EPISODE 186
LEVEL A2
READING COMPREHENSION
Telephoning: appointments
Michelle: Mr Hibberd’s office!
Peter: Hello, can I speak to Brian Hibberd, please?
Michelle: I’m afraid he’s in a meeting until lunchtime. Can I take a message?
Peter: Well, I’d like to arrange an appointment to see him, please. It’s Peter Jefferson here.
Michelle: Could you hold on for a minute, Mr Jefferson? I’ll just look in the diary. So when’s convenient for you?
Peter: Sometime next week if possible. I gather he’s away the following week.
Michelle: Yes, that’s right, he’s on holiday for a fortnight.
Peter: Well, I need to see him before he goes away. So would next Wednesday be okay?
Michelle: Wednesday …let me see … he’s out of the office all morning. But he’s free in the afternoon, after about three.
Peter: Three o’clock is difficult. But I could make it after four.
Michelle: So shall we say 4.15 next Wednesday, in Mr Hibberd’s office?
Peter: Yes, that sounds fine. Thanks very much.
Michelle: Okay, then. Bye.
Ex.1 Complete these telephoning phrases with the words from the box:
afraid / arrange / convenient / free / look / make / next / say / speak
1. Could you ____________ it after four?
2. He’s ____________ in the afternoon after about three
3. I’ll just ____________ in the diary.
4. I’m ____________ he’s in a meeting.
5. So shall we ____________ 4.15 next Wednesday?
6. When’s ____________ for you?
7. Who would you like to ____________ to?
8. Would ____________ Wednesday be OK?
9. Would you like to ____________ an appointment?
Ex.2 Cover the previous exercise and reconstruct the sentences from these words:
1. you / four / make / it / Could / after?
___________________________________________________________________________
2. three. / He’s / about / in / the / free / afternoon / after
___________________________________________________________________________
3. just / I’ll in diary. the look
___________________________________________________________________________
4. a / he’s / I’m / meeting / afraid / in.
___________________________________________________________________________
5. we / Wednesday / So / say / 4.15 / shall / next?
___________________________________________________________________________
6. convenient / for / When’s / you?
___________________________________________________________________________
7. would / you / Who / to / speak / like / to?
___________________________________________________________________________
8. Wednesday / Would / be / next / OK?
___________________________________________________________________________
9. appointment / Would / like / arrange / you / to / an?
___________________________________________________________________________
I know English idioms:
One of the dialogue’s sentences reads: “But I could make it after four.”, where the underlined fragment can translate as “Dał(a)bym radę…” There are, however, more idiomatic expressions with this verb. Here’s one of them:
• to make it a rule = to act according to a principle (przyjąć za zasadę)
➢ Our management has made it a rule and introduced pay cuts.
Phrasals, phrasals…
Another sentence from the text says: “Well, I need to see him before he goes away.” The underlined part is a very common phrasal verb. Let’s contrast it with another one:
• to go away = to leave a place, especially to spend time somewhere else (wyjechać)
➢ He goes away on business a lot.
• to go out = to leave a room or building to entertain yourself (wyjść z domu)
➢ Do you want to go out for a drink?
Grammar corner…
Let’s study these fragments of the text: “Could you hold on for a minute, Mr Jefferson?”, “But I could make it after four.” Both sentences use the same modal verb: “could” but here used in two meanings: the first one – as a polite request, the second one – as an offer – probability.
GLOSSARY
appointment – umówione spotkanie
office – biuro
to be afraid – obawiać się
meeting – spotkanie
lunchtime – pora obiadowa
to take a message – przyjąć wiadomość
to arrange an appointment – umówić spotkanie
to hold on – zaczekać
to look in – zajrzeć do
diary – terminarz
convenient – dogodny
possible – możliwe
to gather – tu: domyślać się
to be away – wyjechać
following – następny
fortnight – dwa tygodnie
to go away – wyjechać
out of the office – poza biurem
to make it – dać radę
to sound fine – brzmieć dobrze
>>Answers
ANSWER KEY
Ex.1 / 2
1. Could you make it after four?
2. He’s free in the afternoon after about three
3. I’ll just look in the diary.
4. I’m afraid he’s in a meeting.
5. So shall we say 4.15 next Wednesday?
6. When’s convenient for you?
7. Who would you like to speak to?
8. Would next Wednesday be OK?
9. Would you like to arrange an appointment?
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