Feeling Too Hot in a Restaurant
A diner in a restaurant is feeling uncomfortably hot and wants to ask the server or staff if the air conditioning can be turned down or adjusted.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
warm
Warm means a little hot, not extremely hot. In this dialogue, it's used to politely describe feeling too hot in a room, like 'We're feeling a bit warm.' You can use it in casual situations to request changes in temperature.
air conditioning
Air conditioning, or AC, is a system that cools the air in a room or building. It's common in hot places like restaurants. Say 'Can you turn down the air conditioning?' when you want it cooler.
turned down
Turned down means to reduce the level of something, like lowering the temperature or volume. Here, it refers to making the air conditioning cooler. Use it for requests like 'Can the heat be turned down?'
adjusted
Adjusted means to change something slightly to make it better or more suitable. In the dialogue, it's about changing the AC settings. It's a polite way to ask for modifications, like 'Can this be adjusted?'
appreciate
Appreciate means to be grateful for something. 'We'd really appreciate it' is a polite way to thank someone in advance for help. Use it to show politeness in requests, like in service situations.
comfortable
Comfortable means feeling relaxed and not too hot, cold, or uncomfortable. The server says 'make you more comfortable' to promise help. Use it when describing or requesting a better environment, like 'I want to feel more comfortable.'
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Excuse me, I was wondering if you could help us.
This is a polite way to start a conversation and ask for help. 'I was wondering' softens the request, making it indirect and courteous. Use it in restaurants or stores when you need assistance; it's useful for intermediate learners to sound natural and polite.
We're feeling a bit warm in this section.
This sentence politely describes a problem without complaining directly. 'A bit warm' means slightly hot, and 'in this section' specifies the area. It's useful for making requests about temperature; the structure 'We're feeling [adjective]' is common for group situations.
Is there any way the air conditioning could be turned down a little, or adjusted?
This is a conditional question for a polite request. 'Is there any way' asks if it's possible, and 'could be' makes it tentative. Great for service scenarios; it teaches passive voice ('be turned down') and alternatives ('or adjusted') to give options.
Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. I'll check on the air conditioning settings right away.
This shows empathy and promises quick action. 'I'm sorry to hear that' acknowledges the issue, and 'right away' means immediately. Useful for customer service responses; it highlights future tense ('I'll check') for commitments.
Thank you, we'd really appreciate it.
A grateful response to help offered. 'We'd appreciate it' uses conditional 'would' for politeness and future gratitude. Essential for ending requests positively; practice it to build polite conversation skills in English.
No problem at all. I'll see what I can do to make you more comfortable.
This reassures the customer with 'No problem at all' meaning it's easy to help. 'I'll see what I can do' is a common phrase for trying one's best. Use in service roles; it demonstrates modal verbs ('can do') and adjectives for comfort.