Contents

1 Basic Phrases .................................................................................................................. 4

2 Taking a Taxi ................................................................................................................... 5
3 At the Hotel ...................................................................................................................... 7
4 Booking a Room by Phone ........................................................................... 10
5 Asking for Directions ..........................................................................................
.......
.... 12
6 Money 1
14

ES
.................................................................................................................................
.....
................

7 On the Bus .....................................................................................................................

..........................
.............. 15
8 The Underground ...................................................................................................
..................................
................................ 16
9 At the Train Station 18

G
..............................................................................................
.................................
......................

10 On the Phone .................................................................................................................

.................................
................ 19
11 At the Post Office
PA
...................................................................................................
..................................
....................... 20
12 At a Restaurant ..........................................................................................................
............
......................... 21
13 At a Fast Food Restaurantt .............................................................................
...... ..... 27
14 At a Caf ...........................................................................................................................
.................................
............... 28
15 At a Pub 29
E

............................................................................................................................
..................................
.....................

16 At the Supermarket
market ..............................................................................................
..............
. 30
PL

17 At the Greengrocers
eengrocers
engrocers .....
.............................................................................................. 31
....

18 At the Doctors ............................................................................................................

......... 32
19 At the
he Chemists ...................................................................................................... 35
M

20 At the Dentis
Dentist
Dentists ......................................................................................................... 36
Cinema
21 At the Cin ............................................................................................................ 38
SA

22
2 At th
the Theatre ............................................................................................................ 40
23 In a Clothes Shop ................................................................................................... 42
24
4 At the Hairdressers ............................................................................................. 47
25 At the Travel Agency ........................................................................................... 48
26 At the Airport .............................................................................................................. 51
Measurements [length - height - weight]
British English - American English ......................................................... 54
Glossary .............................................................................................................................. 55

3
 1 Basic Phrases

Greeting someone Apologising

you dont know very well
Hello! / Good morning. / Good
afternoon. / Good evening.
Sorry. / Im sorry about that.
Im really sorry. / Pardon me.
Responding to apologies
pologies

ES
Greeting someone Oh, thats all right / OK.
you know well Oh, that doesntt matter. / It
Hello! / Hi! doesnt matter.
atter.
tter. / Never mind.
m
How is it going? Its no problem,
roblem,
em, really.
really / No

G
problem.
blem.
em.
Thanking someone Oh,h, dont worry about that.
PA
Thank you (very much).
Thanks. / Thanks a lot. Asking
sking for
skin fo permission
Is it all rright if ... ?
Responding to thanks
ks Do you mind if ... ?
Youre welcome.
E

No problem. Formal interruptions

PL

Excuse me?
Agreeing Could I ask a question, please?
Of course.. / OK. / Sure.
Sur / Great!
Good idea.
dea.
ea. Giving permission
M

Thats
ats
ts right. / I agree
agr
ag (with you). Yes, of course.
Not at all.*
SA

Saying yo
you dont Sure. / By all means.
understand
unders
Excuse me? / Sorry?
Excus Saying goodbye
Im sorry. I dont understand. Bye! / Bye bye! / Goodbye.
Could you say that again, See you. / See you again soon.
please? See you later.

[* This is an answer to the question:

Do you mind if ... ?]

4
 2 Taking a Taxi

Dialogue (i) Taking a taxi from the airport to a hotel

Visitor: Good morning.
Taxi driver: Where to?
Visitor: The Summer Hotel on Bond Street, please.
Taxi driver: All right. Let me put your luggage in the back.
Visitor: Thank you very much.
...

ES
Taxi driver: Well, here we are.
Visitor: eep
Heres a fifty-pound note. You can keepep the change.
chang
Taxi driver: Thank you.
Visitor: Goodbye.

G
P

Dialoguee (ii) Orderin

Ordering a taxi from a hotel
M

Could
ould
d you order me a taxi, please?
Yes, of course
course. Where to?
Covent
ovent Gar
Garden.
SA

The ta
taxi should be here in about five minutes.
Dialogue
Dialog (iii) Travelling to a place by taxi
Dialogu
Ta
Taxi! Taxi!
Where to?
Piccadilly Circus, please.
Dialogue (iv)
Taxi! Taxi!
Where to?
Trafalgar Square, please. Im in a hurry.
Well be there soon if there arent any hold-ups.

5
 Practical English
phrase book

.................
Here we are. Trafalgar Square.
Oh, good. How much is it?
Its three pounds sixty.
Heres four pounds. Keep the

ES
change.
Thank you.

Dialogue (v)

G
Going back to the airport
Where to?
Heathrow airport. How much
PA
will it cost?
Itll be about forty.
All right.
E
PL

WHATT YOU MIGHT NEED

N TO ASK OR SAY
M

Wheres the nearest taxi rank?

Do you th
think you can get me to Piccadilly Circus by
SA

0.3
10.30?
Tha
Thanks a lot. You can keep the change.
Thank you. Heres the fare and this is for you.

6
 3 At the Hotel

Arriving at the Hotel

Dialogue (i)
Good afternoon. Can I
help you?
Yes. Id like to check in,
please.
Certainly, may I have
your name?
Its Tom Clarence.
Can you spell that?

G
Yes. C-L-A-R-E-N-C-E.
Thank you. And could I have your passport,
assport,
port, please?
Of course. Here you are.
PA
Thank you. Room 245. Its on thee second flo
floo
floor. Heres your
key.
Thank you.

Dialogue (ii)
E

Good morning. There here should be a room booked for me. The
hall.
all.
name is Marshall.
PL

Could you spell

pell that, pleas
plea
please?
Yes, M-A-R-S-H-A-L-L.
A-R-S-H-A-L-L.
R-S-H-A-
Yes, here it is. How long will you be staying, Mr Marshall?
Ill bee checking o
ou
out on Friday.
M

Can you fill in the registration form, please?

Certainly
Certainly.
ertainly.
ertainly
SA

Thank you. Your room number is 429. Its on the fourth floor.
Heres your key card.
Tha
Thank you very much.

7
 Practical English
phrase book

QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT NEED TO ASK

What time do you serve breakfast? / What time is
breakfast served?
What time does the dining room open?
Do you have room service?
What time do I need to check out by?

ES
Leaving the Hotel

G
Dialogue (i)
Hello, Id like to check out, please.
PA
Certainly. Will you be paying by credit
redit card?
No, Ill pay in cash.
May I have your room key, please?
ple e?
Here you are.
Did you use anything in n the mini
m bar?
ba
No, I didnt.
E

OK. Thatll be 13030 then, please.

please
Heres 150.
PL

And heres your change and an your receipt.

Do you think
hink you could call me a taxi for the airport?
Of course.
urse. If youll just
ju wait over there, Ill call one for you
now.
w.
M

Dialogue
ogue (ii)
SA

Good mo morning. May I help you?

Yes, Id
I like to check out. My names Brown, room 512.
Heres the key.
Her
O One moment, please. Heres your bill. Would you like to
check and see if the amount is correct?
Its fine, thanks. Can I pay by credit card?
Certainly.
Heres your receipt. Thank you.

8
 Practical English
phrase book

WHAT YOU WILL

LL HEAR
HE
EAR WHAT YOU CAN ANSWER
PL

How was
as your stay?
st It was fine, thanks.
We hope to seee yyou again. Well be back next
time were in town /
M

in London.
In cash. /
SA

How would you like to pay? By credit card.

9
 4 Booking a Room by Phone

Dialogue (i)
Kings Hotel. How can I help you?
Hello. Id like to book a double room, please.
Of course. May I have your name, please?
Tom Clarence. C-L-A-R-E-N-C-E.
Thank you, Mr Clarence. When will you be arriving?
Ill be arriving on Tuesday at 3 p.m.

ES
How many nights will you be staying?
Four nights.
So, youll be checking out on Saturday morning. ng.
Yes, thats right.

AG
Fine. Ill need a 60 deposit. Now, if youll
ull just give me
m your
credit card details

10
 Practical English
phrase book

Dialogue (ii)
Good afternoon, St Michaels Hotel. How can I help you?
Yes, Id like to book a room, please.
Certainly. When for, sir?
January the 4th.
How long will you be staying?

ES
Four nights.
And what kind of room would you like?
A double, please.
Ill just check to see what we have available.
e. ... Yes, we have
ha a

G
double room on the fourth floor.
Fine. How much is it per night?
Its eighty-four pounds a night.
PA
Is breakfast included?
Yes, it is.
Thats fine.
Whos the booking for?
Mr and Mrs Smith.
E

Thats S-M-I-T-H.
Thank you, Mrr Smith.
PL

ward to
We look forward
seeing youou
u on 4th
ry.
y
January.
Thank
ankk you.
M
SA

11
 5 Asking for Directions

Dialogue (i)
Excuse me. Im lost. Im trying to get to the Four Seasons
Hotel.
Im afraid youre going the wrong way.
Could you tell me how to get there?
Yes, turn around, go back to the main road and take e a right at

ES
the traffic lights. Youll see the hotel from there.

Dialogue (ii)
Excuse me. Could you tell me how to gett to the town centre?
c

G
Yes, go up this street and take the third
rd turning on your
yo left.
Is it far to walk?
PA
No, its only about five minutes from here.
Thank you.

Dialogue (iii)
Excuse me. Is there a
phone box near
here?
PL

Yes. Along thishis

street, first
st right.
Thank you. u.
M

Dialogue
logue (iv)
Imm looking fo
for a
SA

supermarket.
supermark
permark
Theres
There a really big one just
around
arou
rou that corner.
Th
Thanks. What time does it close?
Its open every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. except Sundays.

12
 Practical English
phrase book

PL

QUESTIONSS YOU MI
MIGHT NEED TO ASK

Could
uld you tell me the way to Madame Tussauds, please?
M

Could you ttell me where the park / zoo / post office is?
Excuse mme. How do I get to the ... ? Is it very far?
SA

Can I get there on foot?

CCan I get there by bus? / Do I need to take a bus?
What number bus should I take? / Which bus should I
take?
Should I take a taxi / bus / the Underground / the Tube ?
Which bus goes to the town centre?
Im looking for a bus stop. Is there one near here?

13
 6 Money

At the Bureau de Change

Id like to change these euros into pounds, please.
Of course. How do you want it?
In tens and twenties, please.

USEFUL PHRASES
Id like to change
some dollars, please.
Could I have it in
twenties, please?

Currency
E

1 (=100 pence) one pound a five-pound note

PL

5 five pounds / a five-pound note a ten-pound note

a twenty-pound note
How much ch does it cost?
cost
a fifty-pound note
Its 3.40.
3.40. (three po
pounds forty /
pou
a hundred-pound note
three
reee pounds forty
for pence)
M

Asking for Change

SA

Could yo
you change a fifty-pound note, please?
How wwould you like it?
A tw
twenty, two tens and two fives, please.

14
7 On the Bus

Asking for Information

Excuse me. Im trying to get to Regents Park. Does this bus go
there?
Yes, it does.
Can you tell me where to get off, please?
Yes, no problem.

Buying a Ticket

S
Two to Piccadilly Circus,
please.
Thatll be two pounds fifty.
Here you are.
Thank you. Heres your
change.

QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT NEED

E

TO ASK WHAT YOU WILL HEAR

Does this bus go to the Have your fares
PL

London
Tower of London? ready, please.
Is this the
he right b
bus for Tickets, please.
rble Arch?
Marble Move down the
M

Could you te tell me when bus, please.

we get the
there?
SA

15
 8 The Underground

Buying a Ticket
Excuse me. Where can I get a ticket?
Well, you can go to one of the ticket offices or you can get a
ticket from one of the machines.

Getting Around
Dialogue (i)

ES
Excuse, me. Which line do I take for Notting Hill Gate?
Notting Hill Gate? Take the Central Line.
Which direction on the Central Line?
Westbound.

G
Do I have to change lines?
No, its direct.
PA
Dialogue (ii)
How do I get to Bond Street, please?
ase?
You want the Victoria Line to Oxford
Ox d Circus,
Circ
Ci and then you
change to the Central.
Which platform do I need?
eed?
E

For the Victoria Line,

ne,
go straight down
wnn the
PL

stairs and turn

rn
n left.
Dialogue (iii)
iii)
i)
Excusee me. e. Is this the
tth
right
ht line for
M

Heathrow?
No,o, it isnt. You need
SA

to tak
take ththe Piccadilly
Line.

16
 Practical English
phrase book

A map of the London Underground

E
PL

17