Requesting a Tool/Household Item
You need a common household item like a screwdriver, a stapler, or a measuring tape for a quick task, and you know your roommate owns one. You ask if it's available to borrow.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
borrow
To take something from someone temporarily with their permission, and return it later. Useful for asking friends or roommates for items.
measuring tape
A flexible tool with markings to measure lengths, like for furniture or rooms. Common in household tasks.
drawer
A sliding box inside furniture like a desk, used for storing small items. Practical for describing where things are kept.
assemble
To put together parts of something, like furniture from a kit. Often used when setting up new items at home.
grab
Informal way to say 'take' or 'get' quickly. Used in casual conversations with roommates or friends.
gotcha
Short for 'I got you' or 'I understand.' A casual expression to show you comprehend what someone said.
super careful
Very careful or cautious. 'Super' adds emphasis in informal English to stress importance.
thanks a bunch
An informal way to say 'thank you very much.' Shows strong gratitude in friendly situations.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Hey Michael, quick question. Do you happen to have a measuring tape I could borrow?
This is a polite and casual way to start a request. 'Do you happen to have' softens the question to sound less direct. Use it when asking to borrow something from a roommate.
Hmm, a measuring tape? I think I do. It should be in the drawer in my desk.
A natural response when confirming you have an item. 'Hmm' shows thinking, and 'I think I do' expresses mild certainty. Useful for describing location politely.
Why do you need it?
A simple question to ask for more details. It's casual and shows interest. Use it to understand the purpose before lending something.
I'm trying to measure a new spot for my plant shelf, and I want to make sure it fits before I assemble it.
Explains the reason clearly using present continuous 'I'm trying' for ongoing action. 'Make sure' means to check or confirm. Good for giving context in requests.
Ah, gotcha. Yeah, go ahead and grab it.
'Gotcha' means 'I understand,' and 'go ahead' gives permission. Informal agreement phrase for casual situations like sharing with roommates.
Just make sure to put it back when you're done, please.
Politely sets a condition for borrowing. 'Make sure to' is a common phrase for instructions, and 'when you're done' refers to after finishing use.
Of course! I'll be super careful with it. Thanks a bunch, Michael!
Shows agreement and reassurance. 'Of course' means 'certainly,' and 'thanks a bunch' expresses strong thanks. Use to end a borrowing conversation positively.
No problem at all. Let me know if you need any help with the shelf.
A friendly way to respond to thanks. 'No problem at all' means it's easy, and 'let me know' invites further requests. Builds good roommate relationships.