Episode 05: Fadi to the Rescue

Sarah, Olivia, Harry and Johnny are all looking glum, but Fadi is here to solve their problems.

Do the Preparation task first. Then listen to the audio. Next go to each Task and do the activity. If you need help, you can read the Transcript at any time.

Preparation

Exercise

Transcript

Johnny: Hi
Harry: Hi
Harry: Could we get two cappuccinos please?
Tony: Ok...sit down and I’ll bring them over to you.
Harry: Cheers...
Johnny: So, listen, I had a word with the IT department about that job that I’d mentioned, and they’d like you to come in for a chat sometime...
Harry: A “chat”?
Johnny: Well, yeah, you know, not really a formal interview, just...well...like, a chat, so they can get to know you, and see what you’re like, and stuff...
Harry: But there’s no real job on offer...
Johnny: Well, no, perhaps not as yet, not exactly...
Harry: Hmmm, I’m not sure.
Johnny: Go on! What have you got to lose?
Harry: I guess you’re right...
Johnny: And it’s a good company to work for...lots of prospects...great bonuses! And you get to work with me!
Harry: OK, when can I come in?
Olivia: Hi
All: Hi!
Johnny: Tomorrow I guess...
Olivia: Tomorrow what? What are you two planning in secret?
Harry: Olivia, you are so nosey! You always have to know everything about everyone else....
Olivia: Just natural curiosity...
Johnny: Harry’s coming to work with me!
Olivia: That’s great!
Harry: Hang on, hang on...it’s not definite yet...
Olivia: I’m sure you’ll get the job! Well done!
Harry: Slow down, will you!
Olivia: That means you’ll be too busy to do my website for me...
Harry: I’m sure I can squeeze you in...
Olivia: I wouldn’t want to overwork you!
Harry: We’ll see, eh?
Olivia: OK, but don’t lose any sleep over it.
All: Hi Sarah!
Johnny: How’s the flat-hunting going?
Sarah: Oooooppphhhh....I’m exhausted. I’ve been going round the city all day, looking at flats.
Olivia: And no success?
Sarah: No success at all.
Harry: What’s the problem?
Sarah: They’re all too small, or too dark, or too far away, or too expensive, or there are weird flatmates...
Harry: You’ll have to compromise at some point....
Sarah: Yeah, I guess so, but I don’t want to live in a complete dump, and it seems that I can’t afford much more.
Fadi: Hello all!
All: Hi Fadi!
Harry: How’s it going mate?
Fadi: I’m fine here, but why are you lot all looking so glum?
Olivia: Sarah still can’t find a place to live.
Harry: Olivia’s fed up because I can’t do her website for her!
Johnny: Harry’s not enthusiastic about working with me!
Fadi: Great...Well, I’ll just have to try and solve all your problems, then, won’t I?

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Language level

B1 Intermediate

Topics

jobs and work

I had a word with the IT department about that job that I’d mentioned, Why he said (job that I’d mentioned) What about (job that I mentioned) without would?

Hi seham fadL,

Here, I'd mentioned is short for I had mentioned. This is the past perfect tense, and it's used when we want to refer to a past event that happened before than another past event. In this situation, that job that I'd mentioned happened before I had a word with the IT department.

You can find out more on our past perfect grammar page.

Does that make sense?

Best wishes,

Jonathan

The LearnEnglish Team

Because Jhonny told about that job Harry in the past. Then he had a word about that. So talking about the job is the 1st action and having a word is the 2nd action. 1st action is past perfect and the second action is simple past.

Hope it's clear.

Hello I plan to use English for business purpose in about three years. I probably won't need the informal expressions (e.g. 'innit') in these podcast. As long as I get the exercises correct everything will be okay for me. The podcasts are quite short so it's difficult for me to write something sensible about them. I think that when I later study topics, which are used in small talk, (weather, food and cooking, family, ...), I will be able to write and speak something about these topics and improve my writing and speaking skills. Bye

Thanks for the exercise!. Could you explain me the difference between the use of "I'm going to do that" and "I will do that" when I'm talking about the future? Thanks.

Hello jmajo Please see our Talking about the future page (https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/english-grammar/talking-about-future), where this is explained in detail. If it's still not clear to you after that, please don't hesitate to ask us again. All the best Kirk The LearnEnglish Team

Activity 05 : -------------------- I’m finally (5) GETTING TO do what I have always wanted to do. Is that mean "Opportunity" or something else?

Hello amit_ck Yes, it means that you are finally able to do what you have always wanted to do. Please do not post your comments more than once! As you know, we check all comments before they are published, so it can take some time before your comments appear on the site. Best wishes Kirk The LearnEnglish Team

Could you please simply explain what they are exactly wanted to say, and can we use them in our daily conversation. 1) Johnny: Go on! WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO LOSE? 2) Harry: I’m sure I CAN SQUEEZE YOU IN... 3) Olivia: OK, but DON’T LOSE ANY SLEEP OVER IT.

Hello amit_ck, The quickest way to check the meaning of phrases like this is to use an online dictionary. For example: What have you got to lose? > https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/you-ve-got-nothing-to-lose?q=what+have+you+got+to+lose ~ I can squeeze you in > https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/squeeze-sb-sth-in?q=squeezes+sb%2Fsth+in ~ ...don't lose any sleep over it > https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/lose-sleep-over-about-sth?q=lose+sleep+over ~ Peter The LearnEnglish Team

Episode 05: Fadi to the Rescue

Preparation

Transcript

Task 1

Task 2

Task 3

Task 4

Language level

Topics

Online courses