Conversation Lesson 11
 
 
 
 
Lesson 11 - Mistakes

Dialogs for everyday use. Short situational dialogs for students of English as a Foreign (EFL) or Second (ESL) Language.
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Mistakes

Bruce: Where did John go?

Laura: He went to the drugstore.

Bruce: To the bookstore?

Laura: No, I said he went to the drugstore.

Bruce: Oh, I misunderstood you. I thought you said bookstore.

Laura: How could you make a mistake like that? Weren’t you paying attention?
Conversation Notes
  • drugstore
  • Since this is a compound noun, the principal stress is on the first syllable.
  • To the bookstore
  • This is a normally shortened form for Did you say he went to the bookstore?—with the omitted words “understood.” Bookstore. This word, a compound noun, has the principal stress on the first syllable.
  • drugstore
  • Note there is heavy stress and slightly higher than usual intonation on drug­, to emphasize this syllable, as contrasted with book­ in the line above.
  • How could you make a mistake like that? Weren’t you paying attention?
  • Note there is a difference in intonation between the how­ question and the yes­no question.
Source: U.S. State Department
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