The vegetable garden

Jordi and Laura are admiring the vegetable garden at the back of the house.

Laura: You’ve got a nice garden here.
Jordi: Yes, these are onions and that’s lettuce. We’ve got plenty of room for more vegetables.
Laura: What else are you going to plant?
Jordi: I don’t know. I think I’ll plant spinach and some potatoes, but Núria prefers carrots because she loves them.
Laura: Do you sell them in the market?
Jordi: Not yet, but I think we’ll set up a stand in the weekly market in the village and we’ll sell our vegetables. They are all ecological. No pesticides here.
Laura: So what’s the weather like in here? Does it rain a lot?
Jordi: No, not much. It’s usually fine, but in winter temperatures sometimes drop below zero during the night, so we need to protect the crops from freezing.
Laura: What plans have you got for the weekend? Anything special?
Jordi: I’ve got a lesson on Saturday. I’m going to learn how to engraft. We would like to engraft some avocados to get a more savoury variety. And I think Núria will go to the village. There’s a guy there who’s going to teach her to prune trees. So you’ll be on your own. Would you like to come with me? Or do you prefer to go pruning?
Laura: I think I’ll go with you. I’d like to learn some engrafting. I wish the weather were good at the weekend.

Technical vocabulary (general):

Technical vocabulary (vegetables):

Language notes:

1) to be on (your) own (Cat. ‘estar sol/a’) means to be physically without other people around you. In this sense, it is equivalent to the expression to be alone. From a psychological point of view, the correct term is: to be/feel lonely (Cat. ‘estar/sentir-se sol/a’).

We make this expression with the appropriate possessive adjective, so we must say: I am on my own, you are on your own, he is on his own, she is on her own, we are on our own, they are on their own.

2) Note the two question words:

• What else…? (Cat. ‘Què més…?’): here it is wrong to say: what more…?
• What is…like? (Cat. ‘Com és…?’): this interrogative pronoun asks for a description of a person or thing. The word like is placed at the end of the question.

In agricultural production, the weather is very important because a good harvest very often depends on the weather. In this section you will learn how to describe the weather and make predictions, and syou will also learn the most important words and expressions related to the topic.

On the other hand, you will also learn about the different ways of expressing your wishes.

In the dialogue between Jordi and Laura, which you can find in the text ‘Growing vegetables’ above, Laura and Jordi speak about the weather:

Laura: ‘So what’s the weather like in here? Does it rain a lot?.
Jordi: No, not much. It’s usually fine, but in winter temperatures sometimes drop below zero during the night, so we need to protect the crops from freezing.

If you work in the agricultural sector, sooner or later you will need to speak about the weather. Apart from this, the weather is the favourite conversation topic of the British. When you are introduced to someone, you can safely speak about the weather to initiate a conversation.

To ask about the weather, you can say:

• ‘What’s the weather like?’ (Cat. ‘Quin temps fa?’)

To answer this question, you must describe the weather. Here are some useful words and expressions for describing the weather conditions:

Verbs:

• To rain (Cat. ‘ploure’)
• To pour (Cat. ‘diluviar’)
• To drizzle (Cat. ‘plovisquejar’)
• To snow (Cat. ‘nevar’)
• To hail (Cat. ‘pedregar’)
• To thunder (Cat. tronar)

Adjectives (with examples of use and approximate Catalan translation):

• Rainy > it’s rainy (Cat. ‘Està plovent’)
• Stormy > it’s stormy (Cat. ‘Hi ha tempestes’)
• Snowy > the weather is snowy (Cat. ‘Està nevant’)
• Foggy > it’s foggy (Cat. ‘Hi ha boira’)
• Dry > it’s very dry (Cat. ‘Fa un temps molt sec’, ‘plou molt poc’)
• Wet > it’s wet (Cat. ‘Fa un temps humit’, ‘plou bastant’)
• Freezing > it’s freezing (Cat. ‘Fa molt de fred’, ‘fa un fred que pela’)

Nouns:

• Rain (Cat. ‘pluja’)
• Snow (Cat. ‘neu’)
• Fog (Cat. ‘boira’)
• Ice (Cat. ‘gel’)
• Draught (Cat. ‘sequera’)
• Cloud (Cat. ‘núvol’)
• Storm (Cat. ‘tempesta’)
• Thunder (Cat. ‘tro’)
• Lighting (Cat. ‘llamp’)
• Temperature (Cat. ‘temperatura’)
• Weather forecast (Cat. ‘predicció del temps’)

Some expressions to describe the weather:

• The weather is good/fine (Cat. ‘Fa bon temps’)
• The sun is shining (Cat. ‘Fa sol’, ‘el sol brilla’)
• The weather is awful (Cat. ‘Fa mal temps’, ‘el temps és molt dolent’)
• There’s a storm (Cat. ‘Hi ha tempesta’)

The four seasons are:

• Spring (Cat. ‘primavera’)
• Summer (Cat. ‘estiu’)
• Autumm (UK) - Fall (US) (Cat. ‘tardor’)
• Winter (Cat. hivern’)

Speaking about temperature: (with examples of use and approximate Catalan translation)

• Cold > It’s very cold (Cat. ‘Fa molt de fred’)
• Cool > It’s cool (Cat. ‘Fa fresqueta’)
• Warm > It’s warm (Cat. ‘No fa gens de fred’, ‘fa una mica de calor’)
• Hot > It’s very hot (Cat. ‘Fa molta calor’)

In the dialogue between Jordi and Laura at the beginning of this section, you can find two different ways of expressing a wish (Cat. ‘desig’):

• Jordi says: We would like to engraft some avocados to get a more savoury variety.
• Later on, Laura says: I’d like to learn some engrafting. I wish the weather were good at the weekend.

In these sentences, you can find two different ways of expressing your wishes. The most common one is with the form would like, but you can also say: I wish….

These are the different ways of expressing your wishes in English:

• Would like
• The verb ‘to wish’
• The verb ‘to want
• If only…

We can use this form in different sentence structures. It can refer to the future or to the past.

1) Wishes referring to the future:

a) I WOULD LIKE + TO + BASE FORM + …

• I would like to see you (Cat. ‘Et voldria veure’).
• I would like to stay a little longer (Cat. ‘Em voldria quedar una mica més’ / ‘M’agradaria quedar-me una mica més’).

b) I WOULD LIKE + DIRECT OBJECT + TO + BASE FORM + …

• I would like Mr Johnson to be nicer (Cat. ‘M’agradaria que Mr Johnson fos més simpàtic’).
• I would like you to call Alan right now (Cat. ‘Voldria que truquessis a l’Alan ara mateix’).

c) I WOULD LIKE + NOUN

• I would like a coffee (Cat. ‘Voldria un cafè’).
• I would like a new opportunity (Cat. ‘Voldria una nova oportunitat’).

2) Wishes referring to the past:

d) I WOULD HAVE LIKED + TO + BASE FORM …

• I would have liked to be elected (Cat. ‘M’hagués agradat haver sortit elegit’).
• I would have liked to speak better French (Cat. ‘M’hagués agradat parlar millor el francès’).

e) I WOULD HAVE LIKED + DIRECT OBJECT + TO + BASE FORM…

• I would have liked him to be more polite (Cat. ‘M’hagués agradat que [ell] hagués estat més educat’).
• I would have liked the job to be more interesting (Cat. ‘M’hagués agradat que la feina fos més interessant’).

f) I WOULD HAVE LIKED + NOUN

• I would have liked better views (Cat. ‘M’haguéssin agradat millors vistes’).
• I would have liked a room on the top floor (Cat. ‘M’hagués agradat una habitació a l’últim pis’).

Here are some structures with the verb to wish and their corresponding equivalent expressions in Catalan.

1) Wishes referring to the future:

a) I WISH + (THAT) + SUBJECT + PAST SIMPLE + …

• I wish (that) you were more sociable. (Cat. ‘Tant de bo fossis més sociable’).
• I wish (that) you came with us next week. (Cat. ‘Tant de bo vinguessis amb nosaltres la setmana que ve’).

b) I WISH + TO + BASE FORM

• I wish to speak to you as soon as possible. (Cat. ‘Voldria parlar amb tu el més aviat possible’).
• I wish to tell you something. (Cat. ‘Voldria dir-te una cosa’).

c) I WISH + INDIRECT OBJECT + DIRECT OBJECT

• I wish you a very good morning. (Cat. ‘Et desitjo un molt bon dia’).
• I wish the new secretary good luck. (Cat. ‘A la nova secretària li desitjo bona sort’).

2) Wishes referring to the past:

d) I WISH + (THAT) + SUBJECT + PAST PERFECT (had + past participle)…

• I wish (that) I had been here before. (Cat. ‘Tant de bo hagués estat aquí abans’).
• I wish (that) I had taken an umbrella. (Cat. ‘Tant de bo hagués agafat un paraigua’).

Apart from would like to and I wish, there are other ways of expressing wishes in English. For example, we can use the verb to want (Cat. voler):

a) I WANT + TO + BASE FORM + …

• I want to go to Mr Smith’s speech tonight (Cat. ‘Aquesta nit vull anar a la conferència de Mr Smith’).
• I want to be alone, please (Cat. ‘Vull estar sol, si us plau’).
• I wanted to come earlier, but it was impossible (Cat. ‘Volia venir abans, però ha estat impossible’).

b) I WANT + DIRECT OBJECT + TO + BASE FORM + …

• I want you to sit down and listen (Cat. ‘Vull que seguis i escoltis’).
• I wanted him to relax, but he was hysterical (Cat. ‘Volia que es calmés, però estava histèric’).

c) I WANT + NOUN

• I wanted some paper for the printer (Cat. ‘Volia paper per a la impressora’).
• I want a peaceful evening (Cat. ‘Vull una tarda tranquil·la’).

There is also an expression that is used to express wishes:

d) IF ONLY + SUBJECT + PAST SIMPLE… (referring to the future)

• If only I had money! (Cat. ‘Si almenys tingués diners!’).
• If only he were a little more intelligent! (Cat. ‘Si almenys fos una mica més intel·ligent!’).

e) IF ONLY + SUBJECT + PAST PERFECT… (referring to the past)

• If only I had taken the mobile! (Cat. ‘Si almenys hagués agafat el mòbil!’).
• If only they had finished their work! (Cat. ‘Si almenys haguessin acabat la feina!’).

Note: with I wish…. and If only… the past tense of ‘to be’ is were for all persons: I wish I were…, if only he were….

You are going to learn how to speak about the future in English. We can see a future event in different ways. For example, as something that will happen independently of our will or as something that we have planned to happen. This difference is important because we must choose a different form in each case. We can express the future with the modal verb will or with the expression be going to. In this section you will learn how to distinguish each form and use them correctly.

In the text called ‘Growing vegetables’ we can see different examples of the use of the future forms:

• I think I’ll plant spinach and some potatoes.
• I think we’ll set up a stand in the weekly market in the village and we’ll sell our vegetables.
• I think Núria will go to the village.
• So you’ll be on your own.
• I think I’ll go with you.

In this list, you can see different examples with will.

We use of the future with will:

1) To give information about the future:

• They will go on strike tomorrow (Cat. ‘Demà faran vaga’).
• Will you come to work next Monday? (Cat. 'Vindràs a treballar el dilluns que ve?’).
• He will retire next year (Cat. 'Es jubilarà l’any que ve’).
• I will be 38 next week (Cat. ‘La setmana que ve compliré 38 anys’).

2) To make predictions and talk about what we think or guess that will happen:

• It will rain all the week (Cat. 'Plourà tota la setmana’).
• I think (that) I will stay at home tonight (Cat. ‘Crec que em quedaré a casa aquesta nit’).
• I’m sure (that) you will all pass the exams (Cat. ‘Estic segur que tots aprovareu els exàmens’).
• I guess (that) you will come, won’t you? (Cat: ‘Suposo que vindràs, no?’).

3) In conditional sentences:

• If it freezes now, the crops will be spoilt (Cat. ‘Si ara gela, la collita es farà malbé’).
• If I pass the exams, I will be very happy (Cat. ‘Si aprovo els exàmens, estaré molt contenta’).
• What will you do if you are fired? (Cat. ‘Què faràs si et despatxen de la feina?’).

4) To express requests and to make offers or promises:

• Will you come here, please? (a request) (Cat. 'Pots venir, si us plau?’).
• I’ll do it! (a promise) (Cat. ‘Ho faré!’).
• Don’t worry, I’ll help you with your English (an offer/a promise) (Cat. ‘No t’amoïnis, jo t’ajudaré amb l’anglès’).

In the dialogue at the beginning of the section, there is an example of the future with be going to:

• I’m going to learn how to engraft

In this form, we must conjugate the verb ‘to be’ in the present simple (am/is/are). The structure is the following:

• AM/IS/ARE + GOING TO + BASE FORM

Conjugation of be going to:

The following table shows the conjugation of the verb work in the be going to-form.

We use the future with be going to:

1) To express a future event which is already planned and decided:

• We are going to buy a new car next year (Cat. ‘L’any que ve comprarem un cotxe nou’).
• Are you going to study for the exam tonight? (Cat 'Estudiaràs per a l’examen aquesta nit?’).
• I’m going (to go) to France next summer (Cat: ‘El proper estiu aniré a França’).

2) To predict the future on the basis of present evidence:

• She is going to have a baby in May (Cat. 'Tindrà un bebè al mes de maig’).
• Look at those clouds! It’s going to rain (Cat. ‘Mira aquells núvols! Està per ploure’).

The most important difference between the use of will and be going to is the intentionality of the action:

• If we express our intention of doing something, we must use the form with be going to.
• If we express something that will happen independently of our intention, we must use will.

For example, we can say:

• I’m going to visit my sister (= I have planned the visit and it is my intention to visit my sister).
• I think I won’t get married (= I don’t have any plans; I make a prediction and say what I think will happen).

When speaking about a person’s age, we must always use ‘will’:

• I will be 50 next week (Cat. ‘La setmana que ve faré 50 anys’).

We cannot plan to be 50 next week (it will happen anyway), so it is wrong to say: I’m going to be 50 next week.

We use will and be going to with time adverbials that refer to the future. For example:

• Tomorrow (Cat. ‘demà’).
• Next week, next month, etc. (Cat. ‘La setmana que ve’, ‘el mes que ve’, etc.).
• Tonight (Cat. ‘Aquesta nit’).
• In the future (Cat. ‘En el futur’).
• One day (Cat. ‘Un dia’).
• In a week, a month, a year, etc. (Cat. ‘D’aquí a una setmana’, ‘un mes’, ‘un any’, etc.).