Can you babysit for us next Friday night?
Can you ≈ Will you, Would you, Would you be able to,
Are you able to
Can you drive over?
Can you sit for three children?
We will pick you up at eight.
We have two children. How much do you charge?
Have you ever babysat for an infant?
No guests while we’re gone.
No visitors while we’re gone.
Could you clean up a little, too?
Please read to the kids before they go to bed.
We’ll be home by midnight.
Keep all the doors locked.
Please don’t tie up the telephone for long periods.
If anyone calls, please take a message.
We will call later to check (on the kids).
Do you have any questions?
Here’s the phone number where we’ll be.
Here are the emergency numbers.
Here’s the number where you can reach us.
Here’s where you can reach us.
There’s food in the fridge.
Help yourself to anything in the fridge.
Help yourself to a snack.
Please don’t eat the last piece of pie.
Where will you be?
Where can you be reached?
Can you leave me the number where you’ll be?
Can you ≈ Will you. Would you
Who do I call in case of emergency?
How late will you be?
How late will you be out?
What time will you be coming home?
Do I have to feed them?
Do they get any medicine?
What time do the kids go to bed?
When’s their bedtime?
Where are their pajamas?
Can I have a friend over?
Can I ≈ May I, Do you mind if I, Is it okay if I
Give the kids dinner at six.
Timmy is allergic to orange juice.
No snacks before bedtime.
Please give Jimmy his medicine at bedtime.
Make sure the kids are in bed by 8:00.
Have the kids in bed by 8:00.
Put the kids to bed at 8:00.
Bedtime is 8:00.
I charge by the hour.
My rate is $5.50 per hour.
I charge standard rates.
I charge more for more than one child.
Is everything all right?
How were the children?
Were there any problems?
Were there any telephone calls?
Did the children behave?
What time did they get to bed?
I can’t get it to work.
I’m using the keyboard but nothing’s happening.
Nothing happens.
I can’t log on.
to log on = to start a computer session
I can’t log in.
to log in = to start a computer session
I can’t access the menu.
I can’t access my disc.
disc = hard or floppy disc storage medium
It says I have a bad disc sector.
My disc is fried. (slang)
fried = burned out (in this context)
The screen is blank.
The monitor is blank.
The screen is frozen.
frozen = not moving
It crashed. (slang)
crashed = ceased to function (in this context)
It keeps crashing. (slang)
I can’t get into the program.
I can’t get into my file.
I don’t remember the password.
How do I get back to the disc operating system?
How do I get back to DOS?
DOS = disc operating system
How do I get back to the main menu?
How do I pull up the menu?
How do I print out a file?
How do I get it to print?
How do I get it to print out?
My document isn’t printing right.
How do I get my document out of the print queue?
the print queue = the sequence of files waiting to be printed
How do I initialize my printer?
to initialize = to set up electronically
My disc is full.
How do you format discs?
to format = to prepare for receiving data (in this context)
What does ‘incompatible file format’ mean?
How do I change fonts?
How do I change the paper orientation?
Can you get this stain out?
Is it possible to get a stain like this out?
I’d like to have this pressed, please.
These need to be laundered.
This needs dry cleaning.
Can you remove this stain without harming the fabric?
Can you repair this tear?
Can you fix this zipper?
How much will a new zipper cost?
I need this by tomorrow.
No starch, please.
A button is missing.
All the buttons were there when I brought it in.
I’m sorry, I lost my ticket.
I’m sorry, I forgot my ticket.
(Any) starch?
Do you want starch?
Do you want starch (in these shirts)?
Do you want me to repair that tear?
I can put on a new button, but it may not match exactly.
Is Tuesday OK?
= Is it all right that your clothes will be ready Tuesday?
We are not responsible for missing buttons.
Do you have your receipt?
Your ticket, please.
There is a charge for replacing buttons.
This garment is simply not clean.
There is way too much starch in these shirts.
There is a tear in the fabric that wasn’t there when I brought this in.
You tore my dress.
The fabric appears to be damaged.
The dress was torn when we first saw it.
That spot cannot be removed.
I warned you that the fabric was too delicate for cleaning.
I cannot give you this garment without some identification.
Where is the reference section?
Where is the fiction?
Can you please tell me where to find the biographies?
Where are the periodicals?
periodicals = magazines and journals
Where can I get a library card?
Do you have a photocopier here?
Is there a quiet reading room?
Do you check out video cassettes?
Do you have CDs available?
CD = compact disc
Where is the public telephone?
I’d like to check out these books.
I’d like to check these books out.
These books are overdue.
overdue = late
I’d like to return these books.
I need to pay a fine.
Do you have change for the copiers?
The copier is in the reference room.
Please ask the adult services librarian about CDs.
The periodical room is upstairs.
The telephones are in the lobby.
This book is due in three weeks.
Reference books cannot be checked out.
Would you like me to reserve this book for you?
Would you like me to ≈ Shall I, Should I, Do you want me to
Would you like me to request this book from another library?
This book is overdue.
How far out can we swim?
How deep is it by the raft?
Is there a steep drop-off?
When does the tide come in?
Is the current strong?
Is there an undertow?
Is there an undercurrent?
What time does the beach close?
Don’t swim past the buoys.
Watch out for the undertow.
No horseplay.
horseplay = rough or dangerous play
No glass bottles or drinking glasses allowed around the pool.
The beach is closed today.
The beach is closing; come out of the water.
Get out of the water.
My sink is clogged.
My sink is backed up.
My sink isn’t draining properly.
My kitchen sink is full of yuck. (slang)
yuck = nasty matter; grease and garbage
The toilet is running.
The toilet won’t stop running.
The toilet runs until I jiggle the handle.
The toilet won’t flush.
The toilet is leaking.
My toilet overflowed!
The tub is leaking.
The bathtub is backing up.
= Water is coming into the tub through the waste pipes.
The sewer is backed up.
= Sewage is flowing in instead of out.
The sump pump isn’t working.
My bathroom is flooded.
The tub faucets leak day and night.
My pipes are rusty.
The water is discolored.
The water is rust-colored.
The pipes are always banging.
The hot water heater’s out.
The hot water heater is leaking.
I don’t have any hot water.
The water heater keeps going out.
There is never any flame in the water heater.
The water is never hot enough.
The water is too hot.
I need to set up service.
I need ≈ I want, I’d like, I would like, I have, I’m calling
I need to establish service.
I need to disconnect service.
I need to change the name on the bill.
I need to change the billing address.
I need to change my account to another address.
I have a problem with my bill.
I received a notice that someone stopped by to get a meter reading.
My lights keep flickering.
My water pressure is very low.
I smell gas.
My gas was cut off.
We have a power outage almost every week.
The meter reader never waits long enough for me to get to the door.
Shampoo and blow dry, please.
I’d like my hair dyed.
I’d like ≈ I need, I want
I’d like a permanent.
I’d like a perm.
I’d like just a trim.
How much is a perm?
Do I have to have an appointment to get a haircut?
Just a trim, please.
Just trim off the ends.
Can you touch up the gray?
I wear my part to the left.
I part my hair on the left.
I part my hair in the middle.
Could I make an appointment for next month?
Trim around the ears, please.
A little off the sides.
I’m letting my sideburns grow.
I’d like a shave, please.
Trim my beard and mustache, please.
See what you can do with this head of hair. (informal)
Leave it long.
Tapered in the back.
Could you take a little more off the top?
Could you ≈ Will you, Would you please
Could you take a little more off in back?
Could you take a little more off the sides?
Sorry, you have to have an appointment.
Sit right down. No appointment necessary.
What would you like?
Are you going for a particular look?
Shampoo and rinse?
What color were you thinking about?
Step over to the dryers.
How does that look?
How’s that?
Would you like to schedule your next appointment?
When would you like your next appointment?
How much do you want me to take off?
Do you want it tapered in the back?
How much do you want cut off?
How much do you want off?
Shall I shave your outline?
Please turn your head to the right.
Look down.
Don’t move so much.
Hold still.
That will be nine dollars.
Nine dollars, please.
Twelve dollars, since this is the weekend.
What do I owe you?
How much do I owe you?
How much is it?
Everything looks very nice.
Everything is clean.
Everything is fine.
The kitchen looks lovely.
(It) looks good.
(It) looks great!
You do such nice work.
There are cobwebs in the corners.
You need to dust more carefully.
There is lint up next to the wall.
The bathtub needs scrubbing.
Please vacuum and dust the whole house.
Please wash the floors.
Please scrub the floors.
Do not use abrasive cleanser on the bathroom sink.
Please wax the kitchen floor.
Make sure the drapes hang straight when you finish.
Make sure you vacuum the throw rugs.
Is everything all right?
I hope everything is satisfactory.
I need more cleaner.
I need more furniture polish.
I need more plastic garbage bags.
It looks very nice.
The lawn looks lovely.
Everything is fine.
The place looks good enough to live in. (jocular)
The place looks nice enough to live in. (jocular)
You did a good job.
Please water the grass.
The grass needs to be cut shorter.
Do not cut the grass so short.
Sweep the clippings from the driveway.
Place the clippings in the plastic bags.
Place the clippings in the large paper bags.
Place the bags at the curb.
Please trim more carefully.
The shrubbery needs trimming.
Please edge around the shrubbery.
Please edge the sidewalks and driveway.
Do not damage the base of the trees with the mower.
Be careful around the rosebushes.
We are going to have to do something about these weeds.
You need to spray the weeds.
It is time to fertilize the lawn.
Please spread fertilizer on the lawn.
Should I trim the bushes this time?
How do things look?
Do you want me to edge?
Do you want me to fertilize?
Shall I treat the lawn for weeds?