Talking About Holidays/ Vacation / Picnic

A. Dialogue on vacation

• How much vacation time do you get?
• Only two weeks this year, but three weeks next year.
• We get four weeks a year after fiver years of service.
• I may take an extra week without pay this year.
• Where do you plan to go for your vacation?
• I’m going to Paris.
• When will you be back?
• Probably in three or four weeks.
• Are you going to take your vacation in June or July?
• I’m going to take it in July.
• Are you going to go to any other place?
• No. I’m going to go to Paris.

B. Holiday plans

• Are you taking/having a holiday/vacation (this year)?
• Are you going on holiday/vacation in August?
• We’ll/We won’t be having a holiday this year.
• We have four week’s holiday a year.
• I’m/ We’re talking a break in winter.
• We have eight days off a year.
• There are six public holidays a year.
• Tomorrow is a public holiday.
• Is there a public holiday today?
• What’s it for?

C. Describing places

• Where are you going this summer?
• Are you going away?
• I’m/We’re going away.
• We’re staying in a hotel/with friends.
• I’m going to Kenya.
• We’re going abroad/to a foreign country.

D. Past holidays

• Where did you go for your vacation?
• What’s it like? What was it like?
• What was the food/ weather/hotel like?
• I/We went to Switzerland.
• I/We had/didn’t have a good time.
• It was fun/a break/an experience.
• The weather was good/bad/hot/too hot.
• I enjoyed /disliked the food/scenery/weather.

E. Stating your needs for an excursion

• We want to go to (Greenwich).
• I’d like to book a trip to Rye.
• We want to see Sark.
• We want to go on Thursday.
• I’d like to book for next Saturday.
• Is there an excursion (in the next few days)?
• When is your next excursion to the beach?
• We want to go out somewhere on Friday.
• Are there any good excursions we could take?
• There’ll be four of us
• It’s for a party of six.
• We are twelve adults and eight children.
• I need space for eight people.

F. Asking about details for an excursion

• Can you recommend it?
• What’s the journey like?
• Is it interesting/worth seeing?
• It is a long journey/a nice journey?
• Is it suitable for a family with children?
• How much does it cost?
• Does that price include everything?
• How much would it be to hire a taxi?
• What are your group rates?
• Do you do a reduced price for a party of 12?
• Do you have special rates for large groups?
• Where do we meet?
• Where do we catch the coach?
• When/What time should we be there?
• How long will the journey take?
• When/What time should we be there?
• How long will the journey take?
• When/What time will we get back?

At a Restaurant

A. Ordering a Meal: Dialogue

• Hi. How are you doing this afternoon?
• Fine, thank you. Can I have the menu, please?
• Certainly, here you are.
• Thank you. What’s today’s special?
• Grilled tuna and cheese on rye.
• That sounds good. I’ll have that.
• Would you like something to drink?
• Yes, I’d like a coke.
• Thank you. (returning with the food) Here you are. Enjoy your meal!
• That’ll be $6.75
• Here you are. Keep the change!
• Thank you! Have a nice day!
• Bye.

B. At a restaurant: Dialogue

• Could we have a table for four?
• There’s a nice table right there by the window.
• May we also have the menu right away?
• I’ll get the menu immediately.
• Would you care for some roast beef?
• No. I’ll have sirloin steak.
• How do you like your steak?
• I’d prefer it medium rare.
• Would you like to have soup?
• Yes. Creamed onion, please.
• Mashed, boiled, or French-fried potatoes?
• I’ll have the French-fried.
• What vegetables would you like with your dinner?
• Carrots, please, and corn with cream sauce.
• What kind of dressing do you want on your salad-French?
• I believe I’ll take Russian dressing tonight.
• Would you like to order a dessert?
• What kinds of pie do you have?
• Peach, lemon, cream and apple.
• I’d like lemon cream, please.

C. When going into a restaurant, use:

·         We’d like to eat.

·         Could I have a table for (five)?

·         Could I have the menu, please?

·         I’d like to see the menu.

D. Ordering

• Can you recommend the (fish)?
• What do you recommend?
• What is this?
• How is this made?
• Is this fish?
• I’ll have the soup.
• I won’t have a starter/an hors d’oeuvre.
• I’ll just have a main course.
• I’ll have the (steak) but no (chips) please.
• I don’t want any dessert/anything else.
• (My friend) will have a (beer).

E. Paying

• The bill, please.
• Could I have the bill?
• The check, please
• I’d like the check
• Is service included?
• Does this include service and tax?
• What’s this charge for?
• Are you sure this is right?
• There’s a mistake in the bill.
• You’ve charged me for (two bottles of wine).
• Do you accept (credit card)?

You want to reserve a table for five at a restaurant called the Slanted Door. Call the restaurant and make a reservation for 8:00 this Saturday

You work at a restaurant called the Slanted Door. Answer the phone. (The restaurant is completely booked for Friday and Saturday nights this week.)

Talking about Eating

A. Starting the meal

• It’s ready.
• Sit down/Shall we sit down?
• Dinner is ready.
• This looks/smells good.
• I’m looking forward to this.

B. During the meal

• Pass the salt, please?
• Could you pass the (salt), please?
• May I have the (salt), please?
• Could I have some more potato?
• It’s very nice/delicious.
• What’s the name of this dish?
• Would you like some more potato?
• Is everything all right?
• Would you prefer tea or coffee?

C. After the meal

• Thank you for (the lunch).
• Thank you for (a delicious dinner).
• That was very nice/delicious.
• I enjoyed that.
• I hope you enjoyed it.
• I’m glad you liked it.

D. Conversation

• I am feeling hungry.
• What would you like to eat?
• What pickles do you have?
• Have you had your breakfast?
• Not yet, Mary.
• Prepare/make the breakfast.
• Let’s have breakfast together.
• Just taste it.
• No, I have to attend a party.
• What sweet dishes do you have?
• Has John finished with his meals?
• Hurry up. Food has been served.
• You hardly had anything.
• Have a little more.
• Please have some more.
• Get me a cup of coffee.
• Pour the coffee.
• Pass me the salt please.
• Give me some fresh butter please.
• Get/bring some more.
• Help yourself, please.
• Change the plates,
• Are you vegetarian?
• No, I am a non-vegetarian.
• I’ll dine out today.
• Would you have milk?
• I have just sat down to have milk?
• I’m not fond of rice.
• Will you have some bread and butter?
• Two chapattis have not been enough for me.
• Pea-n-potato is my favorite dish.
• It is dinner time, get ready.
• There is less salt in the vegetable curry.
• Do not take water on an empty stomach.
• What is the menu for today?
• Bring a pinch of salt from your mother.
• I’m still thirsty.
• They have invited me to lunch.
• Please have dinner with me.
• Will you have boiled eggs or fried ones?
• There were seven items/dishes.
• I’m fond of mushed potatoes.
• May I have a little/some more gravy?
• My wife relishes broiled potatoes.
• He’s a glutton.
• He is a gourmet.
• We have an exclusive Indian cuisine.
• What did you have for breakfast?
• Had coffee, toast, and eggs.
• How did you have your eggs?
• Soft-boiled, as usual.
• How about a cup of coffee?
• That sounds good.
• I always enjoy coffee after work.
• I like it best in the morning.
• Would you like to have an orange?
• Thanks, but I don’t think so.
• Oranges are good for you.
• I know, but I had one about an hour ago.
• Where did you have lunch yesterday?
• I ate at the cafeteria with John.
• Did you have a good lunch?
• Yes. I had a hot roast beef sandwich.
• There’s a cafeteria over there.
• Didn’t you eat before we left?
• Yes, but I’m hungry again.
• Well, I’m still digesting my lunch.

Talking about the Weather

A. Talking about the forecast

• What’s the weather going to be like tomorrow?
• Have you heard the weather forecast?
• Do you know what it’s going to be like?
• What do you think it’ll be like on Sunday?
• It’s going to be sunny tomorrow.
• I think it’s going to rain.
• It looks/feels as if it’s going to get warmer.
• They say it’ll be windy tomorrow.
• There may be frost later
• It should clear up soon.
• I don’t think it’s going to change.
• There’s a high pressure.
• There’s rain coming in from the west.

B. Talking about weather conditions

• What’s the weather like there in spring?
• What sort of temperature is it in June?
• Do you get much fog?
• Do I need winter clothes?
• Is it wet in autumn?
• It’s generally cold and wet.
• It’s normally mild now.
• It’s very pleasant (at this time of the year).
• It’s (not) often very dry.
• We rarely get snow.
• What was the weather like (on your holiday)?
• How was the weather (last year)?
• It was very (hot) (last year)?
• We had a lot of (rain) (last month).
• It’s been very (cold) so far this year.
• Is it raining now?
• Yes, it is. It’s raining very hard.
• Does it rain very much in this area?
• Yes. It rains a lot in the spring and fall.
• How’s the weather?
• It’s raining outside now.
• Is it raining very hard?
• No, it isn’t. It’s just drizzling.
• What’s the weather like outside?
• It thinks it’s going to rain.
• It was nice a few hours ago.
• It was beautiful, wasn’t it?
• How‘s the weather today?
• It’s quite cold and damp.
• How are the winters here in general?
• They’re usually rather mild.
• Is it raining outside now?
• Yes, it is and it’s quite cold.
• I think I’ll stay home today.
• I certainly wish I could too.

C. Chatting about the weather

• It’s very nice today, isn’t it?
• It’s not very nice today, is it?
• It’s warmer than last week, isn’t it?
• It’s not bad for the time of year, is it?
• The Weather is good today.
• It’s a little too warm for me.
• This kind of weather is good for the farmers.
• But I’m not a farmer.
• I wonder what the weather is going to be like tomorrow.
• The paper says it’s going to be fair and sunny.
• Let’s listen to the weather report on the radio.
• That’s a good idea.
• It’s very warm and sticky today.
• It’s so humid! I wish it would rain.
• A good rain would cool things off a little.
• We need some rain to make things green.
• It was hot yesterday.
• But it’s quite cool today.
• Yes. I’m wearing a sweater under my coat.
• I’m going to put on a jacket.
• It’s freezing today!
• Yes. It’s worse than yesterday.
• How cold is it?
• It’s ten below.
• What a cold weather this is!
• What’s the temperature?
• It’s five and above.
• You’ve seen a hurricane, haven’t you?
• Once, along time ago.
• Does it ever snow in your country?
• Only a few times a year.
• Do you like the weather in this part of the country?
• Not really, but I’m accustomed to it now.
• Is the weather different in your part of the country?
• Yes. It never gets as cold there as it is here.

D. Weather Conditions

• It’s a nice day, isn’t it?
• Yes. It’s warm and sunny for a change.
• I like this kind of weather.
• I guess everyone does.
• It’s a little windy today.
• I don’t mind the wind.
• The sun certainly feels good.
• Especially after all that bad weather last week.
• The paper says it’s going to be fair and sunny.
• Let’s listen to the weather report on the radio.

Planning a Journey

A.

Travel Plans

• I have to take a trip by air next week.
• Do you like to fly?
• I don’t know because I’ve never flown before.
• You’ll probably like it very much.
• I have to go home next week.
• How will you go-by car?
• I’ll probably go by air.
• You’ll get there very fast then.
• How will you travel to Los Angeles?
• We’ll go by plane.
• How long will it take?
• It’ll take about five or six hours to get there.
• What time will you leave your house>
• I’ll leave around seven thirty.

B.

Asking about public transport

• What time is the (next train) to London?
• Is there a plane to Bonn tomorrow evening?
• What time are the (services) to (Boston)?
• Is there a frequent service?
• How often do they go?
• How long does it take?
• When does it arrive/get there?
• What time/When does it leave?
• Where does it leave from?
• Does that go via Astound?

C.

Asking about road travel

• What’s the best road to Boston?
• Which is the best route to Milan?
• How long does it take to York?
• How many miles/kilometers is it?
• Is it a good road?
• How much time should I allow?
• How far is it to York by car/by road?
• What’s the road like to Antwerp?

D.

Suggesting plans

• Let’s take the morning plane.
• Let’s drive up via Leeds.
• We can get a meal/stop on the way.
• We can stop over/break the journey in Aix.
• What about driving there via (Brussels)?
• It’ll be quicker to go by train.
• It would be more comfortable (by train)
• I think the best route is through Belguium.
• I think the (coast road) is better.
• I think we should start at about 9.
• I don’t want to cross London.
• I want to be there before it gets dark.
• If I leave at (7) I’ll be there by 12.
• If we catch the (3:30), we’ll be in time.
• If we go via (Aachen) we can be there by 4.
• What do you think?
• What would you suggest?

E.

Trips and Sight- seeing

• Did you have a nice time over the weekend?
• I had lots of fun.
• What did you do?
• I did a lot of sight-seeing.
• How long were you out of town?
• I was away for two weeks.
• When were you away?
• I took time off in August.
• How did you go to India last month?
• We went by plane.
• What kind of plane did you take?
• It was a jet.
• Have you ever been in Italy?
• No. I’ve never been there.
• Have you ever been in France?
• Yes. I was there last summer.
• Did your parents stay in Rome for very long?
• Yes. They stayed there for two months.
• Did they describe their trip to you?
• Yes, and they showed us a lot of photographs

In a Clothes Shop

A

Shopping for a Sweater

• Can I help you?
• Yes, I’m looking for a sweater.
• What size are you?
• (I’m) extra large.
• How about this one?
• Yes, that’s nice. Can I try it on?
• Certainly, there are the changing rooms over there.
• Thank you.
• How does it fit?
• It’s too large. Do you have a large?
• Yes, here you are.
• Thank you. I’ll have it, please.
• OK, how would you like to pay?
• Do you take credit cards?
• Yes, we do. Visa, Master Card and American Express.
• OK, here’s my Visa.
• Thank you. Have a nice day!
• Thank you, goodbye.

B.

To explain what you want, use:

I’m, looking for something like this in green.

I’m looking for a jacket.

I want to get some trousers.

I’m looking for something for about $40.

C

Talking about colour:

• Have you got another colour?
• This is too dark/too light.
• I like/don’t like this colour.

D.

Talking about price

• How much is it/are they?
• Have you got anything cheaper?
• Have you got anything more expensive?
• That’s cheap/expensive; it’s too expensive.

E

Talking about size

• What size is this?
• Will this fit me?
• Have you got anything bigger/smaller?
• Have you got this in a bigger/smaller size?
• It is/they are too big/small/short/long/tight/loose.
• It/They won’t fit me

F.

Asking about trying clothes on

• I’d like to try this on
• Where can I change?
• Can I try these on?
• Is there a changing room here?
• Where can I try these on?

G

General conversations

• Can I try these on?
• Is there a changing room here?
• What would you like to see?
• I’d like to see your overcoats, please.
• What kind of overcoats would you like to see?
• I’d like to see your winter overcoats – probably wool.
• I’d like to look at your sweaters, if I could.
• Certainly. Any particular style?
• Could I see some of the new styles, please?
• Of course. Please step right this way.
• I’m interested in seeing your summer suits.
• What colour did you have in mind?
• White, or some light colour, I think.
• Step over to this other room with me, would you please?
• That jacket you have on now seems to fit you very well.
• What kind of material is this?
• It’s a mixture – cotton and wool.
• I’m not sure it’s heavy enough for the fall weather.
• Here’s a very popular kind of sport coat – the most recent thing.
• I notice there isn’t much padding in the shoulders.
• No. It has a natural shoulder line.
• I like the narrow lapels and the stitching on them.

Journey by Bus

A.

Getting the right bus

• Do you know when is the next bus to the town?
• How often do these buses run?
• When’s the next bus to the airport?
• Which bus goes to the park?
• Which bus do I take to get to the college?
• What number bus should I catch for the city?
• Is this the right bus for the station?
• There’s one every ten minutes.
• Take a 17 to the station.
• Change there onto the university bus.
• It takes about half an hour
• Where do I get the Dadar bus?
• Walk straight ahead 100 meters.
• Are there many bus stops along this street?
• Yes, there are. There are quite a few.
• Are they located at the corners?
• Most of them are, but a few aren’t.
• How do I get to the (Dadar station)?
• Take the bus at the next corner.
• Do you know which bus I take?
• Watch for (number 124).
• Thank you very much.
• Welcome.

B.

Finding where to catch a bus.

• Is there a bus stop near here?
• Where’s the nearest bus stop?
• Is this the right bus stop for the…?
• Is this the right place for a bus to town?
• Could you direct me to the bus station?
• Where’s the central bus station?

C.

On the Bus

 

• Does this bus go into the town?
• Yes. Where do you want to go?
• I want to go to Connaught Place.
• This is the right bus then.
• Does this bus go as far as Gandhi Square?
• No. You’ll have to change.
• Where can I do it?
• You can get the Gandhi Square bus at the next corner.
• Is this where I get off the bus?
• No. Not here-at the next stop.
• Can I catch an auto right there?
• Yes. There’s an auto stand right by the bus stop.
• Excuse me, but how do I get to this address?
• Get off the bus at Water Street and Main.
• Thanks very much for your help.
• Don’t mention it.
• Is West Street the next stop?
• I’m sorry, but I didn’t understand you.
• Does the bus stop at West Street next?
• Yes. Right at the next corner.
• Is this the right bus for the airport?
• Does this go to the bus station?
• The Central Park, please.
• I want to go to the city.
• How much is it?
• What is the fare?
• How much is the fare?
• Can I get a return ticket?
• Do I have to change?
• How many stops is it?
• How long does it take?
• Could you tell me where to get off, please?
• Which is my stop?