--- title: The electric meter, the food bank and «we can't afford it» — a lesson of Mova's school · trees and pragmatics description: «The electric meter, the food bank and «we can't afford it»», a lesson of the everyday course of Mova's primary school, sentence by sentence with dependency trees and pragmatics. It begins: In Middlesbrough the telly dies right in the middle of Lorcan's cartoons, and the lights go with it. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [school](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/) / [Everyday](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/) / The electric meter, the food bank and… # The electric meter, the food bank and «we can't afford it» Lesson 488 of the everyday course of Mova's primary school: 39 sentences, each with its syntax tree and pragmatics. The lessons are written for Mova, and their agreed trees are part of Mova corpus 0.4 (CC BY-SA 4.0). How Mova does on its tests: [the lesson at school](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/school-run/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/). - [0](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/0/) — In Middlesbrough the telly dies right in the middle of Lorcan's cartoons, and the lights go with it. - [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/2/) — Some homes have a meter you pay for in advance, like a pay-as-you-go phone: when the money on it runs out, the electricity stops. - [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/3/) — They eat tea by torchlight, which is an adventure until Lorcan gets cold. - [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/4/) — Many families face this, it's nobody's fault, and there is emergency credit, and charities and the council can help if it keeps happening. - [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/5/) — In Toronto, Priyanka's mom has lost her job, so they go to a food bank, a place that gives free food to families who need it. - [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/6/) — In the line Priyanka sees a boy from her class. - [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/7/) — They look at each other and both look away. - [8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/8/) — She's embarrassed, and also weirdly relieved she's not the only one. - [9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/9/) — Lots of families use food banks, even families where the grown-ups work. - [10](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/10/) — It's help from the community, not a shame, and the kind thing is never to tell others who you saw there. - [11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/11/) — Grown-ups say money things in all sorts of ways. - [12](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/12/) — Rosie's dad in Bristol says, «We can't afford it, my lover» («my lover» is a friendly West Country way of saying dear), and Rosie yells, «We can NEVER afford anything!» and slams the door. - [14](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/14/) — In Atlanta, Tyrone's mom says, «We fixin' to tighten belts. - [15](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/15/) — No more takeout.» («Fixin' to» means about to; «tighten belts» means spend less.) «Are we poor?» «We're careful.» Tyrone helps Grandma make cornbread and feels useful. - [16](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/16/) — Children often hear bits of money talk and imagine the worst. - [17](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/17/) — In Edinburgh, Zofia hears «the rent» and «maybe moving» through the wall and can't sleep, worrying about a new school; asking her parents straight is less scary than guessing. - [18](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/18/) — In Hull, the money Marley's mum gets from the government comes late, the fridge is nearly empty, and Mum makes «Marley's Magic Soup» out of everything left. - [19](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/19/) — He knows what it means and plays along and eats two bowls, which is kind. - [20](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/20/) — If a child is often hungry, telling a teacher helps, because schools can help quietly. - [22](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/22/) — In Swansea, Osian's mum has two jobs, café by day and cleaning offices at night, and leaves notes: «Love you, cariad, back at 10» («cariad» is Welsh for love). - [23](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/23/) — He makes his own toast and puts himself to bed; children shouldn't be alone at night for long, so if he's scared, he should tell Mum or a teacher, and there may be help like an after-school club. - [24](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/24/) — In Limerick, Aoife's mam says, «We don't need charity,» about the winter coat scheme, but Aoife's zip is broken; she can tell her teacher, who can talk to Mam gently. - [25](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/25/) — Children notice even when parents try to hide it. - [26](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/26/) — In London, Leon finds a £5 note and thinks of sweets, then of Dad counting coins at the till. - [27](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/27/) — He gives it to Dad, who laughs, hugs him and says, «Spend a pound on sweets, eh.» Wanting to help is kind, but fixing money problems is a grown-up's job. - [28](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/28/) — In Norfolk, a bad harvest means one small present each for Maisie-Jo's family this Christmas. - [29](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/29/) — «It's the weather, girl, not anybody's fault,» says Dad, and she makes everyone homemade cards. - [30](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/30/) — A prepayment meter is paid in advance; when the money on it runs out, the electricity or gas stops until it is topped up. - [31](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/31/) — Prepayment meters often have emergency credit, and councils and charities can help families who run out often. - [32](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/32/) — A food bank gives free food to families who need it; many families use them, including families where the grown-ups work. - [33](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/33/) — If you see someone you know at a food bank, the kind thing is to keep it private. - [34](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/34/) — «We can't afford it» means there isn't enough money left after rent, food and bills; it is not a punishment and not about love. - [35](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/35/) — «Tightening belts» means spending less for a while; families do it when money is tight, and it doesn't mean danger. - [36](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/36/) — Children often hear bits of grown-up money talk and imagine the worst; asking a parent is usually less scary than guessing. - [37](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/37/) — Many parents work two jobs to pay the bills; children shouldn't be left alone at night for long, and a child who is scared or alone a lot should tell a parent or teacher. - [38](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/38/) — Some parents find it hard to accept help because of pride, but help schemes exist so children stay warm and fed. - [39](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/39/) — A child who is often hungry or cold can tell a teacher; schools can help quietly. - [40](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/40/) — Some families' money depends on things nobody controls, like the weather at harvest; a bad year is not anybody's fault. - [41](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/488-the-electric-meter-the-food-bank-and-we-cant-afford-it/41/) — It's kind for a child to want to help, but sorting out money problems is a grown-up's job. - ← previous: [Money is tight: free school meals and second-hand uniform](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/487-money-is-tight-free-meals-and-second-hand-uniform/) - next →: [Hiding it from friends: being skint at school](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/489-hiding-it-from-friends-being-skint-at-school/) - ↑ back to [Everyday](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/)