Conversation Lesson 15
 
 
 
 
Lesson 15 - Running Errands

Dialogs for everyday use. Short situational dialogs for students of English as a Foreign (EFL) or Second (ESL) Language.
Quick Links
Conversation
Advanced
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Running Errands

HOTEL RECEPTIONIST: Hi, there. How can I help you?

CLAIRE: Well, I’m in town visiting for a few days, and I need to get some things done while I’m here.

HOTEL RECEPTIONIST: Sure. What do you need?

CLAIRE: I need to get my hair cut. I also need to have my new pants hemmed.

HOTEL RECEPTIONIST: OK. Here’s a map of the city. There’s a good hair salon here, which is just a block away. And there’s a tailor right here. Is there anything else?

CLAIRE: Yes. I’ll need to have my car serviced before my long drive home!

HOTEL RECEPTIONIST: No problem. There’s a good mechanic a few blocks away.
Conversation Notes
  • Hi, there. Notice the intonation in this greeting. It rises after “Hi” and falls after “there.”
  • Sure is a friendly expression to mean “OK.”
  • Get my hair cut / have my new pants hemmed / have my car serviced. Notice get/ have + object + participle. This structure is used to describe actions that someone else does for us. “Get” and “have” are interchangeable here.
  • Is there anything else? here means “Do you need more information?”
  • Before my long drive home! Notice the emphasis and intonation on “home.” The speaker wants to show humor here. If she doesn’t get her car checked, she might not get home! She wants to be friendly and light with the receptionist.
  • No problem here means “Don’t worry.” Notice the stress on “No.” The receptionist laughs first, then puts emphasis on “No” by lengthening the word. This shows that she understands the car could break down if it doesn’t get serviced.
Source: U.S. State Department
Additional Conversation Lessons
Conversation

This is a collection of 30 situational conversations which focus on a wide variety of communicative and natural encounters in English....these lessons are for beginning students.
Conversation

This is a collection of 36 situational conversations which focus on spoken American English in a relatively natural way....these lessons are for intermediate students.
Conversation

English conversation lessons. 52 lessons covering pronunciation, speaking, writing, and grammar topics....these lessons are for beginning students.
Conversation

English conversation lessons. 30 lessons focusing mostly on communication and grammar topics....these lessons are for intermediate students.