THEY AREN'T DATING NOW, THEY ARE FRIENDS NOW

 This lesson explores relationships and transitions, focusing on how people can go from dating to being just friends. Students will learn to describe relationships using the present simple and present continuous, understand the use of negatives with "not," and practice vocabulary related to friendships and dating.

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GRAMMAR

1. Present Continuous for Current Actions or States

Used to describe what is happening now or at this moment.

Structure:

• Positive: Subject + is/are + verb (-ing)
  • They are talking now.
  • We are learning about relationships.
• Negative: Subject + is/are + not + verb (-ing)
  • They aren’t dating anymore.
  • She isn’t crying; she’s laughing.

2. Present Simple for General Facts

Used to describe general truths or repeated actions.

Structure:

• Positive: Subject + base verb
  • They are friends now.
  • He likes spending time with her.
• Negative: Subject + do/does not + base verb
  • They don’t date anymore.
  • She doesn’t call him every day.

3. Contrasting Ideas

Use "but" or "now" to show change or contrast.

• They aren’t dating now, but they are good friends.
• They used to date, but now they are just friends.

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VOCABULARY

1. Date: To go out with someone romantically. (They used to date last year.)
2. Friend: Someone you like and trust. (She is my best friend.)
3. Anymore: No longer. (They aren’t dating anymore.)
4. Laugh: To make a sound showing happiness. (They laugh together a lot.)
5. Together: With each other. (They used to spend weekends together.)
6. Support: To help or encourage someone. (Good friends always support each other.)
7. Talk: To speak with someone. (They talk every day.)
8. Comfortable: Feeling relaxed. (They are comfortable being friends now.)
9. Romantic: Related to love. (Their relationship isn’t romantic anymore.)
10. Understand: To know the meaning of something. (Friends understand each other well.)

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USEFUL EXPRESSIONS

• They aren’t dating now.
• They are just friends.
• They used to be a couple.
• Now, they support each other as friends.
• They don’t have a romantic relationship anymore.
• They still care about each other.
• It’s better for them to be friends.
• Friendship is important to them.
• They talk often but as friends.
• They are happier this way.

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SENTENCES

Positive Sentences

1. They are friends now.
2. They support each other.
3. Their friendship is strong.

Negative Sentences

1. They aren’t dating anymore.
2. Their relationship isn’t romantic now.
3. They don’t go out as a couple.

Questions

1. Are they dating now?
2. Were they a couple before?
3. Do they still spend time together?

Answers

1. No, they aren’t dating now.
2. Yes, they were a couple before.
3. Yes, they spend time together as friends.

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CONVERSATION

Liam: Hey, aren’t James and Sarah dating?
Sophia: No, they aren’t dating now. They’re just friends.
Liam: Really? I thought they were a couple.
Sophia: They used to be, but now they’re better as friends.
Liam: That’s good. It’s nice they can still be close.
Sophia: Yeah, they support each other a lot.

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READING

"From Dating to Friendship"

James and Sarah used to be a couple. They went out on dates, shared many fun moments, and spent a lot of time together. However, over time, they realized that they were better as friends than as a couple.

Now, James and Sarah aren’t dating anymore. Instead, they have a strong friendship. They talk often, share advice, and support each other through challenges. Although their relationship isn’t romantic, they are happier and more comfortable this way.

Their story shows that not all relationships end badly. Sometimes, people can transition from being in love to being great friends, and that’s something beautiful.

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Questions and Answers

1. Q: What did James and Sarah realize about their relationship?
   A: They realized they were better as friends than as a couple.

2. Q: Are James and Sarah dating now?
   A: No, they aren’t dating anymore.

3. Q: How do James and Sarah support each other?
   A: They talk often and share advice.

4. Q: Why are they happier now?
   A: They are more comfortable being friends.

5. Q: What does their story teach us?
   A: It shows that people can transition from love to friendship in a positive way.