Asking to see a product

May I see that laptop for a moment?

Bill Nichols: Excuse me. May I see that laptop for a moment?
Sales clerk: Sure. You mean this one?
Bill Nichols: No, the one on the left. Yes, thats the one. ... Thank you.
Sales clerk: Its a state-of-the-art piece of equipment, sir. With a gigantic 16.1"
UXGA TFT screen, 2.8 Ghz mobile processor, generous 512 MB RAM,
removable 80 GB hard drive, convenient CD-RW/DVD combo drive,
stunning fast graphics board with 64 MB DDR SDRAM, dual battery
capability, integrated Fast Ethernet card, IEEE 1394 digital interface and
eight USB ports, it has all the power of a desktop computer packed into an
ultra-slim notebook!
Bill Nichols: Thats impressive! Whats the sale price?
Sales clerk: The regular price is $2980.00, but until December the 31st its on sale for
just $2,699.00.
Menswear and ladieswear (color, design and material)
Do you have that in other colours?

Sales clerk: May I help you, sir?
Paul Ryefield: Yes, please. Im looking for a cotton polo shirt.
Sales clerk: Any particular colour?
Paul Ryefield: Not really.
Sales clerk: How about this one?
Paul Ryefield: I like the design, but dont particularly care for the colour. Do you have
that in other colours, too?
Sales clerk: Well, they come in white, pale yellow, aqua, red and green. Will a white
one do?
Paul Ryefield: Yes. I prefer white - and may I see a pale yellow one, too?
Sales clerk: Why, of course. Lets see... White... Pale yellow. Here you are, sir.
At a doctor
I have a terrible stomachache.

Doctor: Good morning. Please have a seat here. Whats the problem?
Paul Ryefield: I have a terrible stomachache.
Doctor: Do you have diarrhea?
Paul Ryefield: Yes, I do.
Doctor: Do you have any other symptoms?
Paul Ryefield: Yes, I feel sick.
Doctor: You mean you feel nauseous?
Paul Ryefield: Thats right. I feel like vomiting. And right now I feel dizzy, too.
Doctor: When did the symptoms start?
Paul Ryefield: This morning. Yesterday evening I ate something raw.
Doctor: All right. Please take off your clothes to the waist and lie down there. ...
Just tell me if it hurts when I do this.
Paul Ryefield: It doesnt hurt. ... Ouch. It hurts there.
Doctor: Okay. Lets hope its just indigestion, but well need to run some
diagnostic tests to be sure. Well run a blood test and well also need a
urine sample.
Paul Ryefield: Can you give me something for the time being?
Doctor: Yes, Ill give you a prescription for indigestion tablets.
Booking a hotel room
Id like to book a room please.

Receptionist: Good afternoon, San Felice Hotel. May I help you?
Mrs Ryefield: Yes. Id like to book a room, please.
Receptionist: Certainly. When for, madam?
Mrs Ryefield: March the 23rd.
Receptionist: How long will you be staying?
Mrs Ryefield: Three nights.
Receptionist: What kind of room would you like, madam?
Mrs Ryefield: Er... double with bath. Id appreciate it if you could give me a room with a
view over the lake.
Receptionist: Certainly, madam. Ill just check what we have available. . . Yes, we have
a room on the 4th floor with a really splendid view.
Mrs Ryefield: Fine. How much is the charge per night?
Receptionist: Would you like breakfast?
Mrs Ryefield: No, thanks.
Receptionist: Its eighty four euro per night excluding VAT.
Mrs Ryefield: Thats fine.
Receptionist: Whos the booking for, please, madam?
Mrs Ryefield: Mr and Mrs Ryefield, thats R-Y-E-F-I-E-L-D.
Receptionist: Okay, let me make sure I got that: Mr and Mrs Ryefield. Double with bath
for March the 23rd, 24th and 25th. Is that correct?
Mrs Ryefield: Yes it is. Thank you.
Receptionist: Let me give you your confirmation number. Its: 7576385. Ill repeat that:
7576385. Thank you for choosing San Felice Hotel and have a nice day.
Goodbye.
Mrs Ryefield: Goodbye.
Room service
Id like some breakfast, please.

Room service: Room service.
Mary Jones: Good morning. This is room 113. Id like some breakfast, please.
Room service: Right. Excuse me. Mrs. Jones?
Mary Jones: Thats right.
Room service: What can I do for you?
Mary Jones: Id like some grapefruit juice, marmalade, two scrambled eggs with two
sausages, toast, and a pot of black coffee, please. How long will it take?
Room service: Just a few minutes, maam.
Mary Jones: Great. Thank you.
Checking out of the hotel
Id like to check out now.

Receptionist: Good morning. May I help you?
Daniel Adams: Yes, Id like to check out now. My names Adams, room 312. Heres the
key.
Receptionist: One moment, please, sir. ... Heres your bill. Would you like to check and
see if the amount is correct?
Daniel Adams: Whats the 14 pounds for?
Receptionist: Thats for the phone calls you made from your room.
Daniel Adams: Can I pay with travellers cheques?
Receptionist: Certainly. May I have your passport, please?
Daniel Adams: Here you are.
Receptionist: Could you sign each cheque here for me?
Daniel Adams: Sure.
Receptionist: Here are your receipt and your change, sir. Thank you.
Daniel Adams: Thank you. Goodbye.
Ordering breakfast
Ill have three scrambled eggs with country ham.

Waitress: Good morning. Are you ready to order?
Bill Nichols: Yes, I am, thank you. Ill have three scrambled eggs with country ham,
toast and jam, please.
Waitress: Would you like anything to drink?
Bill Nichols: Ill have a tomato juice and some iced tea.
Waitress: Anything else?
Bill Nichols: Could I have a slice of pumpkin pie?
Waitress: Sure. Coming right up.
Ordering lunch and dinner
What else do you recommend?

Waiter: Are you ready to order, sir?
Mr Ryefield: Yes. Ill have the beef stew for starters and my wife would like tomato
soup.
Waiter: One beef stew and one tomato soup. What would you like for the main
course?
Mr Ryefield: Ill have the Cayenne Pepper Steak and my wife would like the Fried
Trout with mashed potatoes.
Waiter: Im afraid the trout is off.
Mrs Ryefield: Oh dear. Err... What else do you recommend?
Waiter: The sole is very good.
Mrs Ryefield: OK. Ill have that. Do you have any coleslaw?
Waiter: No, Im sorry, we dont.
Mrs Ryefield: Just give me a small mixed salad then.
Mr Ryefield: Same for me.
Waiter: Certainly. (...) Would you like something to drink?
Mr Ryefield: Yes, please. May I see the wine list?
Waiter: Certainly. Here you are.
(...)
Mr Ryefield: A bottle of Chablis 99, please.
Waiter: Excellent choice!
Telephone facilities
How do I get an outside line?

Operator: Operator. May I help you?
Paul Ryefield: Yes. How do I get an outside line, please?
Operator: Just dial 0, wait for the dial tone, and then dial the phone number you
want to call. Or we can place a call for you, if you want.
Paul Ryefield: No, thanks a lot. Ill try it myself.
Buying food
How much is that?

Mrs Ryefield: Ill have a whole-wheat loaf, three white loaves, a baguette and ten rolls,
please. How much is that?
Baker: The whole-wheat loaf is 45 cents, the white loaves are 35 cents each, the
baguette is 27 cents and the rolls are eight cents each. That makes two
dollars fifty-seven cents.
Mrs Ryefield: There you go.
Baker: Thank you, maam. Forty-three cents change. Have a nice day.
At the post office
Air mail, please.

Postal clerk: Yes, maam?
Mrs Ryefield: How much is a stamp to send a letter to France, please?
Postal clerk: Air mail or surface mail?
Mrs Ryefield: Air mail, please.
Postal clerk: Thatll be eighty-five cents.
Mrs Ryefield: Four stamps, please. How much is that?
Postal clerk: Three dollars and forty cents.
Mrs Ryefield: There you go.
Taking a picture
Could you please take a picture of us with this camera?

Paul Ryefield: Excuse me. Could you please take a picture of us with this camera?
Man: Sure. Which button do I press to shoot?
Paul Ryefield: This one.
Man: Do I have to focus it?
Paul Ryefield: No, this is a focus-free camera. All you have to do is point and press the
button.
Man: All right. Say "cheese".
Reservations (airline)
Do you have any flights to Sydney next Tuesday afternoon?

Reservations clerk: Northwind Airways, good morning. May I help you?
Mary Jones: Yes, do you have any flights to Sydney next Tuesday afternoon?
Reservations clerk: One moment, please... Yes. Theres a flight at 16:45 and one at 18:00.
Mary Jones: Thats fine. Could you tell me how much a return flight costs? Ill be
staying three weeks.
Reservations clerk: Economy, business class or first class ticket?
Mary Jones: Economy, please.
Reservations clerk: That would be 346.
Mary Jones: OK. Could I make a reservation?
Reservations clerk: Certainly. Which flight would you like?
Mary Jones: The 16:45, please.
Reservations clerk: Could I have your name, please?
Mary Jones: My name is Mary Jones, thats M-A-R-Y J-O-N-E-S.
Reservations clerk: How would you like to pay, Ms. Jones?
Mary Jones: Can I pay at the check-in desk when I pick up my ticket?
Reservations clerk: Yes, but you will have to confirm this reservation at least two hours
before departure time.
Mary Jones: I see.
Reservations clerk: Now you have been booked, Ms. Jones. The flight leaves at 16:45, and
your arrival in Sydney will be at 9:25 a.m., local time. The flight number
is NWA 476.
Mary Jones: Thank you.
Confirmation of flight reservation
Id like to reconfirm my flight

Reservations clerk: Northwind Airlines. Can I help you?
Daniel Adams: Hello. Id like to reconfirm my flight, please.
Reservations clerk: May I have your name and flight number, please?
Daniel Adams: My name is Daniel Adams and my flight number is 374.
Reservations clerk: When are you leaving?
Daniel Adams: On May 11th.
Reservations clerk: And your destination?
Daniel Adams: Buenos Aires.
Reservations clerk: Hold the line, please. (...) All right. Your seat is confirmed, Mr. Adams.
Youll be arriving in Buenos Aires at 4 oclock p.m. local time.
Daniel Adams: Thank you. Can I pick up my ticket when I check in?
Reservations clerk: Yes, but please check in at least one hour before departure time.
At passport control
Do you have a return ticket?

Immigration officer: Good evening. Where have you come from?
Paul Ryefield: Bucharest, Romania.
Immigration officer: May I have your passport and form I-94, please?
Paul Ryefield: Here you are.
Immigration officer: Whats the nature of your visit? Business or pleasure?
Paul Ryefield: Pleasure. Im visiting my relatives.
Immigration officer: How long are you going to stay in the United States?
Paul Ryefield: Three weeks.
Immigration officer: What is your occupation?
Paul Ryefield: I work as an accountant for a Romanian telecommunications company.
Immigration officer: Do you have a return ticket?
Paul Ryefield: Yes, here it is.
Immigration officer: Thats fine. Thanks. Enjoy your trip.
Paul Ryefield: Thank you.
Railway travel
A ticket to London, please.

Paul Ryefield: What time does the next train to London leave?
Railway Station Clerk: At 16:35, from platform 8.
Paul Ryefield: Is it a direct train to London?
Railway Station Clerk: No, you have to change trains at Birmingham.
Paul Ryefield: I see. One ticket to London, please.
Railway Station Clerk: Single or return, sir?
Paul Ryefield: Single, please.
Railway Station Clerk: 64 pounds, please.
Paul Ryefield: Here you are.
Railway Station Clerk: Heres your ticket and change, sir.
Bank drafts
I want to make a remittance to New Delhi.

Bank Clerk: Good morning. May I help you, sir?
Bill Nichols: Yes. I want to make a remittance to New Delhi.
Bank Clerk: Do you want an international money order or a bankers draft?
Bill Nichols: Id like a bankers draft please. Its not really urgent.
International transfers
How long does it take?

Bank clerk: Hello. Can I help you, maam?
Mary Jones: Yes. Could you tell me how to send some money to someone with an
account with a bank in Germany?
Bank clerk: Well, you can pay by mail, telegraphic or SWIFT transfer. Or you can
have a bankers draft and mail it yourself to the beneficiary.
Mary Jones: Which is the best way?
Bank clerk: It depends on the amount and how fast you want that person to receive the
money. A SWIFT transfer is the fastest method but a bankers draft is
usually the cheapest. How much do you wanna send?
Mary Jones: $800.
Bank clerk: Why dont you send it by mail payment order?
Mary Jones: How long does it take?
Bank clerk: About a week.
Mary Jones: I dont know. Can I send it more quickly?
Bank clerk: Sure. You can have a Telegraphic or a SWIFT transfer.
Mary Jones: And how long do those take?
Bank clerk: Both a Telegraphic Transfer and a SWIFT transfer will normally be
credited to the payees account within three or four working days,
depending on whether the beneficiarys bank is among our correspondent
banks or we have to route the transfer through a third bank.
Mary Jones: I see. How can I pay by Telegraphic Transfer?
Bank clerk: You have to fill out this form, maam.
Foreign exchange
Id like to change some euro into US dollars.

Cashier: Hi. May I help you?
Paul Ryefield: Yes. Whats the buying rate for euro?
Cashier: 1.15 U.S. dollars to the euro.
Paul Ryefield: Okay. Id like to change some euro into US dollars, please.
Cashier: Sure. How much would you like to change?
Paul Ryefield: Six hundred euro.
Cashier: Very good. May I see your passport?
Paul Ryefield: Here you are.
Cashier: How would you like your bills?
Paul Ryefield: In fifties please.