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Lesson 80 of 240

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Sharing a table in English

Saturday brunch at the Blue Plate is packed. Ana looks for a seat, but Murray is already using two stools at the counter.

Tasha is still on her way. Ana needs to ask if a seat is free, if they can join, and who is still coming.

You will also say when everyone is here, offer to share a table, and ask to pull up a chair.

By the end of this lesson

Ask to sit with others and say who is still coming.

  • Is anyone sitting here?Is this seat free?
  • Do you mind if we join you?Can we sit at your table too?
  • We're waiting on one more.Another person in our group is still coming.
  • I think that's everyone.All of our people are here now.
  • We can share a table.We can sit together at this table.
  • Can we pull up a chair?May we add one more seat at this table?

Scene — brunch is packed

It is Saturday brunch at the Blue Plate. Every booth is full, and a line waits at the door.

Ana stands by the last stools at the counter. Murray sits on two of them, with eggs and coffee.

Tasha is not there yet. Dee holds the coffee pot and watches the door.

A busy Saturday brunch fills the Blue Plate as Ana waits by the last counter stools, Murray occupies two stools, and Dee watches the entrance with a coffee pot.

Learn — ask to sit

Six lines help you ask for a seat and say who is still coming.

You will also say when the group is here and offer to share a table.

  1. Ana rests one hand on the extra stool beside Murray and checks whether she may use it.

    Is anyone sitting here?

    Is this seat free?

    When to use it: Ask this before you sit at a seat that looks free.

    Sitting is the -ing form here.

    Say it: The stress is on sit in sitting.

  2. Ana leans toward Murray with open palms, asking if she and her group can join him.

    Do you mind if we join you?

    Can we sit at your table too?

    When to use it: Ask this politely before you sit at someone's table.

    Learn Do you mind if as one polite piece.

  3. Ana gestures toward the entrance as she explains that another person in her group is still coming.

    We're waiting on one more.

    Another person in our group is still coming.

    When to use it: Say this when one person in your group is still coming.

    Waiting on one more means one person is still coming.

    Say it: We're sounds short, like one word.

  4. Tasha arrives in the doorway and waves toward Ana and Murray at the counter.

    I think that's everyone.

    All of our people are here now.

    When to use it: Say this when all of your people have arrived.

    That's is that is as one piece.

    Say it: That's starts with th, like that.

  5. Dee opens a welcoming hand toward Ana and Murray, offering space at their shared counter table.

    We can share a table.

    We can sit together at this table.

    When to use it: Offer this when a table has extra room.

    Share a table means sit together, not share food.

  6. Tasha pulls a wooden chair toward the counter where Ana stands and Murray sits.

    Can we pull up a chair?

    May we add one more seat at this table?

    When to use it: Ask this when you need one more seat at a table.

    Pull up a chair means add a seat, not lift it high.

    Say it: Pull and up can link.

Story — two stools

Watch Ana ask for a seat at the packed counter. Murray is on two stools, and Tasha is still on her way.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Saturday brunch is loud. A line waits at the door.
  2. DeeHi, hon. It's packed today.a friendly hello, and the diner is very full
  3. Ana looks at the last stools. Murray sits on two of them.
  4. AnaExcuse me. Is anyone sitting here?She gets his attention and asks if the seat is free.
  5. MurrayWell, these two are mine.He needs two seats because he is a yak.
  6. DeeWe can share a table.We can sit together at this table.
  7. AnaDo we share the eggs too?She thinks share a table means share the food.
  8. DeeThe table, hon. Not the food.They sit together. They do not split the plate.
  9. AnaDo you mind if we join you?Can we sit at your table too?
  10. MurrayHave a seat.please sit down
  11. AnaWe're waiting on one more.Another person in our group is still coming.
  12. Murray looks at Dee, then at the coffee pot.
  13. DeeShe's a friend, hon. Not a waiter.Waiting on one more means a friend is still coming.
  14. The door opens. Tasha waves from the line.
  15. TashaHi. Can we pull up a chair?a friendly hello, then she asks to add one more seat
  16. DeePull it over, sweetie.Yes, you can add a chair.
  17. AnaI think that's everyone.All of our people are here now.
  18. MurrayWell, good. My coffee is still here.He is glad, and his coffee is not finished.

Practice — join or wait

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

They stay short, so the round moves fast.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    Is anyone sitting here?Drop the Simple English here
    Do you mind if we join you?Drop the Simple English here
    We can share a table.Drop the Simple English here
    Can we pull up a chair?Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

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

  3. What do you say?

    Murray is already eating at a table with extra room. Ask politely to sit with him.

  4. What does it mean?

    We're waiting on one more.

  5. Fill the gap

    We can sit together at this table.

    We can ____ a table.

  6. Build the line

    May we add one more seat at this table?

    ?

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Pick the reply

    Dee says:

    Tasha just sat down. That's your last friend, right?

    She asks if all of your people are here now.

    And you reply with:

  8. Swap the word

    The diner is full. Offer to sit together at this table.

    We can share a ____.

  9. What do you say?

    A guest is standing by the stools. You want them to sit down.

  10. True or false?

    This is a way to say thank you.

  11. Which one doesn’t belong?

Say it — say it at brunch

Now you're Ana at Saturday brunch. The diner is packed. 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. DeeHi, hon.a friendly hello
  2. Ana (you)Ask if this seat is free.

    Is anyone sitting here?

    Is this seat free?

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
Is anyone sitting here?Is this seat free?
Do you mind if we join you?Can we sit at your table too?
We're waiting on one more.Another person in our group is still coming.
I think that's everyone.All of our people are here now.
We can share a table.We can sit together at this table.
Can we pull up a chair?May we add one more seat at this table?
Next: lesson 81Getting a table

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

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

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your seat lines ready for a packed diner.

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