What makes someone cool? A new study has an answer. Scientists asked 6,000 people from 12 countries about cool people. They found six things that make someone cool. Cool people are extroverted – they like being with other people. They try new things and enjoy life. They take risks and are independent. They are strong and confident. But can you become cool? The scientists say yes, but only a little bit. You cannot buy coolness. When you try to be cool, you become uncool. Coolness must be inside you. It must be real. Cool started in the 1940s with jazz musicians in New York. Today, young people cannot name a cool person they know. Experts do not think you can make yourself cooler.
🎯 Grammar Showcase
Present simple for facts and general truths
Used throughout to state facts about coolness and describe characteristics
“Cool people are extroverted.”
→ stating a general fact about people
“This means they like being with other people.”
→ explaining what something means
“Coolness must be inside you.”
→ expressing a general truth
“Cold is different from cool.”
→ stating a permanent fact
Past simple for completed actions
Used to describe historical events and completed studies
“Scientists did a study about cool people.”
→ describing a completed action
“They asked people about school.”
→ talking about a finished activity
“Cool started in the 1940s.”
→ stating when something began
“Young Black musicians played jazz music.”
→ describing past habitual actions
Modal 'can' for ability and possibility
Used to discuss what is possible or impossible regarding coolness
“Can other people learn to be cool?”
→ asking about possibility
“You cannot buy coolness.”
→ expressing impossibility
“They cannot name a cool person they know.”
→ describing inability
“You cannot plan these things.”
→ stating what is not possible
Modal 'must' for necessity and logical deduction
Used to express strong necessity or logical conclusions
“Coolness must be inside you.”
→ expressing strong necessity
“It must be real.”
→ stating a requirement
“You must show them in the right way.”
→ expressing obligation
Connectors: but, because
Used to show contrast and give reasons
“But cool people are still important today.”
→ showing contrast with previous idea
“This works because they work in competitive jobs.”
→ giving a reason
“But this does not work.”
→ contrasting with expectation
💡 Study Tip
Practice describing people you know using present simple (She is confident, He likes taking risks) and talk about past events using past simple (He started a band, They created something new).
Grammar Practice: What is Cool? And Can Anyone Become Cool?
Test your understanding of the grammar forms from the story.
Present Simple
Which sentence correctly uses present simple to state a general fact about people?
We use present simple 'are' to state general facts and permanent characteristics about people, not present continuous or past tense.
Present Simple
In the sentence 'This means they like being with other people,' why is present simple used?
Present simple is used here for explaining what something means and describing general preferences or characteristics.
Present Simple
Which sentence contains an error?
The error is in sentence B. For permanent states and general truths, we use 'is' not 'is being'. The correct form is 'Coolness is inside you.'
Past Simple
Which sentence correctly uses past simple to describe a completed action?
Past simple 'did' is used to describe a completed action in the past. Present simple and present continuous refer to different time periods.
Past Simple
In the sentence 'Cool started in the 1940s,' what does the past simple express?
Past simple 'started' is used to state when something began at a specific time in the past.
Past Simple
Complete the sentence to describe a finished activity: They _____ people about school.
Past simple 'asked' is correct for talking about a finished activity in the past.
Modal Can
Which sentence correctly uses a modal to express impossibility?
The correct form for impossibility is 'cannot + base verb'. The modal 'can' comes before 'not', and we don't use 'do/does' with modals.
Modal Can
In the sentence 'Can other people learn to be cool?' what does 'can' express?
Here 'can' is used for asking about possibility – whether something is possible or not.
Modal Can
Which sentence contains an error?
Sentence B contains an error. After 'cannot' we use the base form of the verb, not the infinitive with 'to'. The correct form is 'They cannot plan these things.'
Modal Must
Which sentence correctly uses a modal to express strong necessity?
'Must' is followed directly by the base form of the verb (be), without 'to' and without adding 's' for third person.
Modal Must
In the sentence 'It must be real,' what does 'must' express?
'Must' here expresses a requirement or strong necessity – something that is essential or obligatory.
Modal Must
Complete the sentence to express obligation: You _____ show them in the right way.
'Must' is the correct form for expressing obligation. Modals don't take 'to' after them and don't change form for past tense with -ed.
Connectors
Which sentence correctly uses a connector to give a reason?
'Because' is the correct connector for giving a reason or explaining why something happens.
Connectors
In the sentence 'But cool people are still important today,' what does 'but' show?
'But' is used to show contrast with a previous idea – it introduces information that is different from or opposite to what came before.
Connectors
Which sentence contains an error with connectors?
Sentence C contains an error. You cannot use 'because' and 'but' together in the same clause. Choose one connector based on whether you're giving a reason or showing contrast.
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