Study Options
Video Response
Listen to six people talk about if people should live together before they get married.
- Transcript
- Audio Slide Show
- Vocabulary
Tony / Mozambique
I think people should live together because by living together, you tend to find out, like the qualities in the partner that you want. And before marriage, it's important to confirm those qualities by living together.
Antoinette / United States
I don't think men and women should live together before marriage. I think that they should make every effort to know each other, but I don't think they should live together. I guess more because of moral reasons, my own beliefs, religious beliefs. I think that you can get to know someone, you know your friends, you can get to know them, your girlfriends or your male friends, even though they don't live with you. So, I don't think there's a need to live together before marriage.
Sarah / England
People should definitely live together before they get married. You don't really know if you're going to live with someone until you actually do. You don't really know the real person until you've lived with them and see them at their best and their worst moments. So, I think if you're going to get married and spend the rest of your life with someone, I think you should see them in all aspects of life before you take that plunge.
Isma / Indonesia
I think it depends on the couple and the culture. For me, I don't think so, because it's not official yet that you're married, and it's not like my culture to live before you get married. It's usually you get married and then you live together, so I don't think I would get used to that culture.
Rese / Botswana
I believe that people should live together before they get married, because marriage is a permanent contract, basically, and if you do not really know what you're getting into, then it might not work out that well. But if you lived with someone for a while, then you'd know exactly what you're getting into and what you expect in the future.
Warren / Canada
Oh, yeah, I think it's really great if people lived together first. That way, they get to know each other and they'll know what it's going to be like. I think, quite often, people who start living together when they get married, that's when they first start to get to know each other.
Before marriage, it's important to confirm those qualities by living together.
Qualities are characteristics about something. Notice the following:
- That restaurant has all the qualities of a good eatery: great food, good service, and large portions.
- What qualities do you like in a teacher?
I think that they should make every effort to know each other.
When you 'make every effort' to do something, that means you do everything you can to make it happen. Notice the following:
- I made every effort to get to work on time, but I was still late.
- Good students make every effort to do all the homework the teacher gives them.
Because of my religious beliefs, I don't think there's a need to live together before marriage.
Religious beliefs are views based on a religion that guide the actions people do in life. Notice the following:
- She has very strong religious beliefs. She does not drink, smoke, or work on Sunday.
- We are the same religion, but our religious beliefs are different
until you've lived with someone, you don't see them at their best and worst
Here 'the best and worst' refers to what is good and bad about something. Notice the following:
- After a few beers, you often see the best and worst of people.
- The test results showed the best and worst results of all the students.
You should see them in all aspects of life before you take that plunge.
Taking a plunge refers to jumping into water, or in this case, doing something that one is afraid or reluctant to do. Notice the following:
- I finally decided to take the plunge and buy a new house.
- Last week, I took the plunge and tried karaoke for the first time.
