Machine Out of Change
The customer inserts a bill, but the vending machine cannot give back the correct change, or notifies the customer it has no change.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
soda
A sweet, fizzy drink like cola or lemon soda, often sold in vending machines. Use it when talking about beverages: 'I want a soda.'
bill
A piece of paper money, like a five-dollar bill. In this context, it means currency note, not a restaurant check. Say: 'I inserted a bill.'
change
Small coins or money returned after paying more than the cost. Here, 'no change available' means the machine can't give coins back. Common in shopping: 'Do you have change?'
bucks
Informal slang for dollars in American English. 'Two bucks' means two dollars. Use casually with friends: 'It costs five bucks.'
annoying
Something that irritates or bothers you mildly. In daily talk: 'That's annoying when machines break.' Helps express frustration simply.
coin return button
A button on a vending machine that returns your money if there's a problem. Practical for fixing issues: 'Press the coin return button.'
spit out
When a machine ejects something forcefully, like money. Informal: 'The machine spit out my bill.' Describes mechanical actions vividly.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Hmm, I really want this soda. Okay, let's see.
This shows hesitation and decision-making with 'hmm' and 'let's see' for thinking aloud. Useful for everyday planning; 'hmm' is a filler sound like 'um' in Chinese.
Alright, putting in a five-dollar bill.
Announces an action with 'alright' for agreement and 'putting in' as present continuous for ongoing action. Practice for describing steps: simple present continuous tense.
Oh, what? 'No change available'? Are you serious?
Expresses surprise and frustration with 'oh what?' and rhetorical 'are you serious?'. Useful for reacting to problems; question tag adds emphasis without expecting answer.
This machine says it has no change. I put in a five, and the drink is only two bucks.
Reports a problem and explains details using 'says' for machine message and contrast with 'and...only'. Key for complaining politely; uses informal 'bucks' for money.
Ah, that happens sometimes. It's really annoying.
Acknowledges a common issue with 'ah' for realization and 'sometimes' for frequency. 'Annoying' expresses mild irritation; useful in conversations to empathize.
So it won't give me the drink or my money back?
Seeks confirmation with 'so' for conclusion and 'won't' (will not) for future negative. Tag question form; practice for asking about expectations in services.
It should return your bill. Try pressing the coin return button.
Gives advice with 'should' for expectation and imperative 'try pressing' for suggestion. Useful for helping others; imperative mood for instructions.
Phew, okay, it spit the five-dollar bill back out. Guess I'll try another machine.
Relief with 'phew' and inference with 'guess I'll' for future plan. 'Spit...back out' describes action; shows casual decision-making after resolution.