Learning a few different verbs in English will help foreigners ask for directions, amenities in hotels, and general questions in airports, or when taking a taxi ride.
Read the following paragraphs to learn correct verb usage. Use the vocabulary builder at the bottom of the page for words in bold, or use your own dictionary for cross reference and meaning.
John takes (take) a stroll from his home to the taxi waiting (wait) outside. He needs (need) to get (get) to the airport.
Before leaving (leave) he asks (ask) the taxi driver to stop (stop) at a newsagent, so he can buy some items like chewing gum, chocolate, batteries, etc. It is (be) cheaper to buy (buy) goods there than in the airport which is (be) more expensive.
After arriving (arrive) at the airport and checking (check) in, he takes (take) a shuttle to the plane that takes (take) off, and flies (fly) to its destination. On arrival, the airplane descends (descend) to the airport runway. It lands (land) on time, and John is (be) very happy!
Ten minutes later, he shows (show) his documents at passport control. Then twenty minutes later his suitcase is (be) on the conveyor belt. He picks (pick) it up, and puts (put) it on a trolley to leave (leave) the building. Before leaving (leave), he has (have) to go (go) via customs officials who might (might) want (want) to search his bags.
Now you try it – fill in the correct verb usage in the sentences that follow:
The taxi driver outside the airport _____ (ask) John where he ______ (want) _______ (go). He then _______ (drive) to the hotel.
On arrival, John ______ (ask), “How much please?”
$24 ______ (say) the taxi driver.
John then ______ (give) a one-hundred-dollar bill, and asks, “______ (do) you _______ (have) change of $100.
The driver _______ (ask) “_______ (can) you _______ (give) me a smaller bill?
John _______ (do) ________ (have) a smaller bill.
Therefore, John ________ (pay) by credit card.
The taxi driver _______ (accept) the payment and _______ (leave).
After _______ (enter) the hotel, John _______ (go) to the reception desk _______ (check) in. Later he ______ (go) to his room, and _______ (settle) in. There _______ (be) an extra pillow which John needs ______ (sleep) at night.
He _______ (get) the room phone ________ (make) a call to the receptionist, and ______ (ask), “Excuse me! ______ (do) you _______ (have) an extra pillow, please?
The receptionist ______ (be) very pleasant, and ______ (say), “Of course you ______ (can) ________ (have) one. I will ______ (send) one up to your room.”
It is 9.30pm. John ______ (might) ______ (go) to bed early, as he ______ (be) very tired.
An auxiliary verb (do/does) is used to affect the tense, voice, or mood of a main verb. In grammar, a modal auxiliary verb is used specifically to express possibility, capability, willingness, or permission. Commonly used modal auxiliary verbs include: can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, and would.
When you have finished, check with your teacher if you have correctly filled out the verb tenses needed.
If you don't have a teacher, or require a British born Englishman to help improve your English standards then look me up!
Take care!
Prof. Carl Boniface
(ZAP) +55 (11) 97607-6871
Vocabulary builder:
Amenities (n) = facilities, services, conveniences, comforts, features
Stroll (n) = walk, meander, wander, ramble, leisurely walk
chewing gum (n) = bubblegum, Wrigley’s, sugarless gum, stick of gum
Cheaper (adj) = inexpensive, low-priced, reduced value, bargain, economical, cut rate, (ant) more expensive
Expensive (adj) = costly, pricy, classy, luxurious, (ant) cheap
Shuttle (n) = vehicle, transport, bus that takes you to a specific destination.
Runway (n) = airstrip, taxiway, landing strip, flight strip, takeoff strip
Passport (n) = ID, permit, visa, pass, identification, authorization, papers, travel permit, credentials
Conveyor belt (n) = a continuous moving band of fabric, rubber, or metal used for moving objects from one place to another. "a baggage conveyor belt"
Customs officials (n) = a person whose job is to check travelers’ bags to make certain they are not taking goods into a country without paying taxes: “She was stopped by a customs officer who opened her luggage.” (Also, customs agent)
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