BRITISH WEATHERBRITISH WEATHER

Lovely day, isn’t it?Lovely day, isn’t it?

What’s the weather like?What’s the weather like?

The British weather is very peculiar: if you are not used to, you’ll The British weather is very peculiar: if you are not used to, you’ll certainly think it’s awful and you may be right. Have you ever certainly think it’s awful and you may be right. Have you ever thought why British businessmen are always portrayed while thought why British businessmen are always portrayed while wearing a bowler hat and an umbrella? Don’t rely on the shining wearing a bowler hat and an umbrella? Don’t rely on the shining sun, it could rain in a few minutes. Last summer I was in London and sun, it could rain in a few minutes. Last summer I was in London and one day I decided to go to Greenwich by boat: the sky was cloudy one day I decided to go to Greenwich by boat: the sky was cloudy and it was quite cold; I thought it was going to rain. Nevertheless I and it was quite cold; I thought it was going to rain. Nevertheless I wanted to try and I was right: when I got to Greenwich, the sun was wanted to try and I was right: when I got to Greenwich, the sun was shining, the sky was blue and it was warm. So, when you visit Great shining, the sky was blue and it was warm. So, when you visit Great Britain, the first things to pack are a rain coat and an umbrella.Britain, the first things to pack are a rain coat and an umbrella.

Have you ever thought why the grass in the parks is always so Have you ever thought why the grass in the parks is always so green and nobody seems to take care about it? But there is green and nobody seems to take care about it? But there is “someone” doing! The weather, of course!“someone” doing! The weather, of course!

HERE SOME EXPRESSIONS USED TO TALK ABOUT HERE SOME EXPRESSIONS USED TO TALK ABOUT THE WEATHERTHE WEATHER

• What’s the weather like? (com’è il tempo?)What’s the weather like? (com’è il tempo?) It’s sunny – hot – warm - windy – rainy – cloudyIt’s sunny – hot – warm - windy – rainy – cloudy (c’è il sole – fa molto caldo – fa caldo - c’è vento – è nuvoloso)(c’è il sole – fa molto caldo – fa caldo - c’è vento – è nuvoloso) It’s snowing – it’s pouring with rain – it’s raining cats and dogsIt’s snowing – it’s pouring with rain – it’s raining cats and dogs (nevica – piove forte – sta piovendo a catinelle (nevica – piove forte – sta piovendo a catinelle lett: piovono cani e gattilett: piovono cani e gatti)) it’s not a very nice day – what a terrible day! – what miserable weather!it’s not a very nice day – what a terrible day! – what miserable weather! (non è una gran bella giornata – che brutta giornata! – che tempaccio!)(non è una gran bella giornata – che brutta giornata! – che tempaccio!) it’s clearing up – the wind has dropped – the sun has come out – the sun it’s clearing up – the wind has dropped – the sun has come out – the sun

has just gone in – we had a lot of heavy rain this morninghas just gone in – we had a lot of heavy rain this morning (si sta schiarendo – il vento è calato – è spuntato il sole – è sparito il sole (si sta schiarendo – il vento è calato – è spuntato il sole – è sparito il sole

– stamattina è piovuto moltissimo)– stamattina è piovuto moltissimo) it’s starting to rain – it’s stopped raining – the sky is overcast)it’s starting to rain – it’s stopped raining – the sky is overcast) (comincia a piovere – ha smesso di piovere – il cielo è coperto)(comincia a piovere – ha smesso di piovere – il cielo è coperto)

Conversations startersConversations starters

• British people often start a conversation with strangers and friends by British people often start a conversation with strangers and friends by talking about the weather. As weather is a neutral topic of talking about the weather. As weather is a neutral topic of conversation, it’s usually safe to use it to strike up a conversation at conversation, it’s usually safe to use it to strike up a conversation at the bus stop, in a shop, or with a neighbour over the garden fence.the bus stop, in a shop, or with a neighbour over the garden fence.

• Here some examples of conversation starters:Here some examples of conversation starters:

- Lovely day, isn’t it? (bella giornata, vero?)- Lovely day, isn’t it? (bella giornata, vero?)

- Bit nippy today (un po’ freddo oggi)- Bit nippy today (un po’ freddo oggi)

- What strange weather we’re having! (che tempo strano c’è!)- What strange weather we’re having! (che tempo strano c’è!)

- It doesn’t look like it’s going to stop raining today (non sembra che - It doesn’t look like it’s going to stop raining today (non sembra che voglia voglia

smettere di piovere oggi)smettere di piovere oggi)

Attitude to weatherAttitude to weather

Although British people like to complain about the weather, they Although British people like to complain about the weather, they generally put a brave face on it. generally put a brave face on it.

If someone complains about too much rain, you might hear:If someone complains about too much rain, you might hear: - Never mind! It’s good for the garden.- Never mind! It’s good for the garden. If someone complains that it’s too hot, you could hear:If someone complains that it’s too hot, you could hear: - At least my tomatoes will be happy!- At least my tomatoes will be happy!

If the conversation has been about general bad weather, perhaps If the conversation has been about general bad weather, perhaps someone will say:someone will say:

- Well, I’ve heard it’s worst in the west. They’ve had terrible - Well, I’ve heard it’s worst in the west. They’ve had terrible flooding.flooding.

PREDICTING THE WEATHERPREDICTING THE WEATHER

We can make predictions about the weather using a range of We can make predictions about the weather using a range of forms not just ‘will’ or ‘going to’forms not just ‘will’ or ‘going to’

- I think it will clear up later (credo che si metterà al bello)- I think it will clear up later (credo che si metterà al bello)

- It’s going to rain by the looks of it (sembra che stia per piovere)- It’s going to rain by the looks of it (sembra che stia per piovere)

- We’re in for frost tonight (andiamo incontro al gelo questa - We’re in for frost tonight (andiamo incontro al gelo questa notte)notte)

- They’re expecting snow in the north (ci si aspetta la neve al - They’re expecting snow in the north (ci si aspetta la neve al nord)nord)

- I hear that showers are coming our way (andremo incontro ad - I hear that showers are coming our way (andremo incontro ad

acquazzoni)acquazzoni)

HUMAN ATTRIBUTESHUMAN ATTRIBUTES

British also attribute human features to the weather, almost as if British also attribute human features to the weather, almost as if the weather can decide what to do:the weather can decide what to do:

- The sun’s trying to come out (il sole cerca di uscire)- The sun’s trying to come out (il sole cerca di uscire)

- It’s been trying to rain all morning (ha tentato di piovere tutta la - It’s been trying to rain all morning (ha tentato di piovere tutta la mattina)mattina)

- It’s finally decided to rain (finalmente si è deciso a piovere)- It’s finally decided to rain (finalmente si è deciso a piovere)

WHAT DO GARDENERS SAY ABOUT WEATHER FORECAST?WHAT DO GARDENERS SAY ABOUT WEATHER FORECAST?

As everyone knows, British are fond of gardening, they are keen As everyone knows, British are fond of gardening, they are keen gardeners and they keep a close eye on the weather forecast. gardeners and they keep a close eye on the weather forecast. Here some of the weather features which can worry gardeners:Here some of the weather features which can worry gardeners:

- a hard frost (gelo)- a hard frost (gelo) - blizzard/galeforce conditions (bufera di neve/tempesta di vento)- blizzard/galeforce conditions (bufera di neve/tempesta di vento) - hailstones (grandine)- hailstones (grandine) - prolonged rain (pioggia persistente)- prolonged rain (pioggia persistente) - blustery wind (vento forte)- blustery wind (vento forte) - a drought (siccità)- a drought (siccità) but it’s unlikely, believe me!!!but it’s unlikely, believe me!!!

HERE ARE SOME TEMPERATE CONDITIONS WHICH HERE ARE SOME TEMPERATE CONDITIONS WHICH GARDENERS LIKEGARDENERS LIKE

- mild weather (tempo mite)- mild weather (tempo mite)

- sunny spells (periodo di sole)- sunny spells (periodo di sole)

- light drizzle (pioggerella)- light drizzle (pioggerella)

AND NOW SOME WEATHER JOKESAND NOW SOME WEATHER JOKES

- Climate is what we expect. Weather is what we get- Climate is what we expect. Weather is what we get (il clima è ciò che ci aspettiamo. Il tempo è ciò che abbiamo)(il clima è ciò che ci aspettiamo. Il tempo è ciò che abbiamo) - Snow storms may be precursors of winter- Snow storms may be precursors of winter (le tempeste di neve potrebbero essere anticipi d’inverno)(le tempeste di neve potrebbero essere anticipi d’inverno) - Weather forecasts are horoscopes with numbers- Weather forecasts are horoscopes with numbers (le previsioni del tempo sono oroscopi con i numeri)(le previsioni del tempo sono oroscopi con i numeri) - Unbrella: an umbrella that the wind has turned inside out- Unbrella: an umbrella that the wind has turned inside out (----: un ombrello che il vento ha rovesciato)(----: un ombrello che il vento ha rovesciato) - Fog: rain that is barely mist- Fog: rain that is barely mist (nebbia: pioggia che si è semplicemente addensata)(nebbia: pioggia che si è semplicemente addensata) - Why don’t cannibals eat weathermen?- Why don’t cannibals eat weathermen? (perché i cannibali non mangiano chi fa le previsioni del tempo?)(perché i cannibali non mangiano chi fa le previsioni del tempo?)

ARE YOU READY?ARE YOU READY?

• And now pack as soon as possible: your flight to the United And now pack as soon as possible: your flight to the United Kingdom is going to leave; don’t forget your umbrella, your Kingdom is going to leave; don’t forget your umbrella, your raincoat and…. remember: in spite of the weather, you will raincoat and…. remember: in spite of the weather, you will surely enjoy your holiday because this country is surely enjoy your holiday because this country is BEAUTIFUL!!!BEAUTIFUL!!!