Conversation Lesson 19
 
 
 
 
Lesson 19 - Taking a Vacation

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

David: Did you say you’re going to take a vacation next month?

Ruth: Yes, my family and I are going to New York for a week. We want to visit the museums and see some plays.

David: I envy you. I haven’t had a vacation for a long time. I wish I could get away for a while.

Ruth: You can take a vacation sometime soon, can’t you?

David: No, there’s too much work to do. Maybe next year, though.
Conversation Notes
  • Did you say you’re going to
  • This could also be past tense: Did you say you were going to…? However, the present form (you’re) seems more natural.
  • my family and I are going to New York
  • Notice that this going to is the verb go followed by the preposition to. The going to in the line above is the future marker, which is normally said with weak stress, as here.
  • I wish I could
  • Note the required past tense (could) after wish.
  • can’t you
  • The rising intonation indicates that this is a veritable question, requiring an answer.
  • there’s too much work to do
  • Other examples of this pattern: There’s too much equipment to carry. There are too many papers to correct. There are too many people to see. There’s not enough food to eat. There isn’t enough work to do. There aren’t enough courses to take.
Source: U.S. State Department
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