Calling a Babysitter
Sylvia calls for a babysitter. The Grammar focus is on Adverbials.
Sylvia: “I’m glad you’re available. We have to go out tonight.”
Odette: “It’s no problem. I can get there early if necessary.”
Sylvia: “The thing is, we’re going to be out late. Maybe even past midnight.”
Odette: “That’s no problem. I always stay up late studying.”
Sylvia: “That’s good. She goes to sleep early, but somebody always needs to be there. Just in case.”
Odette: “Of course, it’s always that way with a young child.”
Sylvia: “There’s extra food in the refrigerator. Stuff she likes.”
Odette: “I’m sure she’ll tell me!”
Sylvia: “You should not have any problems there.”
Odette: “She was no problem at all, last time.”
Sylvia: “She said she liked you. That means a lot to me.”
Odette: “Yes, we got along great.”
Sylvia: “So why don’t you come by at six o’clock?”
Odette: “I’ll be there.”
VOCABULARY WITH IDIOMS
The thing is means the issue or main point. See online Idioms Dictionary.
Stay up late means to remain awake and out of bed later than usual. See online Idioms Dictionary.
Go to sleep means literally to begin sleeping. See online Idioms Dictionary.
Just in case means in the event that something happens. See online Idioms Dictionary.
It’s always that way means the same as “That’s the way it is (goes)” — that is the normal way of things, that is fate. See online Idioms Dictionary.
Get along means to be amiable with one another. See online Idioms Dictionary.
Come by means to visit someone. See online Idioms Dictionary.
ENGLISH GRAMMAR
Suggested Topic for Comments: Adverbials
Tonight, past midnight, at six o’clock: these are called Adverbials of Time, and generally they come at or near the end of the sentence because of the prescribed ordering of sentence-final adverbials in English. When one or more occurs in a sentence, the ordering is not random. Adverbials of Purpose and Reason generally follow all other adverbials, however, for example: “They will come home early in order to see their baby.” Here the Adverbial of Purpose must follow the Adverbial of Time in order to avoid confusion or ambiguity. But in the absence of an Adverbial of Purpose, the Adverbial of Time will follow an Adverbial of Frequency and be most often placed at the end of the sentence, for example: “She drives to work every day at 7 a.m.”
INTERMEDIATE-ADVANCED DIALOGUE
New Idioms are “Get back” and “In that department.” The Grammar focus is on Adverbials.
Kathy: “I’m going to babysit this evening.”
Rebecca: “What for? You already have a great income.”
Kathy: “It’s not for the money, it’s for a friend.”
Rebecca: “You must mean Sharla. I thought she would never do that.”
Kathy: “Do what?”
Rebecca: “Leave her girl with somebody else. She’s a lioness in that department.”
Kathy: “I know what you mean. But she has to go to the hospital, and I’m her best friend.”
Rebecca: “Why, what’s wrong?”
Kathy: “Some procedure, I don’t know what it is. She may even get back early. But I have to be there anyway, just in case.”
Rebecca: “Good thing we don’t work tonight.”
Kathy: “I know, but the kid reads a lot and won’t be any trouble anyway.”
Rebecca: “What if something bad happens, will you have to stay all night?”
Kathy: “Trust me, it’s nothing like that.”
Rebecca: “I don’t know, when you mention the hospital my imagination goes wild.”
Kathy: “I guess I’m not that way.”
Rebecca: “Lucky you.”
VOCABULARY WITH IDIOMS
In that department means in that area, concerning that. See online Idioms Dictionary.
Get back means to return (to some previous location). See online Idioms Dictionary.
Just in case means in the event that something does or does not happen. See online Idioms Dictionary.
Anyway means in any way, style, or manner at all. See online Idioms Dictionary.
Nothing like that means very different from what has just been said or described. See online Idioms Dictionary.
Go wild means to become very excited. See online Idioms Dictionary.
ENGLISH GRAMMAR
Suggested Topic for Comments: Adverbials
“I’m going to babysit this evening.” This sentence with an adverbial in final position is fairly typical. The ordering of sentence-final adverbials is not cut and dried, but it is not random either, and follows a general rule of thumb:
direction – position – manner – time – frequency – purpose (reason)
Thus we will almost always find Adverbials of Reason at the very end of a sentence, following Adverbials of Time and Frequency. Exceptions, generally speaking, have to be learned.
Learn Conversational English
About the Author
English Grammar Categories
480 English Idioms
Home