Audio script
Harry: Hey there!
Olivia: Hi, Harry, come and have a seat!
Harry: OK – I’ll just get a coffee. Hang on ... Where’s Tony?
Magda: He’s off sick.
Olivia: And you’ll notice that there’s a new chef in here!
Harry: Carlos! What’s he doing working here?
Magda: He’s taken over while Tony’s away.
Harry: Well, good on him – he’s always wanted his own restaurant! I guess this café will have to do for now.
Olivia: Yeah. It’s good experience for him!
Harry: Carlos! Hey, Carlos! Could I have a coffee, mate?
Harry: Carlos? Hello!? ... Well, I hope he’s a good chef, because he’s a terrible waiter!
Olivia: Oh, go on. Give him a break!
Magda: Yeah – it’s really busy in here right now. Be patient!
Harry: Busy? Yeah – tell me about it! Everywhere is today – I couldn’t find anywhere to park my car. I had to leave it miles away.
Olivia: Park your car? I thought you took your bike everywhere!
Harry: Well, I used to, but sometimes it’s just easier to drive, isn’t it?
Magda: Lazy!
Harry: I’m not lazy! I do lots of sport – play football every week.
Olivia: Do you drive to the football pitch?
Harry: Erm, yeah ... Usually ...
Olivia: You should use your bike more often. It’s better for you, and for the environment!
Johnny: Hello, all! Hey, is that Carlos behind the counter?
All: Yes, it is.
Johnny: What’s he doing there?
Olivia: Long story!
Johnny: Blimey ... Have you seen the traffic out there?
Olivia: Not you as well?!
Johnny: Me what?
Olivia: Driving!
Johnny: Of course I drive. How else would I get around?
Magda: I always use public transport. It’s very good here in London, even if it’s quite expensive.
Olivia: Not as expensive as a car.
Harry: That’s true.
Olivia: You should all cycle more!
Johnny: I’m not cycling. It’s tiring, and dangerous!
Harry: And the weather here is terrible – cycling in the rain isn’t any fun!
Magda: That’s true. That’s why I get the tube or the bus.
Olivia: Well, I think you should all think about your health and the future of the planet!
Harry: Yeah, yeah, yeah ... whatever ...
Olivia: It’s important! Cars make so much pollution!
Magda: Yeah – Olivia’s right!
Johnny: Scientists are finding ways to stop pollution – that’s their job.
Olivia: Maybe, but we should all help to help the planet!
Harry: I don’t know about the planet. I just think right now we should try to help Carlos!
Comments
Thanks for the episode, ti was really fun.
Hi, can you help me with this? Everywhere is today – I couldn’t find anywhere to park my car. What does "Everywhere is today" mean? Thank you.
Hello Hung
When Harry says this, he is responding to Magda, who says 'It's really busy in here now'. What Harry means is 'Everywhere is [busy] today'.
All the best
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
thanks
There is a sentence that Johnny said " I’m not cycling. It’s tiring, and dangerous!" , I don't understand he uses the present-continuous. It is not correct that says "I don't ride a bike." ?
Hello jhen,
This sentence looks like it has a present continuous verb form but it is in fact just an example of the verb be followed by an adjective:
Participles such as tiring (a present participle) and tired (a past participle) can be used as adjectives and then the construction looks like a present continuous or a passive form. The context tells us that it is simply an adjective, however.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
thanks, Peter M.
but I want to ask the sentence "I'm not cycling.", is cycling also adjective?
Hello jhen,
I see. I saw 'tiring' and answered about that.
In the sentence I'm not cycling the word cycling is part of the present continuous verb form [be + verbing], so it is not an adjective.
Johnny is talking about the future. There are several forms he could use:
The present simple here (I don't cycle) would have a different meaning. It would mean that Johnny generally does not cycle rather than telling us something about this particular time.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
OK! thanks a lot!
Hello averyone, this is my first comment here!
in this postcaste, i don´t understand very well what mean this sentence " i guess this café will have to do for now" what want to mean with will have to do? what have to do?
thank overtake,
please could you correct me my mistakes?
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