeling anxious to feeling sad.

A mother might be beside herself with worry if her young son doesn’t come home when she’s asked him to return. A high school student might be beside himself with excitement as he waits to hear from universities and colleges. A little girl could be beside herself with sorrow when her pet dog dies. Being beside oneself means having strong feelings about something.

Both Jessica and Rafael are beside themselves, but for different reasons. What do you think is happening? Read today’s English lesson to find out!
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Dialogue

Brian: So, how do you like working at StarScoop.com?
Jessica: I love it. I was beside myself when I found out I’d gotten the job.
Brian: Good. And how are things in terms of working with Gary?
Jessica: It’s been fine. Nothing to worry about. It’s all water under the bridge between us.
Brian: Cool. Who’s looking over your yoga studio while you’re here?
Jessica: Rafael. I promoted him to office manager. And he’s teaching all of the classes, too. He’s very capable.
Brian: But you miss teaching yoga, don’t you?
Jessica: Yes and no. The more I think about it, the more I feel like I’m ready to move on from the world of yoga.
Brian: Really?
Jessica: Yeah.
Brian: Why’s that?
Jessica: Working here has reminded me how much I’ve always wanted to be in journalism. And it also helps that Rafael is so good at what he does.
Brian: I’m sure. He seems like a dependable guy.
Jessica: Yes. And I hinted to him that I might want to sell the yoga business to him, and he was beside himself with excitement. And it’s all thanks to you.
Brian: To me?
Jessica: Of course. If you hadn’t gotten me this opportunity to work here, I wouldn’t be thinking about selling my yoga studio to Rafael.
Brian: I am pretty awesome that way.
Jessica: You are pretty awesome. By the way, I think it’s about time that you tell Lily that you like her.
Brian: You do?
Jessica: Yes.
Brian: But what if she doesn’t like me back?
Jessica: I get the feeling that she likes you, too. But one of you has to make the first move.
Brian: True. OK. OK, OK. I’ll do it.
Jessica: OK.
Brian: Will you help me?
Jessica: Of course! You know what? You should write her a poem.
Brian: A poem.
Jessica: Yes.
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Discussion
Brian is interested in how Jessica feels about her new position at StarScoop.com. Jessica absolutely loves it, and she thanks Brian for giving her the chance to go after her dream job.

Jessica also tells Brian that because of him, Rafael may have a dream come true as well. She’s thinking about selling her yoga business to Rafael, and she would never have thought about it if she hadn’t gotten the job at StarScoop.com. Brian is clearly pleased with himself and jokes with Jessica about how awesome he is.

Jessica also takes this opportunity to encourage Brian to tell Lily how he feels. She thinks that Lily likes Brian, too, and someone has to make the first move. Jessica offers to help Brian and suggests that he write a poem for Lily.

Do you think that Jessica should sell her yoga business to Rafael? Should Brian tell Lily that he likes her? Why or why not?
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Grammar Point
Tag Questions

Brian asks Jessica, “But you miss teaching yoga, don’t you?” He uses atag question.

Tag questions are two word tags added to the end of a statement to make a question. Tag questions give the other person a chance to reply to something that has been said. Although we can use different words to make tag questions, they all mean the same thing: “Do you agree?” or “Am I right?”

We can make tag questions with both positive and negative statements. Positive statements will always have negative question tags, and negative statements will always have positive question tags.

To make a tag for a positive statement, use the negative form of the first auxiliary verb + subject (or its pronoun), as in, “Jane has already seen the movie, hasn’t she?” or, “You are studying tonight, aren’t you?” Brian first makes a positive statement, so his tag question is negative.

To make a tag for a negative statement, use the positive form of the auxiliary verb + subject (or pronoun), as in, “We didn’t eat very much, did we?” or, “He isn’t interested, is he?”

For sentences that do not have auxiliary verbs, use do, does or did. Like other tag questions, make a negative tag for a positive sentence and make a positive tag for a negative sentence. For example, “They don’t have a car, do they?” or, “I forgot my lunch again, didn’t I?”

Tag questions can be used in past, present, or future tense, so it’s important to match the tense of the tag question to the tense of the original statement. For example, “We didn’t get very far, did we?” or, “They will be there, won’t they?”

Which is correct, “You didn’t buy the car, did you?” or, “You didn’t buy the car, didn’t you?” 

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Vocab

dependable adj.

Definition

able to be trusted to do something, able to be relied upon

Example

Laurie’s dad is very dependable. He picks her up from school every day, no matter what!
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hint v.

Definition

suggest something indirectly; share small pieces of information about something

Example

Our dad keeps hinting that he wants us to come home for Christmas. I wish he would just ask!
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get the feeling expr.

Definition

feel that something is true or is going to happen without any definite reason to believe it

Example

I get the feeling that my mom got me the bike I’ve been wanting. She keeps smiling like she has good news!
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make the first move expr.

Definition

show interest in something or someone, usually in a romantic way

Example

I wish Jim would make the first move. He still hasn’t kissed me.
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recognize v.

Definition

see something and know that one has already seen it

Example

Don’t you recognize me? We met last week!
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in terms of expr.

Definition

as far as; relating to; for

Example

This project is easy in terms of research, but the writing is hard.
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water under the bridge expr.

Definition

something that is no longer an issue or problem

Example

My brother was mean to me when we were kids, but that’s all water under the bridge. We get along great now.

I apologized to Ruth for laughing at her, but she said it was water under the bridge. I’m so relieved she’s not angry with me.

Kenny and I had a horrible breakup, but that’s water under the bridge. We’re good friends now.
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promote v.

Definition

give a person a position with more responsibility and pay within a business

Example

My boss usually promotes someone every six months. Next time it’s going to be me!
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encourage v.

Definition

inspire someone to do something

Example

I encourage him to play the guitar and he’s getting better every day.
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reminded v.

Definition

made one think of [something]

Example

That man reminded me of my father.

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