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Lesson 111 of 240

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Making an appointment in English

Ana calls the clinic across the street. She needs a time to see Dr. Okafor.

Thursday is full. She asks which times are free, then she takes Friday.

Later, at the Blue Plate, Murray says Thursday was better. His coffee is still not finished.

You will book a visit, ask for free times, pick one, and check the day and time.

By the end of this lesson

Make an appointment and ask which times are free.

  • I'd like to make an appointment.You want to book a time to see the doctor.
  • Do you have any openings on ___?Ask if that day still has a free time.
  • What times are available?Ask which hours you can book.
  • I'll take ___, please.You choose this time.
  • Can you confirm the date and time?Ask them to repeat the booking so it is sure.
  • I'm available on Friday.Friday is a day you can come.

Scene — a call to the clinic

Ana is in her second-floor apartment on Larch Street. She sits by the window and calls the clinic across the street.

At the desk, a staff member picks up. Later, Ana walks to the Blue Plate. Dee has the coffee pot. Murray sits on two stools, and his cup is still full.

Ana sits by her apartment window, calling the clinic across the street.

Learn — book a time

Six short lines help you book a visit. You ask for a free day, pick a time, and check it.

You also say which day you can come.

  1. Ana gestures with her free hand as she asks to book a visit.

    I'd like to make an appointment.

    You want to book a time to see the doctor.

    When to use it: Say this first when you call to book a visit.

    Learn I'd like as one piece, with I'd as a contraction.

    Say it: The stress is on the second syllable of appointment.

  2. Ana holds the phone beside a blank planner while checking whether Thursday has an open time.

    Do you have any openings on ___?

    Ask if that day still has a free time.

    When to use it: Use this to ask if that day still has a free time.

    Openings here means free times on that day.

  3. Ana looks toward the clinic as she considers the explanation that Thursday has no free times.

    What times are available?

    Ask which hours you can book.

    When to use it: Ask this when you want the free hours for that day.

    Available here means those hours are still free to book.

    Say it: The stress in available is on the second part.

  4. Ana taps the table as she chooses one of the offered Friday appointment hours.

    I'll take ___, please.

    You choose this time.

    When to use it: Say this when you pick one of the times they offer.

    Learn I'll take as one piece, with I'll as a contraction.

  5. Ana asks for the appointment day and hour to be repeated so she can be sure of the booking.

    Can you confirm the date and time?

    Ask them to repeat the booking so it is sure.

    When to use it: Ask this before you hang up, so the booking is sure.

    Confirm means they say the day and time again.

    Say it: The stress in confirm is on the second part.

  6. Ana holds an open palm toward the street as she offers Friday as a day she can come.

    I'm available on Friday.

    Friday is a day you can come.

    When to use it: Say this when Friday is a day you can come.

    Learn I'm available as one piece, with I'm as a contraction.

Story — thursday is full

Watch Ana call the clinic to book a visit with the doctor. Thursday is full, so she takes Friday instead.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Ana sits by the window and calls the clinic across the street.
  2. StaffClinic, good morning.hello before noon
  3. AnaHello. I'd like to make an appointment.a polite hello, then she asks to book a visit
  4. StaffSure. What day works for you?She asks which day Ana wants.
  5. AnaDo you have any openings on Thursday?She asks if Thursday still has a free time.
  6. StaffThursday is full.That day has no free times.
  7. AnaI can wait in the hall.She thinks the clinic rooms are too crowded.
  8. StaffNo free times, I mean. Not a full room.She means the day has no times, not a crowded hall.
  9. AnaI'm available on Friday. What times are available?Friday is a day she can come, then she asks which hours she can book.
  10. StaffTen in the morning, or two.She offers two hours on Friday.
  11. AnaI'll take ten, please. Can you confirm the date and time?She picks ten, then asks them to say the day and hour again.
  12. StaffFriday at ten. You're all set.The booking is done for Friday at ten.
  13. AnaThank you.you say this when someone helps you
  14. Later, Dee refills Murray's coffee at the Blue Plate.
  15. DeeDid you get a time, hon?She asks if Ana booked a visit.
  16. AnaFriday at ten.She tells them the time she booked.
  17. MurrayThursday was better, you know.He thinks Thursday was the better day.

Practice — day and time

Eleven quick exercises wait here. You will listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line from the words.

They stay small, so the round moves fast.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What does it mean?

    Good morning.

  3. What do you say?

    You call the clinic. A staff member picks up and waits.

  4. What do you say?

    You want a visit on Thursday. Ask if that day still has a free time.

  5. Build the line

    Ask which hours you can book.

    ?

    Tap the words in order.

  6. Fill the gap

    You choose this time.

    I'll ____ ___, please.

  7. Pick the reply

    Staff says:

    Thursday is full.

    That day has no free times.

    And you reply with:

  8. Swap the word

    The staff just booked Friday at ten. You want the day and the hour said again.

    Can you confirm the date and ____?

  9. Match the pairs

    English

    I'd like to make an appointment.Drop the Simple English here
    Do you have any openings on ___?Drop the Simple English here
    What times are available?Drop the Simple English here
    Can you confirm the date and time?Drop the Simple English here
    I'm available on Friday.Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

    Drag a Simple English line onto its English, or tap one and then the other.

  10. Pick the reply

    Staff says:

    Friday at ten. You're all set.

    The booking is done. The time is set.

    And you reply with:

  11. True or false?

    You say this when you want to cancel a visit.

Say it — say it back

Now you're Ana on the phone with the clinic. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. StaffClinic, good morning. How can I help you?hello before noon, then she asks how she can help
  2. Ana (you)Ask to book a time with the doctor.

    I'd like to make an appointment.

    You want to book a time to see the doctor.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
I'd like to make an appointment.You want to book a time to see the doctor.
Do you have any openings on ___?Ask if that day still has a free time.
What times are available?Ask which hours you can book.
I'll take ___, please.You choose this time.
Can you confirm the date and time?Ask them to repeat the booking so it is sure.
I'm available on Friday.Friday is a day you can come.
Next: lesson 112Change or check an appointment

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these booking lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your booking lines ready for the phone.

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