Communicating Delays or Changes
Either you or your friend needs to inform the other about an unexpected delay or a change in the pickup plan.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
confirming
This means checking or making sure something is still correct or planned as before. Use it when you want to verify details like time or place in a conversation.
pickup
In this context, it refers to the place or time when someone picks you up in a car. It's common in ride-sharing or friend arrangements.
running late
This phrase means arriving later than planned. It's a casual way to apologize for a delay, often used in everyday situations like meetings or rides.
no worries
A friendly expression meaning 'don't worry' or 'it's okay.' It's used to reassure someone that a small problem isn't an issue, very common in informal English.
heads-up
This means advance notice or warning about something. Saying 'thanks for the heads-up' shows appreciation for being informed early.
understanding
Here, it means being patient and accepting of a situation. Use it to thank someone for their kindness when plans change.
drive safely
A polite way to wish someone a safe journey by car. It's a common goodbye phrase when someone is driving.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Hey Michael, just confirming our pickup plan for later. Are we still good for 5 PM?
This sentence is useful for politely checking if a plan is still on track. 'Still good for' is an idiomatic way to ask if a time works. Use it before events to avoid misunderstandings. Grammar note: It's a yes/no question starting with 'Are we.'
I just got hit with some unexpected traffic. It looks like I'll be running a bit late.
This explains a delay casually. 'Got hit with' is slang for suddenly facing a problem, and 'running a bit late' softens the apology. Useful when informing friends about changes. It's two connected sentences showing cause and effect.
Oh, no worries at all! How much later do you think? Just so I can plan accordingly.
This reassures the other person and asks for details. 'No worries at all' is emphatic for 'it's fine,' and 'plan accordingly' means adjusting your schedule. Great for showing flexibility in conversations about delays.
No worries at all, Michael! Thanks for letting me know. I appreciate the heads-up.
This thanks someone for advance notice. 'Letting me know' means informing, and 'appreciate the heads-up' is a common phrase for gratitude. Use it to respond positively to changes, building good relationships.
Great! And thanks for being so understanding. I'll text you when I'm a couple of minutes away.
This shows relief and further thanks. 'Being so understanding' praises patience, and 'a couple of minutes away' means almost there. Useful for updating during travel; 'I'll text you' is a future promise.
Perfect! That works for me. Drive safely!
This agrees with the plan and ends positively. 'That works for me' means it's convenient, and 'drive safely' is a caring wish. Short and friendly; use at the end of planning talks to wrap up nicely.