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GENERAL ENGLISH · PRACTICAL ENGLISH · PRE-INTERMEDIATE (A2-B1)

DISCUSSING
THINGS IN
COMMON
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1 Warm up

In pairs or small groups, discuss the following questions.

1. If you have something in common with someone, do you have similar or different interests, experiences,
and characteristics?
2. List what you have in common with your closest friend. Discuss your ideas with your partner.

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DISCUSSING THINGS IN COMMON

2 Focus on vocabulary: similarities

Part A: Read the paragraph below and fill in the gaps with the given words/phrases. Then, discuss
what the two friends have in common.

identical / share / look like / both / similar / same

I have known Grace for over twenty-five years. She has been my best friend
1
since school. We do everything together as we the
2
same hobbies. We have a dog, and we even have
3
the car although they are different colours, so they
4 5
are not quite . We have
6
jobs and we both work in the city. We even
each other so most people think we are sisters.

Part B: Discuss the following questions in pairs.

1. Do you think it is important for both people in a relationship to have the same interests?
2. Do you know any identical twins? What are the advantages and disadvantages of being an identical
twin?
3. Who do you look like in your family?
4. Do you have any friends who you have nothing in common with?
5. Do you have similar personality traits to your friends? What are they?
6. Do you share the same clothes style as your closest friend?

3 Listening comprehension: what activities do you like?

Listen to two people talking about what activities they like or dislike. What do they have in common?
Write down three things.

1)

2)

3)

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DISCUSSING THINGS IN COMMON

4 Language point
Part A: Which two phrases do the speakers (exercise three) use when they have something in common?
Listen and check.

1.

2.

Part B: What is the difference between the two phrases? Fill in the gaps with an appropriate word.

1. So + auxiliary verb + I = respond to sentences

2. Neither + auxiliary verb + I = respond to sentences

5 Game: jump left, jump right

Stand in line, listen to the teacher’s statements or read them yourself, and jump to the right or to the
left phrase to respond to them.

Example:

I like going to the cinema → so do I

NEITHER DO I SO DO I

1. I like football.

2. I don’t enjoy playing computer games.

3. I love going to the park.

4. I don’t like going to the gym.

5. I don’t like to stay up late.

6. I enjoy going to parties

7. I don’t mind doing exercise.

8. I like swimming.

9. I don’t go out very often.

10. I love shopping.

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DISCUSSING THINGS IN COMMON

6 Speaking practice

Do you share the same likes and dislikes? Ask and answer questions about the activities given by the
teacher.

7 Focus on keywords: other things in common

Part A: Match a sentence with the correct response.

1. I like chocolate. a. So have I

2. I’m not into classical music. b. Neither have I

3. I don’t live in London. c. So did I

4. I started university last year. d. So do I

5. I haven’t been to the dentist for ages. e. So would I

6. I have been abroad. f. So can I

7. I can design websites. g. Neither am I

8. I would like to get a dog. h. Neither do I

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Part B: Fill in the gaps using so + auxiliary verb or neither + auxiliary verb to complete the phrase.
Remember the verbs need to match. In pairs, take turns reading the statements. Respond so it is true
for you. Either agree or disagree.

Group 1:

1
I want to learn another language. I

2
I’m afraid of heights. I

3
I’m not into gaming. I

4
I went to the cinema last week. I

5
I don’t like living in a city. I

6
I would love to win the lottery. I

7
I have never been abroad. I

Group 2:

1
I live in a flat. I

2
I want to go to Italy. I

3
I can speak two languages. I

4
I go to Spain every year. I

5
I didn’t go to the gym last month. I

6
I can’t drive. I

7
I don’t usually go out during the week. I

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DISCUSSING THINGS IN COMMON

8 Speaking practice: anything in common?

Part A: Look at the table below and fill in the gaps so the sentences are true for you.

Part B: Find people in the class who agree with your statements.

questions name additional information

I would love to go __________

____________________________

I would never try ____________

____________________________

I really like _________________

____________________________

I didn’t ____________________
___________________ last week

I think _____________________
_____________________ is easy

I have been to ______________

____________________________

I’m really into ______________

____________________________

I can’t play _________________

____________________________

I went to _________________
_________________ yesterday

I don’t understand why ____

____________________________

I’d like to be ________________

____________________________

I’m afraid of ________________

____________________________

I have never ________________

____________________________

I love going to ______________

____________________________

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DISCUSSING THINGS IN COMMON

Transcripts

3. Listening comprehension: what activities do you like?

Man: Do you like going to the cinema?

Woman: Yes, I do. I love action films.

Man: So do I, but I don’t like science fiction films.

Woman: Neither do I. What about doing exercise, do you like playing any sports?

Man: Not really.

Woman: Neither do I. I sometimes watch football but that’s about it. Do you like going to art
galleries?

Man: No, not at all.

Woman: Oh, I do. I went to the Photographers Gallery last week. They have a fantastic exhibition
on at the moment.

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DISCUSSING THINGS IN COMMON

Key

1. Warm up

5 mins.
This stage is to introduce the topic. Students first clarify the meaning of the phrase something in common and then
list what they have in common with their closest friend. They then share their ideas with their partner. You can
also highlight the opposite phrase - have nothing in common with someone.

2. Focus on vocabulary: similarities

Part A:
5 mins.
This stage is for students to identify and practise vocabulary to describe similarities. First, they read the short text
and fill in the gaps with the correct word or phrase. Check the meaning and practise the pronunciation.

1. share
2. both
3. same
4. identical
5. similar
6. look like
What they have in common:
They have the same hobbies
They both have a dog
They have the same car but in different colours
They have similar jobs in the city
They look like each other
Part B:
5 mins.
Now students personalise vocabulary by discussing the questions with their partner.

3. Listening comprehension: what activities do you like?

5 mins.
This stage is for the students to hear the language in context. They listen to the conversation and write down what
the two people have in common. Ask them to check their ideas with their partner before reviewing the answers.
Answers:
1) They both like going to the cinema.
2) They both love action films, but they don’t like sci-fi films.
3) They don’t like playing sports.

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DISCUSSING THINGS IN COMMON

4. Language point

Part A:
5 mins.
This stage is for students to identify phrases used to say if they have something in common with someone. First,
the students try to remember which phrases the speakers used. Ask them to check with their partner before
playing the audio one more time.

1. So, do I 2. Neither do I
Part B:
5 mins.
Now students differentiate between two phrases and fill in the gaps.
*You could also elicit and highlight that we can also use me too to agree with positive statements and me neither
to agree with negative sentences. It is likely that they will have heard the response me too before.
You might want to highlight that neither can be pronounced /"naI.ð@r/ /"ni:.ð@r/. Practise the phrases in isolation
and then in context. Say a statement about likes and dislikes. Elicit responses from the students.
T: I like reading
S: So do I
T: I don’t like playing computer games
S: Neither do I

1. positive
2. negative

5. Game: jump left, jump right

5 mins.
This stage is for students to play a quick game to review the phrases. Draw a line down the middle of the board.
On the left side write So do I and on the right side write Neither do I. Ask the students to stand in a line in the
middle of the board. Tell them they are going to agree with some statements, and they have to choose the right
phrase. If they think it is So do I, they jump to the left, and if they think it is Neither do I, they jump to the right.

1. so do I 2. neither do I 3. so do I 4. neither do I 5. neither do I

6. so do I 7. neither do I 8. so do I 9. neither do I 10. so do I

6. Speaking practice

10 mins.
Preparation - cut out a set of picture cards for each pair
This stage is for students to practise talking about activities they like or dislike and learn what they have in common.
They have to respond to the statement by agreeing or disagreeing.
Elicit what the students should say if they don’t agree with the statement.
T- Do you like swimming?
S- Yes, I do
T- I don’t
——–

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DISCUSSING THINGS IN COMMON

T- Do you like swimming?

S- No, I don’t
T- I do
——–
Give each pair a set of picture cards. The first student picks up a card and asks the other student a question. The
other student responds, and then the first student agrees or disagrees. You will need to demonstrate the activity
first. If necessary, put an example dialogue on the board.
Student A: Do you like listening to music?
Student B: Yes, I do.
Student A: So do I / I don’t.
———
Student A: Do you like listening to music?
Student B: No I don’t.
Student A: Neither do I / I do.

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DISCUSSING THINGS IN COMMON

7. Focus on keywords: other things in common

Part A:
5 mins.
This stage is for students to practise using different auxiliary verbs. First, the students complete the matching task
to highlight the different tense changes.

1. → d. 2. → g. 3. → h. 4. → c. 5. → b. 6. → a. 7. → f. 8. → e.
Part B:
5 mins.
Now ask the students to fill in the chart. Ask them to check with their partner before checking the answers as a
group. Now finish by asking the students, in pairs, to take turns reading the statements. They should respond so
they are true to them, either agreeing or disagreeing.
Group 1:

1. So do 2. So am 3. Neither am 4. So did
5. Neither do 6. So would 7. Neither have
Group 2:

1. So do 2. So do 3. So can 4. So do
5. Neither did 6. Neither can 7. Neither do

8. Speaking practice: anything in common?

Part A:
5 mins.
This stage is for students to personalise the language and find out if they have many things in common with their
classmates. First, they complete the sentences, so they are true to them. Help with any unknown vocabulary and
check for accuracy.
Part B:
5 mins.
When the students are ready, explain that they need to go around the class reading their statements to each
other. They must find someone who agrees with each of their statements. When they find someone, they should
write their name and any extra information mentioned in the conversation, in the chart. When the students
are finished, ask them to report back what they discovered. Example: Monitor and listen out for any good or
interesting responses or any errors. At the end of the task, provide some post-task language feedback.

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