Part 2 vocabulary: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation

A paper proving you paid for something.

CELPIP tip Very common in store and service conversations.

An arranged meeting at a set time.

CELPIP tip Listen for dates and times.

An arrangement to keep a table, room or seat.

CELPIP tip Common in restaurant and hotel conversations.

A reduction in price.

CELPIP tip Numbers like percentages are often tested.

Money paid in advance as security.

CELPIP tip Common in rental and booking situations.

A person who rents property to others.

CELPIP tip Housing topics appear often in Part 2.

A bill listing goods or services and their cost.

CELPIP tip Listen for amounts and due dates.

A request for payment.

CELPIP tip Billing mistakes are common problems. Listen for the amount and why it is wrong.

The amount of money owed or remaining.

CELPIP tip Numbers are often tested.

Regular payment for a service.

CELPIP tip Often the topic of a call: cancelling, renewing or changing a plan.

Being a member of a club or group.

CELPIP tip Listen for expiry dates.

A rental contract.

CELPIP tip A rental contract. Listen for dates and conditions such as notice or length.

Money paid to live in a property.

CELPIP tip Listen for amounts and due dates, which are often tested.

A person who rents a home.

CELPIP tip Identify the roles of speakers.

Repairs and upkeep.

CELPIP tip Repairs and upkeep. Often the reason a tenant calls a landlord.

A hole where liquid escapes.

CELPIP tip A common housing problem. Listen for where it is and who will fix it.

A household machine.

CELPIP tip Housing and shopping topics.

Someone who lives nearby.

CELPIP tip Often part of a conflict, such as noise or parking. Listen for the request.

A doctor's order for medicine.

CELPIP tip A doctor's order for medicine. Listen for refill dates and pharmacy details.

A store selling medicine.

CELPIP tip Locations are often tested.

A place for medical care.

CELPIP tip Where a medical appointment is. Listen for the time and place.

A sign of illness.

CELPIP tip A sign of illness. Questions may ask why the person called the clinic.

A routine medical exam.

CELPIP tip A routine medical exam. Often the reason for booking an appointment.

A person who greets visitors and books appointments.

CELPIP tip Helps you identify who is speaking, which questions often ask.

Help given to customers.

CELPIP tip Tells you the setting: a customer is calling about a problem.

Bringing goods to a place.

CELPIP tip Dates and times are tested.

A parcel.

CELPIP tip Lost or late packages are common problems. Listen for the tracking details.

A request to buy something.

CELPIP tip Listen for what was ordered and what went wrong with it.

A code to follow a shipment.

CELPIP tip Listen for details given.

Credit to spend at the same store instead of a refund.

CELPIP tip Credit to spend at the same store instead of a refund. Do not confuse the two.

A set of rules.

CELPIP tip Conditions are often tested.

A charge for a service.

CELPIP tip Listen for the exact amount and what it is for: both are tested.

A plan of times.

CELPIP tip Times and days are often tested. Write them down as you hear them.

A period of work.

CELPIP tip A period of work. Listen for which shift someone takes or swaps.

Someone who looks after children.

CELPIP tip Common in family plans. Listen for who will look after the children.

Sharing a car ride with others.

CELPIP tip Sharing rides. Listen for who drives and when.

A short trip to do a task.

CELPIP tip A short trip to do a task. Listen for what the errand is.

Improving a building.

CELPIP tip Home improvement. Listen for cost, timing and problems.

An approximate price.

CELPIP tip An approximate price. Compare it with the final price if both are mentioned.

A price offered for a job.

CELPIP tip A price offered for a job. Speakers often compare quotes, so keep them apart.

A person hired to do building work.

CELPIP tip Someone hired for building work. Listen for problems with their work or price.

A meal where each guest brings food.

CELPIP tip A meal where each guest brings food. Listen for who brings what.

Extra time allowed after a deadline without penalty.

CELPIP tip Questions about deadlines often hinge on this extra time.

Legal responsibility for something, especially damage or cost.

CELPIP tip Decides who pays when something breaks; a common question target.

To change the time of a planned event.

CELPIP tip Track the final agreed time carefully.

To decide that a planned event won't happen.

CELPIP tip Listen for cancellation fees or conditions.

To give back a purchase.

CELPIP tip Taking back a purchase. Listen for why and whether it is allowed.

To ask for payment.

CELPIP tip Often a problem, such as an extra or wrong charge on a bill.

To take something temporarily.

CELPIP tip Don't confuse with 'lend'.

To give something temporarily.

CELPIP tip The opposite of "borrow": the lender gives. Keep track of who gives what to whom.

To reserve.

CELPIP tip Here it means to reserve. Listen for the date and time booked.

To make sure something is arranged.

CELPIP tip Often the purpose of a call. Listen for what is being confirmed.

To put a new thing in place of an old one.

CELPIP tip Often the solution: replacing a faulty item. Contrast with a refund.

To extend a contract or membership.

CELPIP tip Extending a membership or contract. Deadlines are often tested.

To say you're unhappy.

CELPIP tip Often the purpose of a call. Listen for the exact complaint.

To charge only for the part of a period that was used.

CELPIP tip Common in billing conversations; listen for how much is actually paid.

To officially not require something, such as a fee.

CELPIP tip Sounds like "wave". Listen for whether the fee is actually charged.

To pay back money someone has spent.

CELPIP tip Listen for the conditions: who pays, when, and what proof is needed.

To deliver something or someone somewhere.

CELPIP tip Common in errands and plans.

To collect something or someone.

CELPIP tip Listen for who will pick up what, and when.

To register for something.

CELPIP tip Common in community centre conversations.

To complete a form.

CELPIP tip Often part of a process being explained.

To take care of.

CELPIP tip A common favour, such as looking after a pet or children.

To wait a moment.

CELPIP tip Means to wait a moment, common on the phone. Something is about to be checked.

To wait.

CELPIP tip Means to wait. On the phone, often before the speaker checks information.

To return a phone call.

CELPIP tip Means to return a call. Listen for when the call back will happen.

To start living somewhere.

CELPIP tip Means to start living somewhere. Listen for the move-in date.

To leave a home.

CELPIP tip Means to leave a home. Listen for dates and any deposit details.

To meet socially.

CELPIP tip Means to meet socially. Listen for the time and place they choose.

To talk about recent news.

CELPIP tip Means to talk about recent news. Common in social calls between friends.

To refuse; to lower volume.

CELPIP tip Two meanings: to refuse an offer, or to lower the volume. Use the context to choose.

To be behind schedule.

CELPIP tip Means to be behind schedule. Often the reason plans change.

To visit someone's home.

CELPIP tip Means to visit someone's home. Listen for when and why.

To visit briefly.

CELPIP tip Means to visit briefly and informally. Listen for when the visit happens.

To return borrowed money.

CELPIP tip Means to return borrowed money. Listen for how much and when.

To make tidy.

CELPIP tip A household task. Listen for who is responsible.

To help someone manage until they get more of something.

CELPIP tip Explains why someone is asking for a favour.

To get rid of someone with an excuse or something of poor quality.

CELPIP tip Shows the speaker is unhappy with how a business treated them.

Service staff ask this near the end of a conversation.

CELPIP tip Signals the conversation is wrapping up.

Used on the phone to make someone wait.

CELPIP tip Common in phone conversations.

Offer on the phone when someone is unavailable.

CELPIP tip Means the person called is unavailable. Listen for the message left.

States the reason for a call.

CELPIP tip Purpose of call is often tested.

Polite question.

CELPIP tip A polite way to ask for information. The answer is often tested.

I forgot.

CELPIP tip Often explains why a problem in the conversation happened.

With little warning or time to prepare.

CELPIP tip Often appears with favours, cancellations and schedule changes.

I am extremely busy.

CELPIP tip Explains a refusal or a schedule change.

It is free; the business is paying.

CELPIP tip An easy detail to miss in restaurant and service conversations.

Able to be used or obtained; free.

CELPIP tip Listen for which times or items are available.

Not working properly.

CELPIP tip Not working properly. Common in complaints about a purchase.

Harmed or broken.

CELPIP tip Harmed or broken. Listen for when the damage happened, which decides who pays.

Late; past the due date.

CELPIP tip Late, past the due date. Often about library books, bills or payments.

No spaces left.

CELPIP tip No spaces left. Usually forces a change of plan, which is often tested.

Suitable and easy.

CELPIP tip Suitable and easy. Listen for which time is convenient for each speaker.

Not able to be returned for money back.

CELPIP tip A key detail in questions about money and bookings.

Not in stock now and waiting for new supply.

CELPIP tip Explains delays in delivery or repair conversations.

Listing each item separately.

CELPIP tip A request for detail often signals that the speaker suspects a mistake.

It's okay; don't worry.

CELPIP tip Informal reassurance: the problem is not serious to the speaker.

Agrees to a suggestion.

CELPIP tip Signals agreement on time.

Thanks for a favour.

CELPIP tip Thanks for a favour. Shows one speaker helped the other.

Greeting after a long time apart.

CELPIP tip A greeting after a long time apart. Tells you the speakers know each other.

I'll accept your invitation another time.

CELPIP tip Means "no for now, but yes later". A favourite trick in questions.