Asking While Walking in a Park
You're out for a walk in a park and want to know how much time you have left before an appointment, so you ask a friendly passerby.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
excuse
Used as 'excuse me' to politely get someone's attention before asking a question, like starting a conversation with a stranger.
bother
To disturb or interrupt someone; in polite phrases like 'sorry to bother you,' it shows respect for the other person's time.
happen to know
A polite way to ask if someone knows something by chance, making the question less direct and more courteous.
exactly
Means precisely or right on the dot; used when giving the time to emphasize accuracy, like 'exactly 3:15.'
appreciate
To feel grateful for help or kindness; say 'I appreciate it' to thank someone sincerely in everyday situations.
appointment
A planned meeting at a specific time, like a doctor's visit or business meeting; common in daily scheduling.
realized
Past tense of 'realize,' meaning to suddenly understand or become aware of something, like forgetting an item.
plenty
A large amount, often used as 'plenty of time' to mean more than enough time, reassuring someone they're not late.
lose track
To forget or stop keeping count of something, like 'lose track of time' when enjoying an activity and forgetting the hour.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Excuse me, I'm so sorry to bother you, but do you happen to know what time it is?
This is a very polite way to ask for the time from a stranger; it uses 'excuse me' for attention, apologizes in advance, and 'happen to know' to soften the request. Useful in public places like parks or streets to avoid seeming rude.
No bother at all! Let me check... It's exactly 3:15 PM.
A friendly response to reassure the asker it's not a problem; 'let me check' shows willingness to help, and 'exactly' adds precision. Use this when someone asks you for information to make them feel comfortable.
Oh, thank goodness! 3:15 PM, got it. I really appreciate it.
Expresses relief and thanks; 'thank goodness' is an idiom for being glad something is okay, and 'got it' means understood. Great for showing gratitude after receiving help, especially when you're in a hurry.
Yes, I have an appointment at 4 and realized I left my phone at home.
Explains the reason for asking; uses simple past 'realized' for a recent discovery. This sentence pattern helps share context politely in conversations, useful when justifying why you need information.
You've got plenty of time then. This park is great for walks, but it's easy to lose track of time.
Reassures the person they aren't late with 'plenty of time,' and adds chit-chat about the situation. The idiom 'lose track of time' explains why people forget the hour. Use this to continue a friendly talk after helping.
That's true! Thanks again for your help. Have a good afternoon!
Agrees with the other person and ends politely; 'that's true' shows agreement, and 'thanks again' reinforces gratitude. A common way to wrap up a short interaction positively, like saying goodbye after getting directions.