English Speaking through Everyday Conversation

Learn English as Foreign Language-45 Tutorials

2012-04-24T18:33:00.000-07:00

Improve English Speaking through everyday conversation

Learn English as Foreign Language-45 Tutorials

I have written a detailed book English conversation for all occasions, to learn English as Foreign Language.

This tutorial has been prepared from my well known book English conversation for all occasions, which I wrote for Indian students to improve everyday conversation..

English Conversation for All Occasions is a unique book of its kind, specially written to help Indian student. A quick look at the titles of the lessons would convince the reader that the book has been prepared by visualizing all types of situational conversations which may confront any man or woman in his daily activities. Whether one converses with his family members or moves about to mix in society, he will not feel tongue-tied for want of appropriate words or expressions. In a post office or barber’s shop, at a hotel or taxi stand, every person who has read this book, will be able to speak in English fluently and with confidence.

Good knowledge and satisfactory conversation drill is important in English speaking. This Tutorial would not only prove an asset to the reader in his daily life, but also on special occasions like interviews for jobs, etc. He would be able to face the interviewers with equanimity and confidence.

All the lessons have been designed in a programmed fashion. Word-meanings, Phrases and exercises have been added at the end of every lesson to help the students master the topics.

All the lesson should be read along, not once but many times, so that the conversation comes easy to the reader when he faces real life situations. The author would feel rewarded for his labours if the book helps men and women become social relations

This Tutorial should help all those readers who find difficulty in speaking fluent English. This will be completed in 45 lessons.

Please comment or send me E Mail at bookgharinfo@gmail.com

English Speaking through Everyday Conversation -- The Garden

2009-05-10T19:09:00.000-07:00

Tutorial Seven

Learn English as Foreign Language-45 Tutorials

Improve English Speaking through everyday conversation

I have written a detailed book English conversation for all occasions, to learn English as Foreign Language.

This tutorial has been prepared from my well known book English conversation for all occasions, which I wrote for Indian students to improve everyday conversation..

All the lessons have been designed in a programmed fashion. Word-meanings, Phrases and exercises have been added at the end of every lesson to help the students master the topics.

This Tutorial should help all those readers who find difficulty in speaking fluent English. This will be completed in 45 lessons.

Tutorial SEVEN

THE GARDEN

Vikram is visiting his friend Ranjit Mehra. The two boys are playing in the Mehra’s garden.

Ranjit This is our little garden. We also have a small patch at the back of the house. But on that my mother grows a few vegetables.

Vikram How lucky you are to have a garden to have a garden to play in! We do not have any place in front of our house to make a garden. Through my mother keeps a few pots of Flowers And plants in the driveway.

Ranjit We use the front garden a lot particularly during the summer months, we sit out on the lawn nearly the whole evening. During winter, on holiday, we have our lunch sitting out in the sun.

Vikram Who looks after the garden?

Ranjit We have a Mali who comes for an hour everyday, to now the lawn, to trim the hedges, to water the plants and to gather the dry leaves scattered on the lawn.

Vikram Can the (gardener)Mali do all that work in just one hour?

Ranjit No, he doesn’t do everything on the same day. My mother, my father, my grandfather and I’ all help in looking after the garden.

Vikram Doesn’t your grandmother like the garden?

Ranjit Oh yes, she does. She has a little tulsiplant to which she prays every morning. But she is too weak to do any work in the garden.

Vikram Was your garden all laid out like this when you came to live in this house?

Ranjit No, the house had been unoccupied for a number of months before we moved in. The grass on the lawn had all dried up and the flower had died. It seemed no one had been watering them.

Vikram You must have put in a lot of work to make such a pleasing green lawn and to plant new colorful flowers which are blooming happily.

Ranjit My daddy looks after the lawn and my mother plants the flowers.

Vikram So your father must have watered the lawn a lot to make the grass grow green again.

Ranjit Daddy wasn’t happy with the quality of the grass already planted, for it was full of weeds. Just before the rainy season, he called in some laborers and they dug up the whole lawn and removed all the old grass.

Vikram Then, how did he plant the new grass? Did he put in grass seeds?

Ranjit No, he didn’t put down seeds to grow the grass. He brought tuffs of grass from the nursery and then planted them at short distances in lines.

Vikram It is wonderful how the new grass has taken root and spread itself out so evenly.

Ranjit My daddy spends an hour every day after he comes back from work, plucking out weeds. He also puts fertilizers sometimes and waters the grass every evening.

Vikram May I hold the water hose and water the lawn for you today?

Ranjit All right. And in the mean while I‘ll lightly dig up the flower beds.

Vikram Why? Are you taking out the flower growing in the beds?

Ranjit No. But my mother asked me to loosen the soil between the plants. If the earth is too hard the roots do not get enough air and water.

Vikram How beautiful the flowers look! So many colors too, Pink, red, yellow, blue, green, mauve and white. The dark green hedge at the back looks like a high wall.

Ranjit On Sundays, grandfather cleans the lawn and the flower beds. He piles up the dried leaves in a heap and then burns the dried leaves and the sticks.

Vikram That must be fun, like a big bonfire.

Ranjit It gives out a horrible blue smoke which stings our eyes. Grandmother gets very irritated and coughs a lot.

Vikram It is getting dark and I’ll go home now. I’ve learnt a lot about how your daddy makes up his lawn good by now.

(B) VOCABULARY

paths untidy `sunflowers

spade grow broader

rubbish bush fetch

Phrases

Bright butterflies sweet perfume

Hum of insects busy bees

Bird’s song heavy dew

Meanings

Mow to cut grass with a machine.

Trim to cut to make neat.

Blooming flowering.

Weeds wild grass.

Tuft bunch of grass.

1 ) Are you fond of gardening?

Response I’ve always lived in a big city and we never had space for a garden. So, I cannot say whether or not I am fond of gardening. But I do enjoy to a park to breathe in fresh air and to feast my eyes on cool lawns.

2 ) How about a garden made up of potted plants? These could be kept in a balcony or on a terrace.

Response My wife is a great one for keeping the flat tidy. She objects to my carrying buckets of water across the living room to water the plants in the balcony. She is for ever following me with a duster mopping up the water that I drop.

3 ) Doesn’t your wife enjoy watching the little plants grow from seeds to beautiful flowering plants?

Response She is too busy to notice all these natural happenings. She doesn’t want to have anything which increases her housework.

(D) Make suitable responses

1) Describe how Mr.Mehra grew his lawn.

Response ________________________________________________

________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

2) What work does the Mali do?

Response _________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

English Speaking through Everyday Conversation -- PLANNING FOR LUNCH

2009-05-08T19:15:00.000-07:00

cup of coffee.

It is early in the morning and Mrs.Verma is cooking in the kitchen. She is being helped by the part-time servant boy called bachoo. Reena also gives a helping hand.

Mrs.Verma Reena, wake up Bachoo and ask him to fetch four bottles of milk from the depot.

Reena Right mamma, I will call for Bachoo.

Mrs.Verma What shall we make for lunch today?

Reena All of us, except you, will be out for lunch. Papa, Ranjan, Vikram and I need packed lunches.

Mrs.Verma In that case, I will make sandwiches for all of you. Because sandwiches are easy to carry and paranthas taste stale when eaten cold.

Reena Don’t we have a tiffin carrier?

Mrs.Verma Yes. But there is only one. I will make a vegetable dish and paranthas for your father and give him the tiffin carrier. He has a long day at the office and needs something to fill him up.

Reena In fact, come to think of it mamma, Ranjan can take a snack at the coffee Bar near his office. And I too can eat at the cafeteria. So don’t pack any lunch for the two of us.

Mrs.Verma In that case, I have to make sandwich only for Vikram. I will put in a piece of the leftover cake and give him an apple as well.

Reena What will you cook for yourself, mamma?

Mrs.Verma Oh, I will make a big sandwich for my self and eat it along with a cup of coffee.

Vikram is back from school at 3 o’clock and both of us have a heavy tea.

Reena Can I help you with anything before I go into the bathroom to get dressed for work?

Mrs.Verma Be a dear and cut up the onions and the tomatoes. Could you slice the cucumber thin? I will peel the potatoes.

Reena Bachoo is back with the mild.

What shall I ask him to do next?

Mrs.Verma Ask him to sieve the atta and knead it into dough for the paranthas.

Reena Here, I have put the milk on the fire to boil. Will you watch it mamma, while I chop up the vegetables?

Mrs.Verma Yes I will watch the milk come to a boil.

Reena What kind of milk is this?

Mrs.Verma We get skimmed milk, that is milk with out cream, in the morning.

In the evenings. We get full-cream milk. This milk is good for making puddings and for making cheese (pannier).

Reena Bachoo has finished making the dough.

Mrs.Verma Then ask him to grind a little bit, of ginger (lasan) for the potato curry for papa.

Reena Shall I spread butter on the slices of bread for the sandwiches?

Mrs.Verma No don’t worry. I will do that.

You must be getting late.

Reena I’ve still got a few minutes.

What do you want to fill the sandwiches with?

Mrs.Verma We will give Vikram cucumber sandwiches. Don

‘t forget to sprinkle some salt and a little pepper over the cucumber filling.

Reena There, it is all done. Vikram’s sandwiches are ready. I will go now to get dressed.

Mrs.Verma Run along now.You have been a great help. I will finish making papa’s lunch.

(B) VOCABULARY

Gravy sweet dislike

Slice spices bite

Boiled hungry stir

Phrases

A good appetite a tasty meal

A small eater a hurried meal

Hot food a cold salad

Meanings

Slice to cut into thin and broad pieces.

Sieve to pass through a net remove dirt particles.

Dough a mixture of atta and water.

Knead a movement with the fists to mix the atta with water into a roll.

(C) Study the following responses

1 Was it right on Mrs.Verma’s part not to provide lunch for Reena and Ranjan?

Response If these two children are grown up and earning, then there is no harm in their buying themselves their own afternoon meal.

2 Why was Vikram not given the vegetable curry and paranthas as well?

Response Because there was only one tiffin carrier in the family. Vikram

Would probably find it easier to carry to school a small lunch box instead of a largish tiffin carrier. Also because Vikram could eat something more nourishing at tea time.

3 What would happen on a day when Mrs.Verma is ill and laid up in bed?

Response Reena could get together at least a simple cold meal of sandwiches. The servant could also perhaps cook some paranthas.

(D) Make suitable responses

1 What did Mrs.Verma cook for Mr.Verma’s lunch? And what did she give Vikram?

English Speaking through Everyday Conversation-The House

2009-05-08T01:48:00.000-07:00

Tutorial No.4 THE HOUSE

After the washing up, Mrs. Verma takes Mrs. Ganapati to show her around the house.

Mrs.Ganapati I must say that you have managed to settle down very quickly.

Mrs.Verma We are used to moving so often that I am used to packing up and opening up fast. I have a sort of a system worked out.

Mrs.Ganapati You are right. One has to plan out what has to be done first and what to next, instead of rushing around doing everything at the same time. Nothing is done and everything gets into a jumble.

Mrs.Verma This is our drawing room. I’ve had the loose covers of the sofas dry cleaned.

Mrs.Ganapati You have very attractive plain curtains and they set off the prints of the sofa covers very effectively.

Mrs.Verma We have used less than half the space of this room, as a dining room.

Mrs.Ganapati You have done well to put up a light bamboo partition in between.

Mrs.Verma We did that, so as to enable the children to eat their meals, while my husband and I are ,, in the sitting room.

Mrs.Ganapati What is in that sideboard?

Mrs.Verma I store the crockery and cutlery in the sideboard. It is easier when we have to lay the table, rather than having to bring it all the way from the kitchen.

Mrs.Ganapati This must be your bedroom.

Mrs.Verma It is also used as a dressing room. It is great convenience to have an attached bedroom.

Mrs.Ganapati What about this small room?

Mrs.Verma This room is always in shambles. The children study here as well. It is in a great mess in the morning when they leave for school. Books strewn around the room and clothes littered every where.

Mrs.Ganapati Where do you plan to fix the T.V set?

Mrs.Verma It will have to be kept in the sitting room. It is the largest room in the house and also it will not distract the children when they are studying. If we put it in our bedroom, the children will be sitting on our beds the whole evening!

Mrs.Ganapati I do like spotlessly neat kitchen. What gleaming utensils!

Mrs.Verma Thank-you for making such complementary remarks. I am flattered. I am pleased with this kitchen because it is well ventilated. It enables the smells of cooking to it escape outside, instead of filling the whole house with smells of masalas being fried.

Mrs.Ganapati You have a lovely home and you do work hard to keep it clean and beautiful. I must run along now. Good-bye.

Mrs.Verma Good-bye. Thank you for dropping in and for admiring my home.

(B) Vocabulary

crockery latches arm-chair

window pane sate (condition) painting

local wood-work hinges

Phrase

at noon thick carpets to get on with

communicating

Doors heavey furniture side table

Standard lamps door bell. to get in the way of

MEANINGS

Jumble a confused mix up.

Crockery plates, glasses and all china dishes.

Cutlery forks, spoons, knives and eating implements.

Shambles muddle or a mess.

Littered scattered in an untidy fashion.

(C) Study the following responses

1 I do not agree with Mrs.Verma that the sitting room and the dining room should be in the same room.

Response Why not? These days there is such a shortage of accommodation that it would be a waste of a room to reserve it entirely for the function of eating in it.

2 I am of the opinion that the Television set should be kept in the children’s room.

Other wise it disturbs the conversation of the guests who come to call upon the hosts.

Response I agree that one of the functions of a sitting room is to receive visitors in. But that does not mean that when visitors arrive, the rest of the family should be driven out. The T.V in the children’s room would certainly distract them from their studies.

(D) Make following responses

1 Name the rooms in the Verma’s house.

Responses ___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

2 Which are the other rooms which could be a part of a residential house?

Response __________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

3 What do you understand by the terms hinge, latch and bolt?

Response _________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

4 Is the ceiling the same thing as the roof of a house?

Response ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________
__________________________________________________

English Speaking through Everyday Conversation-TELLING THE TIME

2009-05-06T03:57:00.000-07:00

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Vikram Mamma, could I have tea to-day instead of milk everyday?

Mrs.Verma No, son, you must drink milk first. When the last bit of the then I’ll add a little bit of tea to it. Is that all right?

Vikram What do I get to eat? I’m starving.

Mrs.Verma I’ve baked a cake for you. It has got almonds (badam) and currants (kismis) in it.

Vikram Can I have a wrist–watch mamma?

Vikram Here is the clock. Now teach me how to tell the time. Why is it called a clock and not a watch?

Mrs.Verma A watch is a small time giving instrument. It can be used as an ornament by hanging it on a chain around your neck.

Vikram And what’s a clock?

Mrs.Verma The bigger watch which is not used on the body of a person is called a clock.

Vikram How do I know what time it is?

Mrs.Verma Now look at the clock. It has numbers from one to twelve written on it in a circle.

Vikram Yes and there are two hands struck in the middle.

Mrs.Verma The small hand tells us the hour & the big hand tells us the minutes.

Vikram Yes I know all that. I know that there are 24 hours in the day and the clock has to go around twice completing the day. Bur how do we know whether it is morning or the evening?

Mrs.Verma For that you have to look out of the window and find out whether the sun is shining and whether the time showing in your watch is 8 o’clock in the mor

Vikram Then what do a.m. and p.m. stand for?

Mrs.Verma 12 o’clock at night to 12 o’clock in afternoon is called a.m. 12 o’clock at night is referred to as p.m. but, you use a.m. and p.m. only when writing and not while speaking.

Vikram What is the time now?

Mrs.Verma It is 9 o’clock. If I had to write a letter to you. I would write that I had my tea at 9 p.m. but while speaking to you. I do not say,” It is 9 A.M.

Vikram Papa told me that the number on the clock stand for hours and also minutes and that there are five minutes between each of the numbers.

Vikram Papa told me that the number on the clock stand for hours and also minutes and that there are five minutes between each of the numbers.

Mrs.Verma That is a clever boy. What time would you say it was if the small hand was on ten and the big hand was on four?

Mrs.Verma You say it in a shorter way too. You could say it is twenty past ten.

Vikram Can I say it is ten-thirty?

vikram Can I say it is ten-thirty?

Mrs.Verma Yes, you can say that or else you can say it is half past ten. In the same way when it is fifteen minutes past 10 o’clock, you could call it “a quarter past ten.”

Vikram What if it is thirty five minutes past ten?

Mrs.Verma After the half hour mark, you could start counting towards the next hour, That is to say, you could say’ Thirty five past ten ‘or you could say, “Twenty five to eleven.”

Vikram Can I say fifteen to eleven?

Mrs.Verma It would be better to either call it “ten forty five” or to say.” A quarter to eleven.”

Vikram That’s great. Now I can tell the time, so, get me a watch very soon. Please Mamma.

(B) VOCABULARY

Alarm clock cuckoo clock

Grand father clock pocket watch

Locket watches time-piece

Phrases

Time of day to set the alarm

Strap of a watch dial of a watch

Jewels in the watch pendulum of a clock

Meanings

Tumbler a glass.

Starving very hungry.

Locket a pendant hanging on a chain around the clock.

Time piece a clock.

(C) Study the following responses

1 How many kinds of watches can you think of?

Response There are big watches, small watches, ladies watches, men’s watches, chain watches, pocket watches, wrist watches and even watches set in rings and bracelets.

2 If your watch was showing one o’ clock, how would you wish the visitor?

Response If it was 1o’ clock at night and I was leaving the visitor, I’d say “good night”. If I were meeting him at 1o’ clock at night, o’ , in the afternoon, I’d greet the visitor with a “Good afternoon “and see him off with a “Good afternoon” too.>

(D) Make suitable response

1 What time would you say it was if the small hand was on two and the big hand was on five?

Response __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2 Fill in the blanks from among the following words:-

Yesterday, to-day, last night, tomorrow, last year, next month

I was late coming back from the office________________________.

I am going to go to the movies_____________________.

I went out to dinner_____________________________.

I passed my B.A. Examination_____________________.

I will be finishing my typing course ____________________.

My boss has asked me to go to the Travel Agency_____________________________.

English Speaking through Everyday Conversation--WASHING DAY

2009-05-05T16:28:00.000-07:00

WASHING DAY

Mrs. Ganapati , the neighbor of Mrs. Verma has come visiting. Mrs.Verma is busy
washing clothes and enlists Mrs. Ganapati’s help.

Mrs.Ganapati (Knocks at the door.) Anyone in?

Mrs. Verma (opening the door) Good morning Mrs.Ganapati, How nice to see you!

Mrs. Ganapati Hello, I thought I’d drop in and lend you a hand with setting down.

Mrs. Verma That is very kind of you. Do step inside.

Mrs.Ganapati What were you doing when I came in? Please do not let me interrupt your work.

Mrs.Verma I’ve finished cleaning the whole house. I had just gone in to finish with the washing.

Mrs. Ganapati Let me help you with the washing and then we can have a look around your house.

Mrs.Verma I usually do all my washing on Mondays.

Mrs. Ganapati What washing detergent do you use?

Mrs. Verma I prefer to buy a locally made soap powderas the laundry detergent. In my experience it is as effective as any of the expensive brands and much cheaper too.

Mrs.Ganapati Do you also starch and iron the clothes yourself?

Mrs.Verma I give the bigger clothes like bed sheets and towels to the dhobi (Washerman) shirts, under clothes and saris, I wash, starch and iron at home.

Mrs.Ganapati Here let me help you wring out the clothes which you rinse out. Then I will also hang them up to dry on the line outside.

Mrs. Verma Thanks a million. I apologize for putting you to work instead of entertaining you.

Mrs.Ganapati No need to apologize. We all have to do our own work.

Mrs.Verma How do you wash your woolens and nylons?

Mrs. Ganapati I wash the woolens very rarely. The nylons are very easy to wash and I prefer having synthetic drip dry clothes. They wear well and last for longer period. They are very easy to keep and look fresh.

Mrs.Verma I am saving up from my housekeeping in order to buy a washing machine.

Mrs.Ganapati My neighbor in Bangalore has one, she tells me that the electricity nearly always goes off, just when she wants to wash her clothes.

Mrs.Verma With so much of the washing having to be done at home, it would be more convenient to have a separate room with a large tub and a big sink as a laundry.

Mrs. Ganapati Yes, that would be very much easier. One could string out the clothes for drying also in the same room. It would be a great boon during the rainy season.

Mrs.Verma Well, the washing for this week is done at last. Let us sit down and have a cup of coffee.

(B) Vocabulary

Linen steam shrink

Apron drier soiled

Soapy breeze peg

Clothes dirty heavy

Phrases

Soap suds a very hot iron

Neatly folded the warm sun

Flapping in the a willing helper

Breeze

Meanings

Lend a hand to help.

Interrupt to disturb in between a conversation or work.

Detergent washing soap powder.

Wring squeeze, to take out the water.

Rinse to dip in clean water to remove all traces.

(C) Study the following responses

1 I always have my clothes washed at a laundry.

Response That is a very wasteful habit. It costs a lot more to give your clothes for washing to a laundry shop. Why not wash them at home instead of giving them to a dhobi?

2 I have no time to wash my clothes at home.

Response Do you not have anyone else at home? A wife or a mother or a sister who can do your washing?

3 No, I have no one at home. I live in a flat which I share with two friends.

Response Then I suppose it is best for you to carry your dirty clothes and have them washed at the laundry close to your office.

(D) Make suitable responses

1 Why did Mrs.Ganapati come to visit Mrs.Verma?

Response ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________

2 What was Mrs. Verma doing and how did Mrs.Ganapati help with the washing?

Response __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________

3 Was Mrs.Ganapati in favour of buying a washing machine? Why?

Response __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________

English Conversation --On the Breakfast Table

2009-05-03T07:29:00.000-07:00

Tutorial TWO

AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE

The mother, Neera Verma has the breakfast ready to serve to her family.

Mother Come along everybody. Breakfast is on the table.

Reena Mamma, I’ll lay the table.

Ranjan I’ll bring in and serve the breakfast dishes afterwords?

Mother Yes, that will be a big help. Thank you.

Father Well, well. What do we have for breakfast this morning?

Reena To begin with, there is porridge with milk.

Mother I’ve made scrambled eggs for all of us. Papa is having his eggs fried.

Ranjan Vikram, would you like some butter for your toast?

Vikram Yes please. And lots of jam as well.

Mother That is a pretty flower arrangement you’ve made, Reena.

Father Please pass me the salt and the pepper , Ranjan. Thank you.

Vikram Yummy, scrummy! The toast is delicious.

Reena Be careful. Do not spill your food on the table cloth, Viki.

Vikram Why does papa always sit at the head of the table?

Ranjan Because papa is the head of the family so that is his place.

Reena And mammy sits at the other end of the table.

Vikram Mammy, What’s for lunch today?

Mother I am planning to make a meat curry, dal fried rice and some salad

Vikram What about a pudding?

Mother I’ have already set the ice cream in the fridge.

Father When you finish your meal be sure to fold your napkins.

Ranjan Vikram, lay your fork and knife straight on your plate.

Vikram I hate to drink milk.

Reena But you have to drink it. Let me add some Bournvita to your milk, then it will taste better.

Mother Who will give me a hand with clearing the table?

Everyone We all will.

Mother Mind, no one drops the china dishes. Please place all the plates near the sink.

Reena I’ll rinse out and wipe the cutlery.

Ranjan I’ll dry out the plates and the glass tumblers.

Father And I’ll put them away in the crockery in the cupboard

(B) Vocabulary

Meal tough chew

Salad raw hungry

Spoon vegetable thirsty

Glass pie sweet

Phrases

A hearty meal good appetite

Welcome guests pleasant meal

Vase of flowers clear the table

Shining cutlery delicious food

Meanings

Scrambled eggs eggs prepared with onions tomatoes, chillies all mixed together.
“Bhurji”

Clearing the tables removing all the knives, forks and other items from the dining
table.

Flower arrangement a bowl of flowers artistically arranged.

Delicious tasty.

Salad a dish made up of uncooked vegetables.

(C) Study the following responses:

1 Describe your dining room suite.

Response We have a dining table with eight dining chairs.

2 Which is your favorite meal?

Response My favorite meal is dinner. I can relax and eat my dinner in peace without hurrying to catch a bus or to attend a meeting.

3 Do you think that the whole of the Verma family eat their breakfast together everyday?

Response No. It seems that the break fast scene described in the lesson was a Sunday or on a holiday. It is unlikely that on working days the entire family would be eating breakfast at the same time.

4 Why do you think the Verma family eat breakfast at different times and not together?

Response I think that considering the age difference between the family members, they would be going to school or to work at different hours of the morning. The little boy Vikram would be leaving for school very early in the morning and his father would be going to office later.

(D) Make suitable responses

1 Why should Vikram lay his fork and knife straight on his plate after finishing his meal?

Responses ________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

2 When you have finished eating your meal is it polite for you to leave the table immediately?

3 What do you understand by the expression “to lay the table”?

Responses _________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

4 What did Vikram eat for his breakfast?

Responses _________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
_______________________________________

Everyday Conversation in English

2009-04-24T19:19:00.000-07:00

Tutorial One

MY FAMILY

Vikram, a young boy about ten years old, is standing near the gate of his
house at B- 12, Mahesh Nagar. Another boy comes along on his bicycle
and smiles at Vikram.

Vikram: Hello. I am Vikram.

Ranjit: I am Ranjit Mehra. How do you do?

Vikram: I am well, thank you.

Ranjit: Are you new here?

My Family

See all 5 photos

House of Vikram

House of Ranjit Meha

AdsSpy: 43 sites by this AdSense ID

Vikram: Yes, we moved in here only a few days ago, where do you live?

Ranjit: I live in the next block, down the road.

Vikram: Ranjit, would you like to come in and meet my family?

Ranjit: Thank you. I would like to do that.

The two boys go inside the house.

Vikram: Papa, this is my friend, Ranjit Mehra.

Ranjit, this is my father, Mr. Vijay Verma.

Ranjit: Good morning, Sir.

Mr. Verma: Good morning to you too. We are glad to have you at our home.

Vikram: Meet my mother, my sister Reena didi and my elder brother Ranjan
bhaiya.

Ranjit: Pleased to meet you all. I am Ranjit.

Vikram: Come along Ranjit, I’ll take you to my room.

Ranjit: You have a nice big room.

Vikram: I am glad you have linked it like it. I share this room with my elder
brother

Ranjan.

Ranjit: Which is your bed?

Vikram: This one. I make my bed every morning. This is a spare cupboard where
we store the extra bedsheets, pillow covers blankets and quilts.

Ranjit: That must be your brother’s wardrobe.

Vikram: Yes. I have to be very careful about keeping my room tidy. I study at the
desk

Near the window>

Ranjit: I, too, share my room but with my grandfather.

Vikram: How many brothers and sisters do you have?

Ranjit: I do not have any brother or sister.

But my grandparents live with us.

Vikram: How many rooms do you have in your house?

Ranjit: Well, we have drawing-cum-dining-room, two
bedrooms, two bedrooms,

Two bathrooms, a small sized study room, a kitchen and a garden.

Vikram: That sounds like a big house. Do you have a garden as well?

Ranjit: Yes. My mother grows beautiful flowers around the edge of the lawn.

Vikram: Ranjit, it is time for breakfast. Will you eat with us?

Ranjit: No. thank you. I must be going now. My mother will be wondering as to
what

Has become of me.

Vikram: All right. May I come to your house in the afternoon to play in your
garden?

Ranjit: Yes, please do come. My parents will be very happy to meet you.

Vikram: Thank you for visiting us,

Ranjit. You must come again,

Ranjit: Good-bye Vikram. I’ll be waiting for you in the afternoon.

(B) VOCABULARY

Parents Pillow Cousin

Loving Brush Comfort

Comb elder healthy

Hat youngest breakfast

Phrases

A happy toddler neatly folded clothes

Pleasant dreams sound asleep

Bedtime story tick of the clock

Meanings

Toddler: a child who is learning to walk.

Pleasant: pleasing

Wondering : thinking about something with curiosity or with worry.

Wardrobe : cupboard for keeping clothes.

(C) Study the following

1. How many members are there in the Verma family?

Response: There are five members in the Verma family.

2. Who is Ranjan Verma?

Response: He is the elder son of Mr. Vijay Verma.

3. How would you introduce yourself to Mr. Verma?

Response: Good morning Mr. Verma. I am a student from the DIMS English Conversation class.

4. Give your description of where you live?

Response: I Live at Moti Bagh. It is a good place. At Moti Bagh there are a number of blocks of flats. In each block there are two flats one on the ground floor and two flats on the firs floor. The flats on the ground floor have the use of the lawn, while the upstairs flats have a roof terrace. I live in an upstairs flat.

(D) Make suitable responses

1. Introduce yourself to the class?

Response ______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________

2. How would you ask someone what his or her name is?

Response: _____________________________________
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