THE SOUP TASTED BLAND, SO I ADDED SOME PEPPER

 In this topic, we explore how to describe food flavors and how to improve them using simple English. The sentence "The soup tasted bland, so I added some pepper" shows how we talk about food that has little flavor (bland) and what we do to make it better. You will learn vocabulary for taste, expressions with food, and how to use the past simple tense to talk about past meals and actions.

Examples:

• The soup was bland, but the pepper helped.

• I added salt because it had no flavor.

• You should try adding herbs next time.

• This dish tastes better now.

You will also learn how to express cause and effect using so and how to describe food using adjectives.

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📘 GRAMMAR

1. Past Simple Tense:

• The soup tasted bland.

• I added some pepper.

2. Cause and Effect with "so":

• It was bland, so I added spices.

• He didn’t like it, so he didn’t finish it.

3. Adjectives and Comparisons:

• Bland, salty, spicy, tasty

• This soup is saltier than that one.

• It’s the tastiest dish I’ve had today.

4. Modal Verbs (can, should, must):

• You can add more salt.

• You shouldn't put too much pepper.

• You must try this recipe!

5. Present and Present Continuous:

• I usually eat soup at lunch.

• She is cooking vegetable soup now.

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📗 VOCABULARY (10 Words)

1. Soup – a hot liquid food made with vegetables, meat, etc.

2. Bland – having little or no flavor

3. Pepper – a spice made from dried peppercorns

4. Taste – the flavor of food or drink

5. Spicy – having a strong, hot flavor

6. Salty – with a lot of salt

7. Add – to put something more in

8. Flavor – the quality of taste

9. Herbs – plants used to add flavor to food

10. Recipe – instructions for cooking a meal

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💬 USEFUL EXPRESSIONS

• This tastes a bit bland.

• Can I add some pepper?

• It needs more flavor.

• I added salt and now it’s better.

• The soup is too plain.

• What did you put in the soup?

• Try it now. It’s delicious!

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🧾 SENTENCES

Positive:

• The soup tasted great after I added pepper.

• I like adding herbs to my food.

Negative:

• This soup doesn’t have enough flavor.

• I didn’t enjoy the meal.

Questions:

• Did you make this soup?

• Can I add some spices?

Answers:

• Yes, I made it this morning.

• Sure, add whatever you like.

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🗣️ CONVERSATION

Emma: What’s wrong? You don’t like the soup?

David: It’s okay, but it tastes a little bland.

Emma: Oh really? I didn’t add much salt or spices.

David: That’s probably why. Do you have some pepper?

Emma: Yes, here. Try adding a little.

David: [Sprinkles pepper] Hmm… much better! Now it has flavor.

Emma: Great! Next time, I’ll add more herbs while cooking.

David: Good idea. I like soup with strong flavors.

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📖 READING

A Simple Bowl of Soup

Yesterday, Anna made vegetable soup for dinner. She followed her grandmother’s recipe, but she forgot to add the spices. When her brother tasted it, he said, “This soup tastes bland.” Anna was surprised. She tasted it and agreed. So, she added some pepper and a little salt. After that, the soup tasted much better. Her family enjoyed it and asked for more. Anna learned that even a small change can make food delicious.

Questions:

1. What did Anna make?

2. Whose recipe did she use?

3. What did she forget to add?

4. How did her brother describe the soup?

5. What happened after she added pepper and salt?

Answers:

1. Vegetable soup.

2. Her grandmother’s.

3. The spices.

4. It tasted bland.

5. It tasted better and her family liked it.