Asking a Shop Assistant
You're in a store and need to know the time before closing, or if you have enough time to visit another shop, so you ask a shop assistant.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
bother
To bother someone means to disturb or interrupt them politely; use it when you feel sorry for asking something, like 'Sorry to bother you.'
happen to have
This phrase means 'by chance, do you have'; it's a polite way to ask if someone knows or has something, like the time, without assuming.
exactly
Exactly means precisely or right at that moment; use it to give the precise time, like 'It's exactly 4:35.'
pop into
To pop into a place means to go quickly into a shop or location for a short time; it's casual and useful for everyday plans like visiting a store briefly.
plenty
Plenty means a lot or more than enough; use it to reassure someone they have sufficient time, like 'You have plenty of time.'
appreciate
To appreciate means to be grateful for help; it's a polite way to thank someone sincerely, common in service situations.
assist
To assist means to help; use it in customer service like 'Can I assist you?' to offer polite support in shops or stores.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Excuse me, I'm sorry to bother you. Do you happen to have the time?
This is a polite way to start asking for the time; 'Excuse me' gets attention, 'sorry to bother' shows respect, and 'happen to have' makes it indirect and courteous. Use it when approaching strangers in public.
No problem at all! Let me check...
This responds kindly to an apology; 'No problem at all' means it's not an issue, and 'Let me check' shows willingness to help. It's useful for customer service to make people feel welcome.
It's exactly 4:35 PM.
This gives the time precisely; 'PM' means after noon (12:00 to 11:59 PM). Use this format to state the time clearly in spoken English, including AM/PM for clarity.
Thank you so much. My phone died, and I needed to know if I have enough time to pop into another shop before they close.
This thanks politely and explains the reason; 'phone died' means battery is dead, 'pop into' is casual for quick visit. It's useful to give context when asking for time in a hurry.
You're welcome! Most shops around here close at 6 PM, so you should have plenty of time.
This is a standard polite response to thanks; it provides extra helpful info. 'You're welcome' is common, and 'plenty of time' reassures. Use it to build positive interactions.
Happy to help! Is there anything else I can assist you with?
This shows enthusiasm in helping and offers more support; 'happy to help' is friendly. It's a key phrase in service roles to encourage further questions and end positively.
No, that's all for now. Thanks again!
This politely ends the conversation; 'that's all' means no more needs. It's useful to wrap up interactions gratefully without being abrupt.