BBC World Service | Learning English (2024)


BBC World Service | Learning English (1)
'What would you eat for lunch, supper or dinner?'

BBC World Service | Learning English (2)

A question from Pia in Poland:
Could you please explain the difference between lunch, supper and dinner. Does the expression relate to the time of the day that you eat the meal, the type of food or the size of the meal?- 'lunch / supper /dinner'

BBC World Service | Learning English (3)

BBC World Service | Learning English (4)BBC World Service | Learning English (5)

Ask about English

BBC World Service | Learning English (6)

Gareth Rees:
Well Pia, thank you for asking a question about my favourite topic, food and meals during the day. The expressions you've chosen - lunch, supper and dinner, belong to a larger set which includes words such as breakfast, tea and brunch. I'll be talking about those later.

The expressions do relate to the time of day that you eat the meal and the type of food and the size of the meal. That's why it can get confusing.

First of all, breakfast. This is simplest; it's the first meal of the day in the morning.
In the middle of the day, you might have lunch or dinner. Lunch sounds more informal or more typical, particularly for people who are working.

In the evening, you might have dinner or supper. I think that people who have a quick lunch in the middle of the day will say they have dinner in the evening and this dinner will be a good meal.

A supper is usually a light meal and is probably had after a larger dinner has been had in the middle of the day.

Confused? Well most people see a dinner as a more complete meal. A common lunch in England is a sandwich, but dinner might include soup, meat with vegetables, and then a dessert like apple pie and ice cream. So, dinner is really the main meal and people might have it in the middle of the day or in the evening. Lunch and supper are both light kinds of meal. Lunch is in the middle of the day, supper is in the evening.

Now I mentioned there are some other meals. We talked about breakfast. Two more words that you could add to your list are brunch and tea. Brunch is a mixture of breakfast and lunch, as you can tell by the sound of the word: 'brunch'. And people usually have brunch as a replacement for both lunch and breakfast. Brunch is usually had at about 11 o'clock.

And the final word is tea. Now of course this is a drink, like tea and coffee, but it can also be a light evening meal. I think this word is often used in families, particularly with their children. "It's tea time", "It's time for tea!" This means their small evening meal.

To finish, it is of course unusual to have breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, tea and supper all in one day. But let me tell you, not impossible. And from that comment you'll understand that I have the ideal physique and dietary habits for radio and the internet and not for TV.

Gareth Rees has been an English language teacher and teacher trainer for over 10 years. He is currently a lecturer at London Metropolitan University and his first course book for English Language learners is due to be published in 2007.



Downloads

BBC World Service | Learning English (7)Transcript (17kb)

BBC World Service | Learning English (8)Audio - Download the answer (mp3 - 1.1mb)

BBC World Service | Learning English (2024)

FAQs

What level is BBC 6 minute English? ›

Intermediate level. Our long-running series of topical discussion and new vocabulary, brought to you by your favourite BBC Learning English presenters.

Is BBC Learning English free? ›

One of the world's most popular providers of English language teaching material, BBC Learning English, has launched its free app.

What is the difference between adequate and sufficient? ›

If something is adequate, there is enough of it, but only just enough. If there is sufficient quantity of something, this suggests that there is as much of it as you need. Usage of these adjectives often means quantity rather than quality, whereas appropriate and suitable suggest a qualitative response to something.

When to use sufficient or enough? ›

Sufficient comes from a Latin verb meaning "to meet the need." If something is sufficient it has met, or satisfied, a need. Enough is often used as a synonym for sufficient, and when something is not sufficient, it is too little to take care of what's needed.

Is Level 6 good in English? ›

Are you an expert? The English language proficiency level 6 - the 'expert' level, as it was named by ICAO - is often referred to as the 'native speaker' level.

What happened to BBC Learning English? ›

Unfortunately, the BBC Learning English app closed on 13th December 2023. Since that date, the app has no longer worked, and you will not be able to access any of the programmes in the app or any programmes that you have downloaded. Don't worry, though.

Is BBC Learning English worth it? ›

BBC Learning English is a free online program English language learners. The website has a huge amount of excellent content, including courses and lessons on vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. It also has many ways to consume authentic English, like news articles, podcasts, quizzes, audio dramas and more.

Which app is best for learning English language for free? ›

13 Free English Learning Apps
  • Duolingo.
  • Busuu.
  • Simpler. Free English Vocabulary Apps.
  • Memrise.
  • Word of the Day – Vocabulary Builder. Free English Grammar Apps.
  • Hello English: Learn English.
  • English Grammar Book. Free English Speaking Apps.
  • HelloTalk.
May 9, 2024

How to speak English fluently? ›

How to speak English fluently – 10 key steps
  1. Use idioms. Using idioms is a hallmark of fluency and a sign that you understand and appreciate the more 'poetic' side of the language. ...
  2. Use the right idioms. ...
  3. Work on your words. ...
  4. Learn in chunks. ...
  5. Pick a dialect (or not) ...
  6. Know the culture. ...
  7. Master slang. ...
  8. Binge some shows.

What's better than sufficient? ›

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of plentiful are abundant, ample, and copious. While all these words mean "more than sufficient without being excessive," plentiful implies a great or rich supply. peaches are plentiful this summer. How do abundant and plentiful relate to one another?

Is it correct to say "enough is enough"? ›

If you say 'enough is enough', you mean that you want something that is happening to stop.

What is a stronger word than adequate? ›

There are no better or worse words to substitute for adequate. The word adequate is unremarkable. However, some synonyms for adequate are satisfactory, acceptable, suitable, reasonable, and sufficient. There is one word that could be used if you wanted to sound like a vocabulary guru and that's apposite.

What is the grammar rule for enough? ›

'Enough' as a determiner stands before a noun or a noun phrase. It does not matter if the noun is countable or uncountable. For example: That's enough money for this trip; let's get started. 'Enough' stands before the uncountable noun 'money.

What is the word for not too much not too little? ›

Lagom (pronounced [ˈlɑ̂ːɡɔm], LAW-gom) is a Swedish word meaning "just the right amount" or "not too much, not too little". The word can be variously translated as "in moderation", "in balance", "perfect-simple", "just enough", "ideal" and "suitable" (in matter of amounts).

What is a word for not too much? ›

gentle. limited. middle-of-the-road. mild. modest.

What level is 6 in English? ›

Upper Intermediate

What is English as a second language level 6? ›

Level 6. The level 6 course focuses on expanding a variety of presentation skills, developing formal written and oral communication, and enhancing analytical and critical thinking skills.

What are the language levels for English speakers? ›

The 6 language proficiency levels (CEFR)
CEFR Level A1Beginner
CEFR Level B1Intermediate
CEFR Level B2Upper-Intermediate
CEFR Level C1Advanced
CEFR Level C2Mastery
1 more row
Apr 1, 2024

What is the BBC standard English accent? ›

Received Pronunciation (or RP, or BBC English) is the name given to the standard accent of English used by the British Broadcasting Corporation. It is used most often in the south of England, and by some people all over Britain. It is more often called Standard English.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Carmelo Roob

Last Updated:

Views: 5997

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (65 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Carmelo Roob

Birthday: 1995-01-09

Address: Apt. 915 481 Sipes Cliff, New Gonzalobury, CO 80176

Phone: +6773780339780

Job: Sales Executive

Hobby: Gaming, Jogging, Rugby, Video gaming, Handball, Ice skating, Web surfing

Introduction: My name is Carmelo Roob, I am a modern, handsome, delightful, comfortable, attractive, vast, good person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.