The Imitation Game: B2 English & Grammar

Learn English with The Imitation Game through two scenes about implied meaning and cooperation. Practise clear invitations, clarification and constructive ways to work with others.

Before you start: When does a clear question help somebody explain what they mean?

Content note: Dismissive comments and possible strong language. Do not ridicule communication differences, imitate a character’s difficulties or diagnose the historical person. The film is a dramatisation, not biographical or clinical evidence.

The Lunch Invitation

The team is preparing to go for lunch. One colleague expects Alan to understand more than the literal announcement.

Watch for: What does the colleague intend, and what does Alan hear?

Original source

Clip A quiz · 6 questions

Answer using this clip only. Choose one answer per question, then check your feedback.

1. What does John announce to Alan?That Alan must prepare lunch for everyone.That lunch has been cancelled to give Alan more time.That the group is going for lunch.

2. What does Alan’s initial “yes” acknowledge?That he heard the announcement.That he has already chosen a restaurant for the group.That he cannot hear John and needs the words repeated.

3. Why does John repeat or pursue the announcement?He is formally testing Alan’s knowledge of the lunch timetable.He expects a response to the invitation he believes he has made.He wants an explanation of how sandwiches are made.

4. What point does Alan make about being asked to join them?He believes an explicit invitation was sent to him earlier.He says he has been ordered not to eat with the team.He has not heard a direct question asking whether he wants to come.

5. What food preference does Alan state in the exchange?He does not like sandwiches.He has already ordered sandwiches for the whole group.He wants the others to eat only what he chooses.

6. How does John finally make the invitation explicit?He gives Alan a written lunch timetable.He directly asks whether Alan would like to come to lunch.He tells the team to leave without Alan.

1–2 minGrammar in a minuteB2 · A claimed question reported with if

“I had asked if you wanted to come to lunch with us”

Clip 1, quotation excerpt

If you wanted introduces a reported yes/no question with statement order. Had asked places the claimed invitation before the present exchange. Alan disputes that claim, so the grammar does not settle who is right.

Useful English

Original practice, not film quotations.

Are you inviting me, or just letting me know?

Check the intended purpose of an announcement.

I understood the words, but not what you intended.

Explain a misunderstanding without blaming the other person.

Discuss this clip

How could either speaker repair this exchange with one clear sentence?

One possible response

John could ask directly whether Alan wants to join them. Alan could ask whether the statement is an invitation. Either move would make the intention clearer.

An accusation and a promise

Alan's colleagues challenge the usefulness of his machine. They want progress and cooperation; Alan responds with confidence in the machine.

Watch for: Does a confident prediction tell the team how they can help?

Original on YouTube ↗

Clip B quiz · 6 questions

Answer about this clip only. Choose one answer for each question.

1. What is the first colleague criticising?Alan's machine.The lunch menu.A family photograph.

2. What does Alan say the machine will help them do?Open a shop.Win the war.Choose a new uniform.

3. What do his colleagues say he could help them do?Leave the city permanently.Stop every experiment.Make the work go faster.

4. How does Alan respond to the later criticism of their lack of results?He says the machine will work.He announces that it already works perfectly.He gives a full progress report with measured results.

5. Apply: which response asks for useful cooperation?Your help can never matter.Could you test the next input while I check the wiring?Everybody should guess what to do.

6. Apply: which update offers tangible progress?Trust me because I sound certain.I refuse to explain any next step.The first test is complete; the next test is scheduled for tomorrow.

1–2 minGrammar in a minuteB2 · An -ing relative attached to soldiers

“there are actual soldiers out there trying to win an actual War”

Clip 2, quotation excerpt

Trying to win modifies soldiers and means who are trying to win. Soldiers are the people trying; there introduces their existence, rather than performing the action.

Useful English

Original practice phrases.

Which part could I work on to help?

Make an offer of cooperation specific.

Here is our next milestone and how we will measure it.

Turn a prediction into a progress update.

Keep talking · 3 questions

Say your answer aloud before opening the support. With a partner, take turns and ask a follow-up question.

What links the lunch misunderstanding and the machine dispute?
Support and one possible answer
Both involve…
Both involve people needing a clearer message. An implied lunch invitation and an accusation about progress can each be restated as an explicit request.
How could Alan reassure the group more specifically?
Support and one possible answer
He could explain…
He could explain what has been tested, what remains uncertain and which task a colleague could help with.
Make a clear request for help after a misunderstanding.
Support and one possible answer
Repair the message, specify a task and check agreement.
I meant to ask for help with the test, not criticise your work. Could you check the first three entries while I review the result? Does that division make sense?

Mastery quiz · Use the English in new situations

Use language from both clips in new situations.

Mastery · 6 questions

Use language from both clips in a new situation.

1. An implied invitation is…suggested without being stated directlya mathematical resultan insult that must be repeated

2. Which question checks a lunch message?Why must you leave me out?Do you mean you would like me to join you?I will assume whatever I want.

3. Which request makes cooperation specific?Please somehow do everything.You should already know.Could you check the first three entries?

4. Which update gives tangible progress?The first test is complete and the next test is tomorrow.I sound confident, so there is no need for details.Progress is whatever I say it is.

5. Which reply repairs an unclear message?My words cannot be misunderstood.I meant to ask for help, not criticise your work.It is your fault if you need detail.

6. Which question checks a shared task?Can we avoid all questions?Should everyone guess their role?So, you will check the entries while I review the result?

Final speaking

Speak first, then use the support if you need it. For the final conversation, take a role each or practise both roles alone.

What links the lunch misunderstanding and the machine dispute?
Support and one possible answer
Both involve…
Both involve people needing a clearer message. An implied lunch invitation and an accusation about progress can each be restated as an explicit request.
How could Alan reassure the group more specifically?
Support and one possible answer
He could explain…
He could explain what has been tested, what remains uncertain and which task a colleague could help with.
Make a clear request for help after a misunderstanding.
Support and one possible answer
Repair the message, specify a task and check agreement.
I meant to ask for help with the test, not criticise your work. Could you check the first three entries while I review the result? Does that division make sense?

Role A

You need help with a shared task. Repair an unclear message, specify one contribution and explain the next milestone.

Role B

Ask what the first message meant, clarify your task and agree how to report progress.

Check your conversation

Use target language from both clips.
Ask a clear question and respond to the answer.
End with a specific next step, while acknowledging any uncertainty.

Try again: Repeat once. Improve one question and one response.

Listen and repeat

Practice examples are original English, not quotations or performer imitations. Listen, repeat in the pause, then make your own sentence.

Practice MP3 update deferred

About this lesson

What English level is this The Imitation Game lesson?

It is designed for approximately B2 learners. With a tutor, the two clips, separate mastery quiz and final speaking activities form a suggested 60-minute lesson.

What is implied meaning?

It is an intended message suggested rather than stated directly. The lesson contrasts an indirect invitation with a literal interpretation and practises ways to clarify the difference.