New here? This is lesson 18 of a free 240-lesson English course.
Tickets, books, people, pets in English
Ana is at the library on Larch Street. Tasha meets her there. They want two tickets for a talk.
Murray comes too and sits on two chairs. Two children read on a rug, and a cat sleeps by the shelves.
By the end, you'll ask for two tickets, count people and children, and name one cat.
You'll also say a few and a lot of books, in short lines you can use at a desk.
By the end of this lesson
Ask for two tickets, and count people, children, a cat, and books.
- Two tickets, please.I want tickets for two.
- Three people.There are three of us.
- Two children.two young people
- One cat.one pet cat
- A few.a small number; not many
- A lot of books.many books
Scene — the library desk
Same week in Logan Square. Ana and Tasha walk into the library branch. A clerk waits at the desk with a stack of talk tickets.
Murray follows and sits on two chairs at once. Two children read on a rug. A cat sleeps by the shelves. The room is full of books.
Learn — tickets, people, pets
Six short lines help you count tickets, people, children, and a cat.
You'll also learn a few and a lot of books.
Two tickets, please.
I want tickets for two.
When to use it: Say this when you want tickets for two.
Learn it as one piece at a desk.
Say it: Tickets ends with a light s.
Three people.
There are three of us.
When to use it: Say this when there are three of you.
Learn it as one piece for a group.
Say it: Three starts with the th sound.
Two children.
two young people
When to use it: Say this when you mean two kids.
Learn it as one piece for two kids.
Say it: Stress the first part of children.
One cat.
one pet cat
When to use it: Say this when you mean one pet cat.
Learn it as one piece for one pet.
A few.
a small number; not many
When to use it: Say this when the number is small.
Learn it as one piece for a small number.
A lot of books.
many books
When to use it: Say this when you see many books.
Learn it as one piece for many books.
Say it: Of can sound weak, like uh.
Story — two chairs
Watch Ana ask for two tickets at the library desk. The clerk checks the group, the kids, and the cat.
The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.
- Tasha stands with Ana. She already holds a ticket.
- ClerkHi.a friendly hello
AnaTwo tickets, please.I want tickets for two.- ClerkThree people?He asks if there are three of you.
- AnaThree people.There are three of us.
- Murray holds up two hooves. He already took two chairs.
- Two children sit on a rug by the shelves.
- ClerkTwo children?He asks if you see two kids.
- AnaTwo children.two young people
- A pet cat sleeps on a chair.
- ClerkIs that a cat?He asks if the animal is a cat.
- AnaOne cat.one pet cat
- The clerk looks at the empty chairs.
MurrayA few.a small number; not many- ClerkHave a seat.please sit down
- MurrayA lot of books.many books
- AnaThank you.you say this when someone helps you
Practice — count them
Eleven quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.
They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.
0 of 12 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
English
Three people.Drop the Simple English hereTwo children.Drop the Simple English hereOne cat.Drop the Simple English hereA few.Drop the Simple English hereSimple English
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
A lot of books.
What do you say?
What do you say?
Greet the clerk as you arrive, before you ask for anything.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
many books
A lot of ____.
Build the line
Build the line
I want tickets for two.
, .
Tap the words in order.
Pick the reply
Clerk says:
Pick the reply
How many tickets do you need?
The clerk asks for the number of tickets.
And you reply with:
Swap the word
Swap the word
Someone asks how many of you there are. There are three.
____ people.
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
True or false?
True or false?
This line means a very large number.
What do you say?
What do you say?
Someone stands by an empty chair. You want them to sit.
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Say it — say the numbers
Now you're Ana at the library desk. 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.
- ClerkHi.a friendly hello
- Ana (you)Ask for tickets for two.
Ask for tickets for two.
Two tickets, please.
I want tickets for two.
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| English | Simple English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| Two tickets, please. | I want tickets for two. | |
| Three people. | There are three of us. | |
| Two children. | two young people | |
| One cat. | one pet cat | |
| A few. | a small number; not many | |
| A lot of books. | many books |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Want to keep these counts handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.
A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your counts ready for the desk.
Open Yak Cards