Searching by Author
A customer knows the author's name but is unsure about the exact title(s) and asks a staff member for help finding books by that author.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
excuse me
A polite phrase used to get someone's attention, especially in public places like stores. It's common when you need help.
author
The person who writes a book. Use this word when asking for books by a specific writer.
section
A specific area in a store or library where items are grouped, like the fiction section for novels.
fiction
A type of book or story that is imaginary, not based on real events. Opposite of non-fiction.
in stock
Means items are available for purchase right now in the store. Useful when checking if something can be bought immediately.
aisle
A narrow passageway between shelves in a store. Staff often direct customers using aisle numbers.
recent
Something that happened or was made not long ago, like recent books. Use 'recent works' for new books by an author.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Excuse me, I'm looking for a book, but I only know the author's name, not the exact title.
This is a polite way to start asking for help in a store. It uses 'I'm looking for' to express what you need, and 'but' to add a condition. Useful when you have partial information about an item.
No problem at all! What's the author's name?
A friendly response to offer help. 'No problem at all' means it's easy to assist, and the question uses 'What's' for informal asking. Good for customer service situations to make people feel welcome.
Do you have a section for her books?
This yes/no question asks about a specific area in the store. Use 'Do you have' for availability checks. It's practical for navigating large stores like bookstores.
Let me check our system to see what we have in stock.
This shows politeness by offering to look up information. 'Let me' means 'allow me to,' and 'in stock' checks availability. Useful for staff to reassure customers while searching.
I'm particularly interested in her more recent works, if possible.
Expresses specific preferences politely. 'Particularly interested in' highlights focus, and 'if possible' softens the request. Great for giving details without being demanding.
It looks like we have 'The Testaments', 'Alias Grace', and 'The Handmaid's Tale' in stock right now.
This lists available items clearly. 'It looks like' introduces findings softly, and 'in stock right now' emphasizes current availability. Helpful for informing customers about options.
They're all on aisle 7, toward the back.
Gives directions using location words. 'Toward the back' describes position. Use this pattern to guide someone in a store, making it easy to find items.
Thank you so much for your help!
A strong way to show gratitude. 'So much' adds emphasis to thanks. Always use this after receiving assistance to end conversations politely.