Lecture Notes: Maya's Trip to New York City

Overview

• Maya traveled to New York City with Carl, hoping for a romantic trip.
• Lucy, a friend, unexpectedly joined the trip, affecting Maya's plans.

Key Events During the Trip

The Dinner Incident

• Maya and Carl planned a romantic dinner.
• Lucy was encouraged to attend a Broadway show to allow Maya and Carl time alone.
• Lucy initially intended to eat street food but ended up at the same restaurant as Maya and Carl.
• Maya expressed to Lucy her desire to spend time alone with Carl.
• Lucy left for the Broadway show, allowing Maya and Carl to enjoy dinner together.

The Romantic Walk

• Carl and Maya took a romantic walk to see the Statue of Liberty at night.
• Carl attempted to kiss Maya, but Lucy called and interrupted the moment.
• Lucy decided to join them at the Statue of Liberty, causing Carl irritation.

The Carousel Incident

• The next day, Lucy suggested visiting Central Park and riding a carousel.
• Maya and Carl ended up on the carousel together, with Lucy behind them.
• Maya got stuck trying to get off, and Carl helped her, resulting in an accidental kiss after Lucy pushed Maya.

Outcome of the Trip

• Lucy, though well-meaning, inadvertently disrupted the romantic moments Maya and Carl planned.
• Maya concluded that she should keep future romantic plans private to avoid such situations.

Grammar Focus: Past Perfect Continuous

• Usage: Describes an action that started in the past and continued up until another time in the past.
• Structure: Subject + had been + verb + -ing
• Signal Words: When, For, Since, Before.
• Examples from the Transcript:
  • "She'd been looking for things to do when she saw a carousel."
  • "We had been dreaming about seeing the Statue of Liberty all lit up at night for a long time."
  • "Ever since Carl invited me to New York City, I had been marking the days off the calendar."
  • "We had been enjoying our time together so much before she showed up."

Conclusion

• The trip illustrated the challenges of balancing friendships and romantic relationships.
• Important grammatical structures, such as the Past Perfect Continuous, were highlighted using examples from the story.