It Just Slipped Out
Oct 07 2011
Intro
Anyone who is learning a language knows that you’re not always in control of what you say. Sometimes things just don’t come out the way you want them to…or when you want them to.
If there’s something on your mind, it usually finds a way to your lips before too long. It’s hard for people to avoid talking about what they’re feeling, especially around people they care about. When you say something you didn’t mean to say right then, you can say, “It just slipped out.”
Jason has been planning to ask his girlfriend Devan to marry him. He recently missed a very romantic opportunity to propose. See what happens when they’re leaving work one day. You never know what will slip out in casual conversation.
Dialogue
Jason: Can I please just use the bathroom on this floor?
Devan: I think the other girls will know if you do.
Jason: How will they know?
Devan: They’ll just know.
Jason: Come on.
Devan: Alright. Fine. Make it quick though. Hi, mom. Yeah, sorry I didn’t call you back the other night, I had a girls’ night out. Yeah, It was great. It almost didn’t happen though because I forgot my ID at home, but then Jason, being a total sweetheart, ran all the way across town to bring it to me. I know. Isn’t that so sweet? He ran on foot. Yeah. No honestly, he’s totally amazing. He’s by far the best boyfriend I’ve ever had. I just can’t even imagine my life without him. Yeah, he’s really great. We’re actually about to go home right now though, so can give you call a little later? OK. I love you. Bye. Whoa. How long have you been standing there? I love you.
Jason: Will you marry me?
Devan: What? What? Are you serious right now?
Jason: I am totally serious. I didn’t mean to ask you like this. It just slipped out.
Devan:
How does something like that just slip out?
Jason: I guess, I’ve been looking for the right time to say it and it just came out accidentally, but I’m totally serious.
Devan: What? After all these years of dating, this is how you pop the question? This is how you propose to me? No. I want a proper proposal. Get down on your knee.
Jason: Devan…
Devan: Yes! Yes, I will!
Jason: I thought you wanted the proposal.
Devan: I’m sorry. It just slipped out.
Discussion
While Jason is the restroom, Devan gets a call from her mother. She tells her how much she loves Jason. He overhears her, walks out and kisses her. Then he says it, “Will you marry me?”
Both of them are surprised. Jason says he didn’t mean to propose just then. He says it just slipped out. But he has a ring to prove he is serious.
Devan says she wants a traditional proposal. She asks Jason to get on one knee. He does, but she is too excited to let him finish. “Yes,” she says. She will marry him.
Have you ever let something slip out or said something accidentally? How did it go?
Grammar Point
Present Perfect Progressive Tense
Jason says that he has been looking for the right time to ask Devan to marry him. He uses the present perfect progressive tense.
We use this tense to talk about actions that began in the past and are still in progress in the present.
You can form the present perfect progressive with have/has been + verb + ing, as in, “Devan has been hoping that Jason would propose.”
Which is correct, “I have been planning to propose to my girlfriend for a long time” or “I been planning to propose to my girlfriend for a long time”?
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)