Asking for Department-Specific Hours
In a large store (e.g., department store, supermarket with pharmacy), a customer asks for the operating hours of a specific department within the store.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
operating hours
The times when a business or store is open for customers, like from morning to evening.
pharmacy
A section in a store where medicines and health products are sold, often like a small drugstore.
department
A specific section or area in a large store, such as clothing or electronics department.
during the week
Refers to the weekdays from Monday to Friday, not including weekends.
weekends
Saturday and Sunday, when many people have free time from work or school.
closed
Not open for business; the store or department is shut and not serving customers.
clarifying
Making information clear or explaining something that was confusing.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Excuse me, I was wondering if you could help me. What are the operating hours for the pharmacy department?
This is a polite way to start asking for information. 'I was wondering if' softens the request, making it more courteous. Use this when approaching someone for help in a store.
Certainly. The pharmacy has slightly different hours than the main store.
A helpful response to agree to assist. 'Certainly' means 'of course,' and 'slightly different' compares times politely. Useful for customer service to explain variations.
During the week, Monday to Friday, they're open from 9 AM to 7 PM.
This describes a schedule clearly. 'During the week' specifies weekdays, and 'from...to...' shows the time range. Practice this pattern for stating business hours.
And what about weekends? Is it the same on Saturdays and Sundays?
Follow-up question to get more details. 'What about' introduces a new topic, and 'is it the same' checks for differences. Use this to ask about other days.
On Saturdays, they operate from 10 AM to 5 PM. And on Sundays, the pharmacy is closed.
Explains specific day hours. 'Operate from...to...' is formal for business times, and 'is closed' means not open. This sentence pattern is key for giving schedules.
Ah, I see. So, no pharmacy service on Sundays. Thanks for clarifying that!
Shows understanding and thanks. 'Ah, I see' expresses realization, and 'thanks for clarifying' appreciates the explanation. Use to end a clarification positively.
You're welcome. Is there anything else I can assist you with today?
Standard polite close in service. 'You're welcome' responds to thanks, and 'is there anything else' offers more help. Essential for customer interactions.