Getting Change, Lending and Borrowing Money

A.

Getting Change

• Have you got any change?
• What do you need?
• I need change for a quarter.
• Here are two dimes and five pennies
• Can you change this five-dollar bill?
• How do you want it?
• A five and five ones, please.
• Here you are.
• Do you have change for a dollar bill?
• Just a minute and I’ll see.
• I need some quarters.
• Can you break a twenty dollar bill?
• Do you have change for a dollar?
• I have some coins I need to change.
• I need five dollars in quarters.

B.

Talking about Money

• I have some coins I need to change.
• How much money do you have?
• Not very much.
• Do you have many dollar bills?
• Not very many, I’m afraid.
• I think I’ve lost my money.
• Oh, that’s what’s bothering you.
• It’s a good reason to be upset, isn’t it?
• Are you sure you lost your money?
• I’m sure I did.
• Would you please look again?
• I will, but I’m sure it’s not here.
• How many pennies did you have in your valet?
• I had exactly five hundred of them.
• What did you do with them?
• I put them in rolls of fifty pennies each.
• Have you made very much money this year?
• Not an awful lot.
• How hard have you tried?
• Not as hard as I could have, I’m afraid.
• How much did you make this week?
• Two Hundred dollars.
• Is that your take-home pay?
• Yes, it is.
• I've got to pay a lot of bills.
• And I’ve got to pay my rent today.
• Money goes very fast these days, doesn’t it?
• It certainly does.
• Did you put the money in the bank?
• I deposited part of it and spent the rest.
• Do you have an account at that bank?
• How much do you have to keep in the account?
• There’s no minimum.

C.

Lending and Borrowing Money

• Could you lend me a dollar until tomorrow?
• I can if you have change for a five.
• I wish I did, but I don’t.
• Well, we can get it changed easily.
• I need about ten dollars.
• What do you need it for?
• I need it for books and supplies.
• O.K., I’ll lend it to you.
• How much do you need?
• Could you spare four or five dollars?
• What did you need the money for yesterday?
• I wanted it for a new suit.
• Did you get the money?
• Yes. I borrowed it from a friend.
• How much change have you got?
• Two quarters, two nickels, and a dine.
• That’s not enough to change this dollar bill.
• I’ll lend you all of this change if you want it.
• I think I can borrow enough money to go.
• You’re on vacation with your friend in Las Vegas.
• You have just spent all your money.
• Your friend is upstairs in the hotel room.
• Call your friend and ask to borrow $60.

D.

Describing price changes

• The price has gone up.
• It went up (last month/sharply/gradually)
• The cost of (food) is rising.
• There was a rise in price.
• In (summer) prices should go down.
• The cost of (this) went down (last year)
• The price of (oil) may drop.
• We had a drop in (salary costs).
• It was a sharp drop/a slight drop
• There was a fall in prices.
• Prices stayed the same.
• The cost of living will stay level.
• Prices are at about the same level.

E.

Talking about living costs

• (Houses) are very expensive/cheap
• We can/can’t afford (chocolate).
• It’s (not) hard/difficult.
• Some people find it difficult to cope.
• It’s very hard for (people on a pension).
• We’re better off/worse off.
• What’s it like in (your country)?
• How is it with you?

F.

Talking about tax

• The government takes (30%) in tax
• You have to pay income tax/sales tax.
• I pay (a third) in tax.
• (10%) of your salary goes for insurance.
• The taxes are high/low.
• There’s good social security/insurance.
• You get a pension at (60).
• How much do you pay in (income tax)?
• What are the taxes like?

Staying in a Hotel

A.

Dialogue: Getting a Room for the Night

A. Good evening, Can I help you?

B. Yes, please. I’d like a room for the night.

A. Would you like a single room, or a double room?

B. A single room, please. How much is the room?

A. It’s Rs 350 per night.

B. Ca I pay by credit card?

A. Certainly. We take Visa, Master Card and American Express. Could you fill in this  

     form, please?

B. Do you need my passport number? No, just an address and your signature.

A. (fills out the form) Here you are.

B. Here’s your key. Your room number is 212.

A. Thank you.

B. Thank you. If you need anything, dial 0 for the reception are. Have a good stay!

B.

Specifying the hotel

• I want something cheap and best.
• I want a neat and clean one.
• I want something with (two or three) stars.
• What sort of hotel is it?
• Is it a star hotel?
• I want somewhere near the Railway station.
• I want a guest house.
• I’m looking for a bed and breakfast place.
• What’s a good hotel in this town?
• How far is it from here?
• What’s the name of the hotel?
• I have a reservation for a room here.
• Where’s the hotel, please?
• Where’s that?
• Can you tell me where the hotel is?
• On this side or the other side?
• I want to go to the Beachside Hotel.
• Excuse me. I’m lost.
• I live at the Royal Hotel.
• Where’s the Park Hotel on this Map?

C.

Booking rooms

• I’d like a (single room), please.
• (A single room) with bath, please.
• I’d like a (suite), please.
• I’d like to book a (double room).
• I want a (twin room)
• I am looking for just a (dormitory please.)
• I’d like a family room with three beds.
• Have you got (two adjoining rooms)?
• I want a room with a (shower).
• A room with a (balcony).
• I’d like a (television).
• I want a room for (one) night.
• For (three/Thursday & Friday) nights
• For the nights from the (3^rd) to (10^th) May.
• That’s (eight) nights.
• I’ll arrive on the (evening of the 25^th) and leave on the (morning of the 29^th)
• Can I take the elevator over here?

D.

Talking about the tariff

• I want (bed and breakfast/bed only).
• I’d like (half board)
• I want (lunch) included
• I’ll book it (full board)
• What is the tariff?
• Does that include (breakfast)?
• How much is it (per person/per room)?
• How much is it (half board/full board)?
• Is that inclusive?

E.

Key Vocabulary

Can I help you?

I’d like a room.

Single, double room.

Can I pay by credit card?

Fill in this form.

Passport number.

Room number.

Reception.

Travel by Taxi/Rent a Car

A

To find out where you can hire a car, use:

• Can I hire a car here?
• Is there a car-hire firm here?
• With Americans, use the word RENT
• Is there a car-rent firm here?
• Where is the best place to hire/rent a car?
• Where can I hire/rent a car cheaply here?

B

To tell them what you want, use:

• I want a medium/small/large car for (a week).
• I want to hire/rent a car for (next Tuesday).
• I want something cheap/comfortable.
• I need a four-seater.
• I want it (at nine o’clock tomorrow morning).
• I need a car now/immediately.
• I need it for (the weekend).
• I want to go to (Turin).
• Can you deliver it?
• Can I collect it?

C

To ask about costs, use:

• How much do you charge?
• What is the tariff?
• I’d like to see your table of charges
• How much is a (four-door/five-door)?
• Does the charge include mileage (kilometers)?
• What do you charge per day/mile/kilometer?
• Are there any extra charges?

D

To find out about the formalities, use:

• I have (an international license).
• Is a (Swiss) driving license all right?
• Do you want proof of identity?
• How much is the deposit?
• Can I pay with (a Diners Club card)?
• Do I need my passport?
• What insurance is included?
• I’d like a receipt, please.
• Where do I sign?
• Do you want my signature?

E

Going by Taxi: Dialogue

• I need a taxi.
• The taxis are by the entrance.
• Thank you very much.
• You’re welcome.
• Is this taxi taken?
• No. Where are you going?
• I’m going to the Central Secretariat.
• O.K.
• How much is the fare?
• Twenty Rupees and Fifty Paise
• Here. Keep the change.
• Thank you very much.

F

Going by Taxi

• Where are you going now?
• To the hotel.
• Are you going by bus or by taxi?
• Probably by taxi if I can get one.
• It’s raining cats and dogs right now.
• Why don’t we get a taxi?
• That’s a good idea.
• Now, I only hope we can find one.

G

Taking a Trip by Car

• Are you taking a trip today?
• Yes. We’re going to Boston.
• It’s a good day for the trip.
• I’m glad the sun is shining.
• How far is it from here to the coast?
• It’s about 250 miles.
• How long does it take to get there by car?
• It takes about five hours.
• How far is it to the next gas station?
• There’s one two miles from here.
• Is there a place to eat there?
• Yes. There’s a restaurant next to the station.
• What’s the best way to Ocean City?
• The superhighway, but it’s also the longest way.
• How much longer is it that way?
• About 10 to 12 miles.
• Are they going by way of North Plains?
• No. They aren’t taking that route.
• How are they traveling then?
• They’re driving directly to Ocean City.

EXERCISE

1. You’re on holiday in England and have hired a car for one week. When you arrived at the car park in Heathrow Airport, you found a Fiat 126 and not the BMW you ordered by telephone from Italy. Go to the car hire office to demand your original car… and for the same price as the Fiat because of the inconvenience.

2. You are the manager of a car hire company at Heathrow airport. A tourist is complaining about the car you gave them. Explain why there were no BMWs and that you were very considerate in choosing an Italian substitute car for them.

Conversation at the Bank

A.

Conversation

Customer                    : Good morning. Can I cash a cheque here?

Counter clerk              : Please go to the first counter on the left side.

Customer                    : Thank you. Is it the teller system there?

Counter clerk              : Yes, sir. You will get your money instantly there.

Customer                    : (At the first counter) Excuse me. I want to get this cheque cashed.

Counter clerk              : Yes sir, please sign on the back of your cheque.

Customer                    : O.K.! Here you are.

Counter clerk              : Just a minute, sir.

Customer                     : I need thousand rupees notes only.

Counter clerk           : I am sorry; I have only five hundred rupees notes. If you can wait, I will get some thousand rupees notes as well.

Customer                   : Thanks! I won’t like to wait any longer. Five hundred rupees notes are alright with me.

Counter clerk                : Here is your cash, sir. Please ensure that you. Have got exactly the right amount.

Customer                      : Thank you. I shall definitely count my money before I leave.

Counter clerk                : Thank you very much. Have a nice day, sir.

B.

Telephone Banking

Executive                    : Good morning City Bank, This is Customer service Department, How may I help  
                                     you?

Customer                   : Hello. I’d like, some information on the telephone banking services offered by you.

Executive                    : Certainly. What is your account number, sir?

Customer                    : 85 56789000 89548 at the MG Road Branch.

Executive                    : What would you like to know?

Customer                    : Can you tell me how the telephone banking services work?

Executive                    : You can do all your day-to-day banking over the telephone 24 hours a day.

Customer                   : That’s great. How do I access my account?

Executive                    : Just call 80000498, key in your PIN number and listen to the menu of options
                                    available.

Customer                    : How do I choose the option I want?

Executive                    : Just press the number for the service stated by the recording.

Customer                     : What kind of things can I do?

Executive                 : You can check your balance, pay your bills, order a statement, request for cheque book, DD or even transfer money to another bank.

Customer                     : That’s fantastic! Can I trade stocks and bonds?

Executive                     : I’m afraid you will have to have a special account for that.

Customer                     : What about getting help if I have any problems?

Executive                   : There’s an automated answering machine and staff are available 9 to 5 seven days a week.

Customer                     : It all sounds very good to me. I’d like to sign up.

Executive                    : Alright, can you answer a few more questions please?

Customer                    : Certainly…

C.

Useful Vocabulary

24 hours a day.                                  to check your balance.

Account number.                               to key in a PIN number

Automated answering machine.          to order a statement.

Day-to-day banking.                         to pay bills.

Menu of options.                               to sign up.

Telephone banking service.                to trade stocks and bonds.

To access an account.                       to transfer money.

D.

Other useful word group

I want to open an account.

Could you please help me to open an account?

I would like to open a joint account with my wife.

How many specimen signatures do you need?

How much do I have to deposit to open a current account?

I want a cheque book.

I want to encash this cheque.

Are you a customer of this bank?

Yes, I am. Here is my passbook.

Would you like to deposit the cheque for clearance?

It will take about two days, since it is a local Cheque.

But I need the money urgently.

Will they give me the money today?

Using the Post Office

A.

Conversation

Customer         : Please give me ten Five Rupees stamps.

Clerk               : Here they are.

Customer         : How much is that?

Clerk               : Fifty Rupees.

Customer         : I’d like to mail this Letter.

Clerk               : How do you want to send it?

Customer         : By ordinary mail.

Clerk               : That’ll be five rupees per letter.

Customer         : I want to send this letter by Registered post.

Clerk               : All right. I’ll weigh it.

Customer         : How much will it cost to go that way?

Clerk               : It’ll cost Twenty five rupees.

Customer         : What’s the fastest way to send this Letter?

Clerk               : By Speed Post, but it’ll be expensive.

Customer         : How much will it cost to send it by Speed Post?

Clerk               : Just a moment. Let me weigh it.

Customer         : Do you sell envelopes here?

Clerk               : Only envelopes with stamps printed on them.

B.

Locating a post office

• Is there a post office near here?
• Where is the (nearest) post office?
• Where is the main/central post office?
• Where’s the nearest post/mail box?

 C.

Talking about postage

• How much is it for a letter to (Japan)?
• What is the letter rate to (Europe)?
• Is there a special rate for (cards)?
• How much is this by airmail to (Canada)?
• Three to Europe, please (getting stamps).
• I’d like to send this by (parcel post)
• Could I have six stamps for (postcards)?
• When will this get to (Athens)?
• How long does it take (by airmail)?
• When should this reach (London)?

D.

Postage problems

• This arrived damaged/torn.
• I’ve been expecting a package from (Denmark).
• It was posted two weeks ago.
• Could you look into this?
• Can you find out what’s gone wrong?
• Can you check for me?

E.

Special services

• I want to send a telegram.
• What’s the fastest/safest way of sending this?
• I want to send this express to Cairo.
• I want this insured.
• I want this to go registered mail.
• I’d like proof of posting.
• I want to send it “recorded delivery”
• Can I have a customs form, please?

F.

Sending and Receiving Letters

• Are you writing a letter?
• Yes. I’m writing to my family.
• Do you write letters very often?
• Yes. I write five or six letters a week.
• No. I hate to write letters.
• Does John get many letters?
• Yes. He gets some everyday.
• Charles wrote me a long letter.
• When did he write to you?
• He sent the letter to me about a week ago.
• He hasn’t even sent me a postcard yet!
• We wrote to Mary’s sister last week.
• Has she written to you yet?
• No, she hasn't.
• She wrote to me a few days ago.
• Have you written to your brother yet?
• Yes, but I haven’t mailed the letter yet.
• Did your friend in Japan write to you?
• Yes. I got a letter from her yesterday.
• Did you write a reply to John’s letter?
• Yes. I wrote one on Tuesday.

Airport Checking In

A.

Passenger                    : Good evening! Can you help me, please?

Flight Assistant           : Good evening, sir! Yes, ofcourse! What can I do for you?

Passenger                    : Here is my ticket! I am booked by your airlines for New York. What am I to do?

Flight Assistant           : It’s all right! Just let me see your passport as well. You may keep your luggage here.

Passenger                    : Here you are. What else?

Flight Assistant           : Please tie this tag on to your hand baggage. Just go right across to the bank to pay your Airport tax. You can collect your foreign exchange as well, there. That’s all.

Passenger                    : Thanks. Need I come back to you again?

Flight Assistant           : You are welcome, sir, Please just relax in the lobby on your left. Your flight is about two hours late. We shall contact you, if required.

Passenger                    : Please do let me know when I am to go for my flight.

Flight Assistant           : Very well, sir. Please don’t worry. We shall let you know.

Passenger                    : Thank you.

Flight Assistant           : Thank you. Sir.

B.

Airport: Checking In

A. Good morning. Can I have your ticket, please?

B. Here you are.

A. Thank you. Would you like smoking or non-smoking?

B. Non-smoking, please.

A. Would you like a window or an aisle seat?

B. An aisle seat, please.

A. Do you any baggage?

B. Yes, this suitcase and this carry-on bag.

A. Here’s your boarding pass. Have a nice flight.

B. Thank you.

C.

Passport control

A. Good morning. Can I see your passport?

B. Here you are.

A. Thank you very much. Are you a tourist or on business?

B. I’m a tourist.

A. That’s fine. Have a pleasant stay.

B. Thank you.

D.

Asking for the check-in

To find where to check in baggage, use:

Where’s the check-in desk?

Where’s the baggage check-in?

Where do I check-in my baggage?

You may need to use:

It’s heavy.

Porter.

Are there any porters here?

I need a porter.

Where can I get a baggage trolley?

Are there any trolleys free?

E.

Checking in baggage

To hand baggage in at the check-in, use:

I want to check-in (these), please.

There are (three) pieces.

I’m taking (this) as hand baggage.

I’m not checking (this) in.

I’m taking (this) with me.

Are they safe like that?

Do I have to pay any extra?

F.

Baggage problems

You may need:

Where’s the baggage office?

Who’s in charge of lost baggage?

I checked-in my baggage in (Paris) and it isn’t here.

My baggage hasn’t been delivered.

I was on the (Miami) flight.

I can’t find my baggage.

My baggage is lost.

It’s damaged/broken.

I’ve lost (some of the things) out of it.

Getting Information at the Airport.

A.

Getting Information at the Airport

Is this Deccan Airways?

Yes. May I help you?

Can you tell me when flight 234 arrives?

One Sec please, I’ll check.

How long is the flight from Bangalore to New Delhi?

Well, supposedly two hours, but it’s sometimes longer.

How often are there flights to New Delhi from Bangalore?

There’s one every hour.

At what time does the next to Kolkota leave?

The next flight 112 at eleven fifty-five.

Which is the one after that?

Flight 121 at one Twenty.

Could I make a reservation for flight 545 to Hyderabad?

I’m sorry, but everything is taken.

How about the next flight-tomorrow at two o’clock?

Yes. I can give you a reservation on that.

I’d like to check in for the flight to Dubai.

Fine. Do you have your ticket and passport?

Yes. Here’s my ticket, and I’ll get out my passport.

Would you please put your baggage on the scales?

At what time does the next plane to London leave?

The next one is flight 12 at eleven fifty-five.

What’s the next one after that?

How often is there a flight to Paris?

We have flights to Paris every hour.

Are they nonstop flights?

Could I make a reservation for flight 10 to Tokyo?

I’m sorry, but everything is taken.

How about the next flight-tomorrow at two o’clock?

Yes. I can give you a reservation on that.

I’d like to check in for the flight to New York.

Fine, Do you have your ticket and passport?

Yes. Here’s my ticket and I’ll get my passport.

Would you please put your baggage on the scales?

How long is the flight from New York to Washington?

Well, supposedly an hour, but it’s sometimes longer.

How often are there flights to Washington from New York?

There’s one every hour.

B.

Meeting at the Airport

Where will you meet your friends?

I’ll meet them at the airport.

When will they get there?

I don’t know yet.

When are you meeting your friends?

I’m meeting them at eight o’clock tomorrow night.

How are they getting here?

They’re coming by air.

Is this Southwestern Airline?

Yes. May I help you?

Can you tell me when flight 439 will arrive?

One moment, please. I’ll check.

All the incoming flights are listed on that board.

I see they expect Bill’s flight to be twenty minutes late.

Do they have an arrival gate listed?

No. They’ll probably list it about ten minutes before arrival.

Well! How was your trip?

It was very smooth and fast.

Could you see the mountains from the plane?

Yes. The visibility was excellent all the way.

C.

EXERCISE

A.

You are at Mumbai Airport and have lost your bag which contained many important things including all your holiday photos and all the presents you bought for your family and friends. Demand some action and, if possible, some compensation.

B.

You work at Rajeevi Gandhi International Airport and must explain to the tourist that it’s perfectly normal for a bag to go missing for a few hours and there is no problem at all. And…. Tourists should never put anything too valuable in their bags.