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The Adjustment Bureau
The Adjustment Bureau

The zero conditional

Date: Apr 06 2011

Themes: Romance

Grammar: Zero Conditional

Intro

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We all like to think we have some control over what happens to us. But sometimes people come into our life or events take place that feel like they were just meant to be.

The new movie The Adjustment Bureau plays with ideas of fate and free will. In the film, a mysterious group of men controls the world’s destiny. But one man, played by Matt Damon, upsets their plans when he decides he wants a different future from the one they’ve planned for him.

Find out what Amy and Ella think about fate, love, and The Adjustment Bureau.

Dialog

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Amy

Amy

Ella

Ella

Amy:  I saw a really interesting movie this weekend.

Ella:  Oh really. What was it?

Amy:  It’s called Adjustment Bureau, and there’s this group of men who basically determine everybody’s fate.

Ella:  OK.

Amy:  And so, it just sort of raises some interesting questions about like, is there such a thing as fate? Do we actually have any control over what happens to us?

Ella:  That seems like a lot of interesting topics they bring up, because sometimes you just feel so out of control with everything going on in your life, and you wonder if you have the free will to change or make a change.

Amy:  Do you believe in fate? Like, do you feel like anything has ever happened to you that was just meant to be?

Ella:  I don’t know if I believe in fate, but there’s definitely like situations…like, for example, I’m dating someone, and everything just seems kind of crazy right now, but I just have this feeling that it’s kind of like meant to be. But then it’s like, with the free will I can change that situation at any point.

Amy:  That’s true. It does seem like that’s something that people feel a lot with love, like, “I was meant to be with this person.” But then, if you end up breaking up, you immediately change your tune.

 

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Discussion

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Amy recently saw The Adjustment Bureau. It made her think about whether or not she believes in fate.

Ella isn’t sure if she believes in fate. She is in a relationship right now that feels like it was meant to be. But she says she could still use her free will at any time to end the relationship.

When people fall in love they often feel like it was meant to be. But as Amy says, they might not feel the same if they break up.

Do you believe in fate? Has anything ever happened to you that seemed like it was meant to be?

 

Comments

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CatcheR

CatcheR

Iceland

Everything happens with a reason, I guess so, everything is just meant to be, but true you still have your free will , you know everybody comes with great character, thought , and thinking, they can do the best for their selves and just working hard for what they want. If you get the results well just said that’s fate. Let me say another thing, mostly people keep saying this is fate and that’s just meant to be without put all their efforts, just throw everything with the flow, that’s not right.

08:20 AM Nov 25 2011 |

AkbarALI

Pakistan

i m ali 23years old i m student Mcom in peshawar uiversity

04:08 AM Apr 13 2011 |

aminian

aminian

Australia

I think I believe in a sort of destiny each person have. Although, I clearly know that such belief could attract lots of critics. Fate or destiny are among most controversial issues in the world. There are always ongoing debates between pro-fate believers and those who hold opponent view. I personally have encountered too many incidents which I believe a kind of superiority power might have had control on them. Though, I do not have anything to prove it. 

12:23 PM Apr 10 2011 |

yukilove

Japan

i believe i 'm a lucky girl. A lot of lucky things happened to me in my life. i think that was meant to be. because i always keep my mind positive.

02:24 PM Apr 09 2011 |

anahid goddess

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I dident this movie but destiny in life ,who do know it actually? better for us that we kind to be together & enjoy minutes of life .have agood time.

09:28 AM Apr 08 2011 |

voyage middle east

Saudi Arabia

 

 

I believe that there is a huge path for everyone. we are allowed to reach its boundaries.

I think I believe in fate to some extent.  

 

 

03:35 PM Apr 07 2011 |

marisua

marisua

Peru

and obviously with god´d hep!!!!! alll we can do….

08:05 PM Apr 06 2011 |

marisua

marisua

Peru

...mmm…. I dont know if I believe in fate but i think that we can create our fate because all things that we do are depending on our decisions…. if i want to study abroad, this action is going to change my life and my ideas about the life….. and if I want to study here in Peru…maybe i fall in love, get marry and couldnt finsih my carreer. all depends o our decisions….we create our fate-....

08:01 PM Apr 06 2011 |

 julito

julito

Argentina


 I like how Marni thinks about fate and free will.   

06:41 PM Apr 06 2011 |

mk-snobar

mk-snobar

Syrian Arab Republic

Man proposes,God disposes… People can make plans; but God determines how things will turn out.We can not even control our own sniffs,thus we can not do it with our fates.. So,as Mr. engedy wrote : God controls everything.

05:10 PM Apr 06 2011 |

fabio kelch

Brazil

I belive in fate, but you can change if you make right with the laws of  god.

if don´t go out conform with you have planed, he will make the best for you.

i belive in all things, but i need for god for make the right decision 

 

 

04:56 PM Apr 06 2011 |

gokhan1500

Turkey

I believe in fate.But everythig you hane done is your own control.If I have to make decision,I decide.You write your fate.If sometihng will happen in fat,I can change situation.

Matt Damon is in the movie.Movie sholud be good.

 

02:03 PM Apr 06 2011 |

♫Anna♥

♫Anna♥

Russian Federation

hmmm…. when wa are happy we say it's a fate…. but when We are not happy we seek a fate…. I think everything what it has a place to happen is a fate… life  and God can present good opportunites but the master of own fate is human… the last choice  depends on him…

09:50 AM Apr 06 2011 |

jasminrifi

jasminrifi

Morocco

yeah I really believe in fate a lot of things that happenede in our life they are not planned they just happened .love and mariage is a big example.

 

09:07 AM Apr 06 2011 |

jasminrifi

jasminrifi

Morocco

yeah I really believe in fate a lot of things that happenede in our life they are not planned they just happened .love and mariage is a big example.

 

09:07 AM Apr 06 2011 |

sofree

sofree

China

Kind of. You do have the free will to end up a relationship but if it's only to show you are capable of doing this, you shouldn't.

I used to meet some guy online who happen to be my old friend and his room number is my birthday. We broke up in the end.

I should watch this movie, I love the subject.

06:33 AM Apr 06 2011 |

Vina Novalina

Indonesia

The Cool Matt Damon, i like his role of Bourne Films, so cool hehhee and now he is play in romantic movie, hmm i am not yet watching this movie but i hope it will be good like his movies before. About fate, hmm i dunno i believe it or not but i know everything happens for a reason, we know right away that people come into our life cuz they are meant to be there to serve sort of purpose like teaching us or something like that…

05:51 AM Apr 06 2011 |

neunnt

Viet Nam

yes, people in my coutry said that, espeacially the old people. they fall for someone else, then, they unfornately give someone push, they have'n fate each other, said god will control their love. you love another, day by day you keep your finger crossed, it'd time to get married. then build up a happy family. that's fate

04:31 AM Apr 06 2011 |

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