Articles — both definite and indefinite

Articles — both definite and indefinite
Indefinite — a, an

Uses
Before a singular noun which is countable when it is mentioned for the first time and represents no particular person or thing.
"A horse is a noble animal."
Before a singular countable noun which is used as an example of a class of things.
"A book is something you read."
With a noun complement, including names of professions.
"She is a doctor, he became a famous actor."
In certain numerical expressions.
"a dozen, a hundred"
In expressions of price, speed, ratio.
"60 miles an hour, 4 hours a day, 30p a box"
With "few" and "little"
"a few people, a little sugar"
In exclamations before singular, countable nouns. "What a pity! What a sunny day!"
It can be placed before Mr., Mrs, Miss, Ms + surname.
"a Mr. Brown phoned today."

Not Used
Before plural nouns.
"Horses are noble animals."
Before uncountable nouns
"Milk is good for you."
Before abstract nouns.
"Fear is natural."
Before names of meals except when preceded by an adjective.
"We had a late breakfast and decided to miss lunch."

Definite — the

Uses
Before nouns of which there is only one.
"The earth is round."
Before a noun which has become definite as a result of being mentioned a second time.
"We saw a good film last night. It was the film you recommended."
Before a noun made definite by the addition of a phrase or clause.
"The woman dressed in black."
Before a noun which, by reason of locality, can represent only one particular thing.
"There’s a bee in the kitchen."
Before superlatives and "first", "second" and "only"
"The longest river in the world."
Before singular nouns used to represent a class of objects.
"The donkey is a very obstinate animal."
Before an adjective used to represent a class of persons.
"That tax hurts the rich."
Before names of seas, rivers, chains of mountains, groups of islands and plural names of countries.
"the Pacific Ocean, the Thames, the Andes, the West Indies, the Netherlands"
Before musical instruments.
"She plays the piano"

Not Used
Before countries, towns, proper names.
"Charlie lived in Chicago in America"
Before abstract nouns.
"Jealousy can be dangerous."
Before parts of the body and articles of clothing — these normally prefer a possessive adjective.
"Lift your left arm."
"He removed his hat."


"Charlie the Brave"
Charlie is a teacher and his wife, Maria is an artist. One of the main differences between the two is that Charlie has no imagination well perhaps a little whereas Maria has the most vivid imagination you could think of.
Now — imagination is an essential quality if you’re an artist but sometimes it can lead to — problems. Take the night before last, for example. It was a fine summer night and you could see the moon and the stars quite clearly, it was shortly before the longest day of the year. Charlie was sitting in a deckchair enjoying the warm summer air when he felt something touch his shoulder; it was Maria’s hand and he could tell immediately she was a little worried about something. He had noticed this sensation a hundred times before. He asked her what the matter was and she replied that there was a strange thing on the jacket that was hanging in the bedroom. Now you must remember that they had both lived in the West Indies and had seen a lot of strange creatures in their house before. But now they were living in — England and so Charlie just laughed and said he would have a look at the "thing".

He left the garden and made his way to the bedroom. He could see a jacket hanging in the bedroom and went up to it to have a closer look at the"thing". The moment he touched it, the thing sprang into— life. Now Charlie experiences — fear like the rest of us but when this creature opened its wings, he jumped out of his skin and ran screaming from the room like a small child doing about 100 miles an hour.

What a fuss you may say and the brave among you may well regard such behaviour as pathetic but — bats (for this thing was a bat) bring out the worst in many people. For a moment the next-door neighbours thought that Charlie was murdering his wife because of the noise they could hear. In fact the bat was the one that was frightened and it fluttered its wings and flew from one side of the bedroom to the other.
Eventually Charlie managed to trap the bat in a box and went out into thefront garden clutching the box as if it had a bomb inside it, took off the lid and the bat, obviously delighted to be free, flew away into the dark. Eventually Maria, who had been playing the guitar while Charlie was upstairs, asked Charlie if he had found out what the thing was. "Oh, nothing to worry about", he said casually hoping that the terror could not be seen in his eyes, "it was just a bat."

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Present Simple Tense

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In this story you will find many examples of how the Present Simple Tense can be used. As you know we use the present simple for things that are true in general, or for things that happen sometimes or all the time:


She likes black tea.
I start work at 9 o'clock and finish at 5:30.
Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
We usually visit our friends on the weekend.

English Grammar through Stories
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You probably remember that after he/she/it an "s" is added to the verb as in these examples:


She speaks excellent French.
He sometimes calls her "my darling".
It makes perfect sense to me.

When we want to make a negative sentence we use the following structure:

subject (I/you/we/they) + auxiliary verb (don't) + main verb (infinitive)
subject (he/she/it) + auxiliary verb (doesn't) + main verb (infinitive)

Examples:


I don't speak Chinese.
You don't work very hard.
She doesn't call me every day.

When we want to make a question we also use do after I/you/we/they and does after he/she/it:


Do you speak Chinese?
Does she work here?
What do you do for a living?
How do you usually get to work?

Now enjoy the following story and find the present simple in italics.
"It never gets you anywhere"
Andrew Smodley is a natural worrier. It is something he has inherited from his father — the king of all worriers. But then there are those who are never happy unless they have a problem to solve. Andrew worried about the weather, the state of the pound, his health, the cost of living and once he even worried because he thought he wasn't worrying enough. But that was in the past. Things have changed because something happened to him exactly two years ago.

It was in the spring when leaves appear on trees and nature prepares herself for renewal. Other things happen too — people often fall in love. Now Andrew doesn't have a romantic disposition. He never looks up at the leaves starting to grow, sighs and says: "Ah here comes the spring!" He simply thinks to himself: "I live in a small village by a little stream and around this time of year lots of creatures start to wake up and make a lot of noise." In London, which stands on the River Thames, people make a lot of noise all the time."

I apologize for the simplicity of these statements but I want to illustrate the unimaginative nature which Andrew possesses. Towards the end of this story I give examples to show the extent of the change that he underwent.

The other character in this anecdote is a young woman called Sally Fairweather. She too lives in this tiny and remote village where Andrew has his cottage. Now Sally is an entirely different kettle of fish. Her philosophy runs as follows: "Worrying never gets you anywhere and life is too short to waste time imagining the worst."

In a word she is the complete opposite in temperament of Andrew. Here comes another cliche: Opposites attract. But you must remember that two years ago the two main characters hadn't met, which was surprising when you consider the proximity of Andrew's cottage and Sally's flat. If you take the first left after the post office, you come to Sally's place and if you take the second turning to the right after that you come to the cottage where Andrew lives.

The next participant in this village drama is the weather, which plays a very significant part in English life. It was late April and the sun had disappeared behind dark heavy rain clouds but Andrew had already set off for the local pub. Naturally he had his umbrella with him and a heavy coat following that aphorism his mother always used: "Never cast a clout (remove an article of clothing) before May is out."

Fortunately he made it to the pub before the storm broke. The moment he crossed the doorstep an old schoolfriend comes up to Andrew, offers to buy him a drink and tells him not to look so worried. Andrew showed him the newspaper headlines: "Petrol prices rise again." — "But you haven't got a car" said his friend. — "I know", retorted Andrew, "still it means everything else will go up in price, too."

Everyone in the pub looks suitably depressed at this remark and begins to think of all the price increases that will follow. The gloom is palpable. Then suddenly the door bursts open and in walks our heroine, Sally looking like a drowned rat. Most people in the pub think to themselves: "What a pretty girl!" Andrew sees her as someone who is drenched and needs help. He walks over to her and asks if she is all right. For probably the first time in his life Andrew actually transferred his worry from himself to someone else and he mixes her a special drink to protect her from a possible cold. The conversation went as follows: "I hear you live in this village, too" — "How do you know?" asked Andrew.

But Sally changed the subject. "This drink tastes delicious. How did you make it?" — "I put a drop of ginger ale and a piece of lemon in the alcohol and then stir thoroughly. I always keep those two ingredients with me when I go out at night." Suddenly Sally looked at her watch: "I must fly. My train leaves in ten minutes." — "Don't forget to take those tablets I suggested and let me know how you are." — "I'll let you know as soon as I come back from London." And then she went.

Immediately Andrew started to worry. He didn't know her name, he didn't know her address and he felt strange. He checks his pulse. He tests his mental faculties: "Two and two make four." It was a different sort of worry that was almost a concern. He wants to see her again. Within seconds he rushed out of the pub leaving his coat behind, ran into the pouring rain with no umbrella. What was happening to him? He saw Sally standing on the platform getting into the train and the train leaving the station. He jumps down from the platform onto the track and waves at the train driver to stop. The train stops and Andrew gets onto it.

Six weeks after this extraordinary episode Sally got married. Andrew doesn't worry any more now. He stays calm. The obvious time when people expected him to start worrying was during the wedding ceremony in the village church just over two years ago. As he says, "I know what everyone was thinking. They thought I would go to pieces. But I was perfectly relaxed and I owe it all to Sally. She is certainly a wonderful wife. She smiled at me when we were standing at the altar and I stopped worrying from that moment on. You can see me looking relaxed in the newspaper pictures especially that one with the caption:

ANDREW SMODLEY HANDS THE RING TO SALLY FAIRWEATHER'S FUTURE HUSBAND."

Dear Friend, if you have any questions or comments regarding this article, please click here.

Now, you should be able to take these tests:

Simple Present
Simple Present (2)
Simple Present (3)
Simple Present (4)
Simple Present (5)

The Walrus and the Carpenter

Lewis Carroll

The sun was shining on the sea,
Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright -
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night.

The moon was shining sulkily,
Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there
After the day was done -
"It's very rude of him," she said,
"To come and spoil the fun."

The sea was wet as wet could be,
The sands were dry as dry.
You could not see a cloud, because
No cloud was in the sky:
No birds were flying overhead -
There were no birds to fly.

The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand:
"If this were only cleared away,"
They said, "it would be grand."

"If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year,
Do you suppose", the Walrus said,
"That they could get it clear?"
"I doubt it," said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.

"O Oysters, come and walk with us!"
The Walrus did beseech.
"A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
Along the briny beach:
We cannot do with more than four,
To give a hand to each."

The eldest Oyster looked at him,
But never a word he said:
The eldest Oyster winked his eye,
And shook his heavy head -
Meaning to say he did not choose
To leave the oyster-bed.

But four young Oysters hurried up,
All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat -
And this was odd, because, you know,
They hadn't any feet.

Four other Oysters followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more -
All hopping through the frothy waves,
And scrambling to the shore.

The Walrus and the Carpenter
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little Oysters stood
And waited in a row.

"The time has come", the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes -and ships -and sealing wax -
Of cabbages -and kings -
And why the sea is boiling hot -
And whether pigs have wings."

"But wait a bit," the Oysters cried,
"Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath,
And all of us are fat!"
"No hurry!" said the Carpenter.
They thanked him much for that.

"A loaf of bread", the Walrus said,
"Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar, besides,
Are very good indeed -
Now, if you're ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed."

"But not on us!" the Oysters cried,
Turning a little blue.
"After such kindness, that would be
A dismal thing to do!"
"The night is fine," the Walrus said,
"Do you admire the view?

"It was so kind of you to come!
And you are very nice!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"Cut us another slice.
I wish you were not quite so deaf -
I've had to ask you twice!"

"It seems a shame", the Walrus said,
"To play them such a trick.
After we've brought them out so far,
And made them trot so quick!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"The butter's spread too thick!"

"I weep for you," the Walrus said:
"I deeply sympathize."
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.

"O Oysters," said the Carpenter,
"You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?"
But answer came there none -
And this was scarcely odd, because
They'd eaten every one.

Monday's Child

Monday's child is fair of face,

Tuesday's child is full of grace,

Wednesday's child is full of woe,

Thursday's child has far to go,

Friday's child is loving and giving,

Saturday's child works hard for its living,

And a child that's born on the Sabbath day

Is fair and wise and good and gay.

English Reading

Elementary

I Wish I Loved the Human Race

Sir Walter A Raleigh (1861-1922)

I wish I loved the Human Race;

I wish I loved its silly face;

I wish I liked the way it walks;

I wish I liked the way it talks;

And when I'm introduced to one,

I wish I thought "What Jolly Fun!"

Reading

Classic English Reading

These are short, famous texts in English from classic sources like the Bible or Shakespeare. Some texts have word definitions and explanations to help you. Some of these texts are written in an old style of English. Try to understand them, because the English that we speak today is based on what our great, great, great, great grandparents spoke before! Of course, not all these texts were originally written in English. The Bible, for example, is a translation. But they are all well known in English today, and many of them express beautiful thoughts.

Elementary

I Wish I Loved...
Monday's Child
The Walrus & the Carpenter
The Grasshopper
The Hare & the Tortoise
The Hare & the Hound

Intermediate

Declaration of Independence
Away In A Manger
For now we see...
Futility
If
I shall not pass
Ozymandias
Rune of St Patrick
The Female of the Species
The Lord is my shepherd
To be, or not to be
To every thing...

Advanced

Desiderata
Lilies of the Field
The Sick Rose
Song of Solomon
The Tiger
Shakespeare
I had rather be a toad...
What a piece of work...
When forty winters...
Shall I compare thee...
Weary with toil...
They that have power...
Let me not...

Learn English-Skill

The four language skills:

1. Listening
2. Speaking
3. Reading
4. Writing

English for Food and Drink Staff

English for Food and Drink Staff
Are you a chef, bartender, or waiter/waitress working in a tourist spot? Maybe you're a student who wants to work part-time in a restaurant while you go to school abroad. Whatever the case may be, you will come across many English customers and staff members in the food and beverage industry. These pages are designed to help people who are employed, or looking for work in many different areas of the hospitality industry, including in the kitchen, on the floor, or behind the bar. You will learn helpful English vocabulary and expressions that will allow your guests to enjoy their dining experience and help you to communicate with your fellow staff members. Studying and practicing Food and Beverage English and gaining a better understanding of the industry may even help you find a job. Do the exercises and take the quizzes to test your knowledge and understanding.

English for Work : Police-Crime and Punishment

Crime and Punishment

A crime is a serious offence such as murder or robbery. A punishment is a penalty imposed on somebody who is convicted of a crime. A punishment could be, for example, time in prison or a fine.
There is an important difference between criminal law and civil law. Criminal law deals with matters such as murder. Civil law deals with matters such as contracts or divorce. The police are not normally involved in civil law.

Questions from law breakers or suspected criminals

• Why did you pull me over?
• Have I done something wrong?
• Is this illegal?
• What are my rights?
• Can I call a lawyer?
• Where are you taking me?
• Can I make a phone call?

Questions police may ask a suspected criminal

• Are you carrying any illegal drugs?
• Do you have a weapon?
• Does this belong to you?
• Whose car is this?
• Where were you at eight last night?

Informing someone of laws and police procedures

• You are under arrest.
• Put your hands on your head.
• I am taking you to the police station.
• Please get in the police car.
• You will have to pay a fine for this.
• I will give you a warning this time.
• I'm going to write you a ticket.
• We'll tow your car to the station.
• Smoking in restaurants is illegal in this country.
• It is against the law to do drugs in public.

English for Police

As a police officer you have one of the most important jobs in the world : to serve and protect the people. While you are fighting crime and handling emergencies you probably come across many English speakers. Some may commit crimes, while others may be victims of crime. In both cases, you need to ask and answer questions in English. Your job may also require you to speak to English witnesses. Time can be a key factor in solving a crime or saving a life. You cannot always wait for an interpreter. These pages will help you learn vocabulary and phrases that will be useful when you encounter English speakers. Do the exercises and take the quizzes to test your knowledge and understanding.

• Vocabulary
• Vocabulary Quiz
• Crime and Punishment
• Crime and Punishment Quiz
• Helping Tourists
• Traffic and Traffic Accidents
• Questioning a Witness
• Asking for Identification

English for Nurses and Medical Professionals

Patients come in all different shapes and sizes. They also speak many different languages. Whether you are working abroad or at home, there will come a time when you will need to rely on English to communicate. These pages can help nurses, doctors, pharmacists, paramedics, receptionists, specialists or even those who volunteer. They will help you learn some basic English expressions and vocabulary related to the medical field. By studying and practising Medical English, you will be able to make your patients feel more comfortable, and have a better understanding of their needs. You will also learn how to talk to their loved ones and communicate with other medical staff who speak English. Do the exercises and take the quizzes to test your knowledge and understanding.

Human Body

One of the first things you need to know when working in English is the parts of the body. You will need to learn the names of the internal (inside the skin) and external body parts. You will also need to learn the words for the functions of each of these body parts. Here are the basics to get you started.

Head

Inside the head is the brain, which is responsible for thinking. The top of a person's scalp is covered with hair. Beneath the hairline at the front of the face is the forehead. Underneath the forehead are the eyes for seeing, the nose for smelling, and the mouth for eating. On the outside of the mouth are the lips, and on the inside of the mouth are the teeth for biting and the tongue for tasting. Food is swallowed down the throat. At the sides of the face are the cheeks and at the sides of the head are the ears for hearing. At the bottom of a person's face is the chin. The jaw is located on the inside of the cheeks and chin. The neck is what attaches the head to the upper body.

Upper Body

At the top and front of the upper body, just below the neck is the collar bone. On the front side of the upper body is the chest, which in women includes the breasts. Babies suck on the nipples of their mother's breasts. Beneath the ribcage are the stomach and the waist. The navel, more commonly referred to as the belly button, is located here as well. On the inside of the upper body are the heart for pumping blood and the lungs for breathing. The rear side of the upper body is called the back, inside which the spine connects the upper body to the lower body.

Upper Limbs (arms)

The arms are attached to the shoulders. Beneath this area is called the armpit or underarm. The upper arms have the muscles known as triceps and biceps. The joint halfway down the arm is called the elbow. Between the elbow and the next joint, the wrist, is the forearm. Below the wrist is the hand with four fingers and one thumb. Beside the thumb is the index finger. Beside the index finger is the middle finger, followed by the ring finger and the little finger. At the ends of the fingers are fingernails.

Lower Body

Below the waist, on left and right, are the hips. Between the hips are the reproductive organs, the penis (male) or the vagina (female). At the back of the lower body are the buttocks for sitting on. They are also commonly referred to as the rear end or the bum (especially with children). The internal organs in the lower body include the intestines for digesting food, the bladder for holding liquid waste, as well as the liver and the kidneys. This area also contains the woman's uterus, which holds a baby when a woman is pregnant.

Lower Limbs (legs)

The top of the leg is called the thigh, and the joint in the middle of the leg is the knee. The front of the lower leg is the shin and the back of the lower leg is the calf. The ankle connects the foot to the leg. Each foot has five toes. The smallest toe is often called the little toe while the large one is called the big toe. At the ends of the toes are toenails.

-

Showing Places of Interest

Silence can be uncomfortable during a tour. While you can't talk the whole time, you should try to know as much about the history, scenery, and culture (in English) for the places where you are giving tours so that you can keep the tourists interested. If you ever run out of something to say, you can always point out something such as a landmark or a type of tree or flower. Here are some different ways you can point out interest points during the tour.

Tour Guide

• In front of you is...


• On your right/left you will see...


• Up ahead...


• On your left you will see..


• .As we turn the corner here, you will see...


• In the distance...


• If you look up you will notice...


• Off to the north...


• Look to the east...


• To your west...


• In a few minutes we'll be passing...


• We are now coming up to...


• As you will see...


• You may have noticed...


• Take a good look at...


• I'd like to point out...


• Keep your eyes open for...

Tourist Questions

• Is that the...you were talking about?
• Are we going to pass the...?
• Are we going to see any...?
• Is it on the right or the left?
• I don't see it. Can you point it out again?
• Did I miss it?
• Will we see it on the way back?

Sample Conversation

Guide :It's about a three minute ride up to the top of the mountain. As we pass the two towers the gondolla may sway a little.

Man :This thing is safe, right?

Guide :Yes, you don't have anything to worry about. We do about 100 trips a day up the mountain, and these tours have been going on for over ten years without any accidents. Keep your eyes open for wildlife as we ascend. It isn't uncommon to see deer and even bears.

Woman :What's that mountain to the left called?

Guide :That's Mount Karen. And to the right of that with the three small points is Mount Brown. Now, if you look up straight ahead, you should be able to see a large eagle's nest. Does everyone see it there?

Man :Are there any baby birds?

Guide :That's a good question. I haven't seen any yet, but we usually see them around this time of year.

Woman :What's that lake down there, to the right of the green meadow?

Guide :I'm glad you asked. That's John Lake. It's actually a man made pond that was built as part of a conservation effort over twenty years ago. During the 70's there was a lot of clearcutting of forests in the area, and much of the wildlife was lost. Since John Lake was built, ducks, swans, and geese have returned to the area.

Man :Is this the highest mountain in this region?

Guide :No, actually, Mount Heather, which you we will be able to see in just a minute or so has the highest peak. But, this is the highest mountain for recreational purposes like skiing and guided tours.

Woman:Can you ski throughout the year?

Guide :No, it warms up enough to actually suntan up there in the summer. Oh, look everyone. There are two deer feeding in the clearing right below us.

Man :Thanks, that should be a great photo. So... what is there to do besides ski at the top of the hill at this time of year?

Guide :Oh, there's plenty to do. We have horseback riding, snowmobile tours, and a petting zoo for children. If you look to your left you'll see the snowmobile trail going through the mountain.

English for Tour Guides

Answering Questions

As a tour guide you will face new challenges every day. One of the hardest parts of your job may be answering questions. Unlike a speech that you can memorize, you won't always know what questions people will ask. However, you can anticipate certain types of questions and certain ways that questions will be asked. You should also learn how to use variety when you answer questions or respond to comments. You may lose interest in your job if you say the same thing each time. Finally, it is important to know how to politely explain that you don't understand a question.

Tour Guide

• Do you have a question, Sir?
• Yes? (if you see a hand raised)
• Is there something I can help you with?
• I'll try my best to answer your questions.
• I'm afraid I don't have the answer to that. (Sorry I don't know.)
• That's an interesting question.
• I wish I knew the answer. (Sorry, I don't know.)
• Hmm.That's a tough (difficult) question.
• I'll have to look into that further.
• I'll have to ask someone about that.
• Hmm. I've never been asked that before.
• Pardon my English; I don't quite understand your question.
• I'm not sure, but I can find out for you.

Tourist

• Where is the ______ from here?
• How long has _______ been here?
• Where are we headed (going)now?
• What time does _______ stay open until?
• What else is there to do here?
• Which _________ do you recommend?
• Are we allowed to take pictures?
• What's that over there? (tourist points)
• Where's the best place to buy _______?
• My son wants to know if _________? (parent asking a question for shy child)
• Do you know where the nearest washroom is?
• Could you tell us where the nearest bank is?
• You don't happen to have a first-aid kit, do you?

Sample Conversation

Guide : If you have any questions while we're going along, please don't hesitate to ask.

Man : I have a question actually.

Guide : Sure, what's that?

Man : Where's the best place to have dinner around here?

Guide : Well, that's a tough question. There are so many good restaurants. My personal favourite is Spaghetti Alley.

Man : How do we get there?

Guide : I'll point it out when we pass it. It's going to come up on your right in a few minutes.

Woman : My daughter wants to know if we're going to be be passing any castles today?

Guide : Castles. No I'm afraid all of the castles are further into the city. We're going to be staying near the coast today. I can give you a map of the city, though. It shows where all of the castles are.

Man : Sorry, I have another question.

Guide : No problem. That's what I'm here for.

Man : Are we allowed to take pictures once we get inside the museum?

Guide : Oh, I'm glad you asked that. I forgot to mention that taking photographs inside the art gallery and the museum is prohibited. However, you can take pictures of the grounds and the outside of the buildings. The architecture is beautiful.

Woman : Oh, and what time will we be stopping for lunch?

Guide : We'll break around noon and meet back at the bus at 12:45 sharp.

Checking In Passengers

Check-in Assistant

• Can I see your ticket, please?
• Do you have your passport with you?
• I'm afraid your passport has expired.
• Do you have a second piece of identification?
• I'll need to see your child's birth certificate.
• How many bags are you checking?
• Will you be bringing a carry-on bag?
• I'm afraid that bag exceeds the size restrictions.
• Did you pack your bags yourself?
• Would you like an aisle or a window seat?
• Would you like a wheelchair?
• You'll board at Gate 7.
• Please be at the gate thirty minutes before your scheduled flight.
• Did you need any tags for your luggage?
• Your flight is expected to take off on time.
• Your flight has been delayed by one hour.
• Flight 87B to Toronto has been canceled.
• I'm afraid you're too late to check-in.
• Your flight is overbooked. Would you be interested in giving up your seat?
• Enjoy your flight.

Passenger

• I'm not sure which of these papers is my ticket.
• Is it possible to get an aisle seat?
• I requested a vegetarian meal. Can you check to confirm?
• Can I take my child through security?
• Is the flight on time?
• Will they be serving a meal today?
• Will they be showing an inflight movie?
• Where can I get a luggage cart?
• Can I use my laptop on board?
  
• 
  Sample Conversation
  
  Check-in Assistant: Hello. Are you flying to St. Martin today?
  Passenger: Yes, I have my ticket here.
  Check-in Assistant: Great. I'll need to see your passport as well.
  Passenger: I have an e-ticket. Uh...is this the part you need?
  Check-in Assistant: Actually I just need your name and I can find you on the computer.
  Passenger: Oh OK. It's Bates. Frank Bates.
  Check-in Assistant: Great. Here we are. Oh, you're traveling with an infant today.
  Passenger: Yes, my daughter Mia. She's 14 months.
  Check-in Assistant: Okay. I'll need to see your daughter's birth certificate to prove that she is under two years of age
  Passenger: Here you are. Say, would we be able to get an aisle seat? I may have to walk her around if she gets fussy.
  Check-in Assistant: Sure. I'll put you near the washroom too.
  Passenger: Thanks. Can I take my stroller to the gate?
  Check-in Assistant: Yes, we'll check it in the over-sized luggage after you board. Are you just checking these two bags today?
  Passenger: Yes, I'll take my knapsack as my carry-on.
  Check-in Assistant: Did you pack these bags yourself?
  Passenger: Yes.
  Check-in Assistant: Okay. Here is your boarding pass. Be at the gate one hour prior to boarding time. You will be able to preboard because you are traveling with an infant. Our flight crew will have some special instructions for take-off and landing.
  

English for Airline Staff

English for Airline Staff

Getting airline passengers safely and happily from one destination to another requires teamwork. The airline industry employs many different people, from pilots and flight crew to caterers and grounds crew. Many of these jobs require communication in English, whether it be among co-workers or with passengers. Most airline companies require that the flight crew be fluent in at least two languages. English is the most common second language that crew members need to learn. Whether your job is to book passengers on their flights, assist passengers with luggage, or fly the airplane itself, these pages can help you learn important words and expressions to use on the job in the airline industry. Read through the vocabulary, listen to the spoken English, and take the quizzes to test your comprehension.

• Airline Vocabulary
• Airline Vocabulary Quiz
• Checking-in Passengers
• Annoucements

English for work

If you have any problem for communication, I can help you.!!

These for people working in industries or organizations where it is often necessary to speak English. We have exams for you to test your comprehension and audio for you to listen to sample conversations.

Let's start !

• English for Airline Staff


• English for Hotel Staff


• English for Tour Guides


• English for Police


• English for Nurses and Medical Professionals


• English for Business


• English for Secretary


• English for Food and Drink Staff

Grammar test continued

4. Where _____ yesterday?

you was

are you

were you

did you were

The answer is: were you

Grammar point: Was/were

5. _____ John last week?

Did you see

Did you saw

Do you see

Have you see

The answer is: did you see

Grammar point: Past simple

6. Last month he _____ three large fish.

catch

catched

caught

did catch

The answer is: caught

Grammar point: Irregular past

7. When we went in, they _____ to the radio.

listened

listening

were listening

were listen

The answer is: were listening

Grammar point: Past continuous

English : Grammar Test

1. Can you help me? I _____ a post office.
am looking for
look for
am look for
looking for

The answer is: am looking for
Grammar point: Present continuous



2. Tomorrow the Queen _____ open a new hospital.
is going
will going to
is going to
will to

The answer is: is going to
Grammar point: Going to



3. What _____? I work in a book shop.
are you doing
do you
are you do
do you do

The answer is: do you do
Grammar point: Present simple question form