The Borrower Forgets to Return
The lender gently reminds the borrower about an office supply that was borrowed previously and hasn't been returned yet.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
moment
A short period of time. In the dialogue, 'quick moment' means 'a little time right now' to ask a question politely.
wondering
Thinking about something curiously. 'I was just wondering' is a polite way to introduce a question without being direct.
stapler
An office tool used to join papers with staples. This is a common item in workplace scenarios.
lent
Past tense of 'lend,' meaning to give something temporarily for someone to use. Opposite of 'borrow.'
invoices
Bills or documents listing items and amounts owed. Common in office work for payments.
forgot
Past tense of 'forget,' meaning to fail to remember something. Used here to apologize for not returning an item.
worries
Concerns or problems. 'No worries' is a casual way to say 'it's okay' or 'don't be sorry.'
grab
Informal word for 'get' or 'take quickly.' 'I'll grab it' means 'I'll go get it right away.'
reminder
Something that helps you remember. 'Thanks for the reminder' shows appreciation for being gently notified.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Hey Michael, do you have a quick moment?
This is a polite way to start a conversation and ask if someone is free to talk. Use it in offices to get attention without interrupting. 'Hey' is casual; 'do you have a moment?' is a common idiom for 'are you available?'
I was just wondering if you still had that stapler I lent you last week?
A gentle way to remind someone about a borrowed item. 'I was just wondering' softens the question to be polite. 'Lent you' uses past tense to refer to the borrowing action. Useful for reminding without accusing.
Oh, the stapler! My goodness, I completely forgot about that.
An expression of surprise and apology when remembering something overlooked. 'My goodness' is a mild exclamation like 'oh dear.' 'Completely forgot' emphasizes the mistake. Use this to apologize sincerely in casual settings.
No worries at all. Just wanted to check before I went looking for another one.
Reassures the other person that it's okay. 'No worries' is informal for 'don't worry.' 'Just wanted to check' explains the reason politely. Good for responding to apologies and keeping the conversation friendly.
I'll grab it for you right now, actually.
Offers to return the item immediately. 'Grab' is casual for 'fetch.' 'Right now' shows quick action; 'actually' adds a natural tone. Use this to show willingness to fix the situation promptly.
Thanks for the reminder!
Expresses gratitude for being reminded. This is polite and positive, turning a potential awkward moment into appreciation. Common in workplaces to maintain good relationships.