Cultural notes

At most airports in the U.S., it is easy to get ground transportation. Many hotels offer free shuttle service to and from the airport. As in most countries, taxi cabs are the most expensive way to travel. However, cabs are also fast and convenient. At larger, busier airports you will probably have to line (queue) up for a taxi.

Many airports are on subway or train lines. At Atlanta International Airport, you can board MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) for the trip into the city. MARTA trains arrive and depart every 12 minutes. In 15 minutes, a traveler can be downtown.

When flying within the U.S., you should allow adequate time to check in, go through airport security, and board your plane. Some airports are huge, and it may take a while to reach the gate from which your plane is departing.

Action

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AGENT: May I help you?

YOU: Yes, thanks. I'm staying at the Peachtree Plaza in town. What's the best way to get there?

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AGENT: You can take a cab, bus, limo, or hotel shuttle.

YOU: What do you recommend?

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AGENT: That depends. A cab is faster but more expensive. The bus is cheaper but a little slow. It would probably be a good idea to take your hotel shuttle.

YOU: All right. Where do I catch it?

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AGENT: Just go through those doors and look for the shuttle sign. When it comes by, wave and the driver will pick you up.

YOU: How much does it cost?

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AGENT: It's a courtesy shuttle, so it's free. You can tip the driver, if you want.

YOU: Thank you for your help.

NARRATOR: You go outside, board the shuttle, and head for the hotel.

Lesson 4 «Checking into a Hotel»

Vocabulary

$129.00 (one hundred and twenty-nine dollars)

758 (seven fifty eight)

Room numbers, house numbers, flight numbers, phone numbers and other frequently stated numbers are often split up when spoken. For example, "758" (a room number) would be given as "seven fifty-eight." "1621 1st Street" would be "sixteen twenty-one First Street," etc.

aboard (adv.)

"On board" is another way to express "aboard."

actually (adv.)

You may also use the expressions "as a matter of fact," "really," or "frankly" in place of "actually."

aunt (noun)

bags (noun, pl.)

the paper or plastic object which holds one's purchases (you will repeatedly hear "baggers" ask "Paper or plastic?" in reference to the kind of bag in which you would like to carry your "groceries").

be, it will (to be, fut.)

bellman (noun)

both (adj.)

breakfast (noun)

The three major meals are "breakfast," "lunch," and "dinner." "Brunch" is a combination of breakfast and lunch, normally served in the late morning. Anything you eat between meals is often called a "snack." A break for "coffee," "tea" or even a "light snack" may be called a "coffee break" even if "coffee" isn't part of it.

bring up, he will (to bring up, fut.)

business (noun)

check in (inf., to check in)

Another expression used in relation to "checking into a hotel" is "to register at a hotel." The "front desk" or "reception area" of a hotel/motel is often called "check in."

clerk (noun)

come (past. part., to come)

complimentary (adj.)

In most cases, "complimentary" means "free," usually applying to food and drink. Many companies "give away" complimentary items as a way to promote other more significant products or services.

continental (adj.)

A "continental breakfast" -- meaning from the "continent" of Europe - usually consists of a "roll" with either "coffee" or "tea". The term "continental" is also a geographic term which relates to "continents" (which include "North America," "South America," "Europe," "Africa," "Asia," "Australia," and sometimes "Antarctica").

credit (adj.)

culture (noun)

days (noun, pl.)

desk (noun)

died, she (to die, past)

A simple past tense is present in this chapter (as in "My aunt died recently in Atlanta."). The simple past indicates that an action began and ended in the past.

do, I (emphat. pres.)

As an answer to the question "Do you have a reservation?," the protagonist says "Yes, I do." "I do" emphasizes that she indeed has a reservation (the negative response would be "No, I don't"). If the question were to begin with "Are you...?," the emphatic "Yes, I am." would be the appropriate response (the negative would be "No, I'm not.").

elevator (noun)

estate (noun)

exit, you (to exit)

floor (noun)

front (adj.)

get (inf., to get)

Use of the verb "to get" are discussed at great length in the Grammar of Chapter 12.

her (poss.)

This is the possessive form of the 3rd person sing. pronoun of "she."

I'll (contr., "I will")

Note the use of the future tense in this dialogue in the following examples: "I'll be staying..."; "Will you be paying...?"; "The room will be..."; "the bell boy will bring..." We will examine this tense in greater detail in Chapter 6.

I've (contr., "I have")

Another new tense introduced in this chapter is the present perfect, as in "I've come to..." The present perfect expresses the notion that some action has happened. The Grammar of Chapter 14 deals with this tense in greater detail.

imprint (inf., to imprint)

inside (adv.)

The opposite of "inside" is "outside."

language (noun)

left (adv.)

In terms of taking and giving directions, one may go to the "left," "right," or "straight" (or perhaps "north," "south," "east" or "west").

loss (noun)

In "I'm sorry for your loss." Another way to politely respond to someone's loss of a loved one is to say "You have my sympathy."

need, I (to need)

new (adj.)

If someone tells you that they have bought a "new car," the car may not be "new" at all (it may, however, be "new" to that person, hence "new"). To avoid confusion, people often use the expression "brand new" to convey the idea that they are the first-time owners of a new possession. Incidentally, one may buy something "second-hand" or "used" (especially in reference to cars) meaning that the object has had a previous owner or owners. One can buy "second-hand" goods at "second-hand stores," "antique stores," and "pawn shops."

night (noun)

paying, you will be (to pay, fut. prog.)

"Will you be paying?" is an example of the future progressive tense. This tense, as well as other progressive tenses, is discussed in the Grammar of Chapter 13.

per (prep.)

pleasure (noun)

possible (adj.)

quickly (adv.)

rate (noun)

Notice the information questions in this chapter. They include "What's the rate?" and "Where's my room?"

recently (adv.)

registration (noun)

reserved (adj.)

slowly (adv.)

sorry (adj.)

staying, I'll be (to stay, fut. prog.)

survive (inf., to survive)

take! (imp., to take)

take care (inf., to take care)

The verb "to take care (of)" is often used with people: "Bill is taking care of his younger brothers."

trip (noun)

vacation (noun)

Some common ways to express the period of time you spend away from work follow: "to go on vacation," "to take a vacation," "to be on vacation," and "to take time off." British speakers of English tend to use the word "holiday" instead of "vacation," as in "Are you on holiday?"

welcome! (interj.)

"Welcome to..." is a polite way to greet someone who is visiting. "Welcome." in "You're welcome" is a polite way to respond to someone who has just thanked you for something.

wonder, you (to wonder)

worry-free (adj.)

Story

You take the shuttle to downtown Atlanta. There are a lot of people aboard speaking English very quickly. You wonder how you are going to survive in a new language and culture. You arrive at the hotel and go inside. At the front desk, you see a sign for registration. You go to check in.