Sample Conversations in English

Traffic was brought to a standstill.		GO
		o	Traffic was bumper to bumper.		GO
		o	The traffic is crawling.		GO
	Roselind:			What took you so long?
	James:			There was an accident on the freeway, and traffic was bumper to bumper.
	Roselind:			Oh, yeah, I just learned from the news on the radio that there was a serious accident involving a truck.
	James:			That's right.  Traffic was brought to a standstill.
	Roselind:			Anyway, thank Heaven that you arrived safe and sound.  But, we'd better get going.  We're running a little bit late.

http://www.focusenglish.com/dialogues/traffic/standstill.html

	Roselind:	Oh, my goodness, the traffic is crawling.
	James:	I think there's an accident ahead.
	Roselind:	We're now running late.
	James:	I know.  Why don't we take a different route?
	Roselind:	Let me take a look at the map.  Yes, there's an exit three quarters of a mile ahead.  We'll exit Market Street, head west, and then get on the Pennsylvania Freeway.
	James:	OK, let's do that even though we may have to take a longer way.

Joe:Sir, did I do anything wrong? 

Officer:Yes, sir.  You ran through the stop sign.  May I see your driver license, please?

Joe:Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't see the stop sign at the corner.  I didn't mean it.

Officer:That doesn't justify your violation.  May I see your license, please?

Joe:Oh, sorry sir, I don't have it on me.  Honestly, I forgot it back at the house.  But I have the insurance policy with me.  Here it is.

Officer:Please wait here, sir.  I'll come back in a moment.

Gerri is finished with school for the summer.  She doesn't plan to take any classes during the summer.  Instead, she wants to take a break.

Jack:Do you have school today?Gerri:I'm through for the summer.Jack:Really?  So what do you plan to do?Gerri:Well, I don't know what I'm going to do with my free time yet.Jack:Are you planning to take any summer classes?Gerri:No.  I think I'll just relax.  I really need a break.  A long break!

In the dialogue below, Gary and Sharon are complaining about how hot the weather is today....
	Gary:	Oh, my!  It's really hot!  I've never seen such scorching weather in my life!
	Sharon:	Tell me about it.  It's like the whole world is broiling.
	Gary:	Oh, look at the thermometer!  The temperature has hit 98!
	Sharon:	I hope it's not gonna break into three digits!
	Gary:	But it's already awfully close!
	Sharon:	Well, I just hope it'll level off.
	Gary:	I guess we can't do anything until after dark then.
	Sharon:	I guess so.  What else can we do?  You can't stay in the heat for long!

A drought has just set in and the two people in the dialogue below are very concerned...
		Sally:		I think a drought has set in.  It hasn't rained a drop for months.
		Ethan:		I think so, too, but didn't it rain last month?
		Sally:		It did rain last month, but the rainfall was only half the monthly average.
		Ethan:		Oh.  That bad?!
		Sally:		That's right.  It's really bad.  I'm really concerned though not panicked yet.
		Ethan:		I don't blame you.  The pastures have browned out even before the summer hasn't arrived.
		Sally:		Yeah, and the soil has been baked so hard that the plow can't even break the soil.
		Ethan:		Looks like it's going to be an ongoing thing that would get worse each day.
		Sally:		Yeah.  If it doesn't rain, it's going to get critical.
[Radio broadcasting: ...Temperatures have today reached a record 102 degrees and may well hit 110 tomorrow. Much more distressing, experts say, is that a drought has set in remarkably early and shows no sign of letting up soon....The ground is still parched from last year's drought – crops, plants and trees are being crippled at their most vulnerable time...]
	Anna:		Did you hear that?  The drought conditions are severe!  There's a lot of death, dying, and suffering out there!
	Rose:		I heard that, but it's not surprising actually, 'cause we haven't had as much rain as normal this year.
	Anna:		Well, if it could rain even a drop, things would be much better!  And my flowers in the garden would come back in a heartbeat.
	Rose:		I guess you might have to quit watering your garden.  I heard that they are going to start rationing water.  In fact, this morning I happened to hear on the radio that the reservoir had dipped below half its capacity this month and the volume of water entering the reservoir is the smallest in fifty years.
	Anna:		Really!  I thought that might happen.  Great!  There go my vegetables!
	Rose:		I guess so.  But think about Africa.