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Lesson 98 of 240

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Rent a Divvy bike in English

Ana needs a Divvy bike on the boulevard. Danny is at his food truck. Murray is there too, with his Ventra card.

You will ask how to unlock a Divvy, say the bike will not unlock, and say the dock is full.

You will also ask how to return it, ask if a dock is nearby, and say this one has no battery.

A Divvy is a Chicago bike you rent. You unlock it with the app, not a Ventra card.

By the end of this lesson

Rent a Divvy bike, find a dock, and fix a problem.

  • How do I unlock a Divvy?Ask how to open the lock on a Chicago bike-share bike.
  • The bike won't unlock.You cannot open the lock on this bike.
  • The dock is full.There is no empty space to put the bike back.
  • How do I return it?Ask how to put the bike back in the dock.
  • Is there a dock nearby?Ask if a return station is close.
  • This one has no battery.This electric bike has no power left.

Scene — the dock on the boulevard

Same afternoon on the boulevard. Ana stands at a Divvy dock near Danny's food truck.

The bikes sit in a row. One screen is dark. Murray holds his Ventra card on the cord.

Danny leans out the service window with a dish towel on his shoulder.

Ana gets Danny’s attention at the bike dock while Murray sits nearby with a transit card.

Learn — unlock and return a Divvy

Six short lines cover unlock, return, a full dock, and a bike with no battery.

You'll ask for help and name the problem.

  1. Ana asks Danny how to open the locked bike while he gestures toward her phone.

    How do I unlock a Divvy?

    Ask how to open the lock on a Chicago bike-share bike.

    When to use it: Ask this when you need to take a Divvy bike.

    A Divvy is a Chicago bike you rent from a dock.

    Say it: Stress the first part of Divvy.

  2. Murray holds his transit card to the locked bike, whose screen is dark.

    The bike won't unlock.

    You cannot open the lock on this bike.

    When to use it: Say this when the lock will not open.

    Won't is will not, said as one piece.

    Say it: The n in won't is strong.

  3. Danny looks toward the fully occupied dock with no space left for another bike.

    The dock is full.

    There is no empty space to put the bike back.

    When to use it: Say this when there is no empty space.

    A dock is the station where Divvy bikes sit.

  4. Ana looks over the full dock while standing with a bike and searching for a place to return it.

    How do I return it?

    Ask how to put the bike back in the dock.

    When to use it: Ask this when you want to put the bike back.

    Return it means put the bike back in a dock.

  5. Ana asks whether another return station is close, and Danny points down the boulevard.

    Is there a dock nearby?

    Ask if a return station is close.

    When to use it: Ask this when you need a closer return station.

    Nearby means close, a short walk from here.

  6. Ana asks how to return the bike as Danny gestures toward the dock’s locking point.

    This one has no battery.

    This electric bike has no power left.

    When to use it: Say this about an electric bike with no power.

    Some Divvy bikes are electric and need a battery.

    Say it: Stress the first part of battery.

Story — the lock will not open

Watch Ana at the Divvy dock. The bike will not open, and Murray holds the wrong card.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Ana stands at the Divvy dock by the boulevard. Danny leans from the truck.
  2. AnaExcuse me. How do I unlock a Divvy?She gets his attention, then asks how to open the lock.
  3. DannyOpen the app. Not a card.Use your phone. A Ventra card will not open it.
  4. Murray holds up his Ventra card anyway.
  5. MurrayWell, I was just in the neighborhood.He says he was already close by.
  6. AnaThe bike won't unlock. Where is the key?The lock will not open, and she looks for a key.
  7. DannyNo key. Use the app.You do not need a key. Use your phone.
  8. AnaThis one has no battery.This electric bike has no power left.
  9. DannyThe dock is full over there!That return station has no empty space.
  10. AnaFull like a plate?She thinks full means food, not bikes.
  11. DannyThe dock is full. Not lunch.He tells her the dock has no empty space.
  12. AnaIs there a dock nearby?Ask if a return station is close.
  13. DannyYeah, by the diner.There is a station next to the Blue Plate.
  14. AnaHow do I return it?Ask how to put the bike back in the dock.
  15. DannyPush it in till it clicks.Put the bike in the dock until it locks.
  16. AnaThanks.a short, casual thank you

Practice — full dock or no battery

Ten quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay short, so the round moves fast.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What does it mean?

    The bike won't unlock.

  3. What do you say?

    You ride up to return your Divvy. Every space already has a bike.

  4. Fill the gap

    Ask how to put the bike back in the dock.

    How do I ____ it?

  5. Build the line

    Ask if a return station is close.

    ?

    Tap the words in order.

  6. Pick the reply

    Danny says:

    The lock opened. Why isn't the motor helping?

    The lock opened. He asks why the motor is not helping.

    And you reply with:

  7. Match the pairs

    English

    How do I unlock a Divvy?Drop the Simple English here
    The bike won't unlock.Drop the Simple English here
    The dock is full.Drop the Simple English here
    This one has no battery.Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

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

  8. Swap the word

    You want to put the bike back. Every space already has a bike.

    The dock is ____.

  9. What do you say?

    You need Danny's help at the dock. Get his attention first.

  10. Pick the reply

    Danny says:

    Push it in till it clicks.

    He tells you how to put the bike back.

    And you reply with:

Say it — say it at the dock

Now you're Ana at the Divvy dock. 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. DannyNeed a bike?He asks if you want to rent a bike.
  2. Ana (you)Ask how to open the lock on this Chicago bike.

    How do I unlock a Divvy?

    Ask how to open the lock on a Chicago bike-share bike.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
How do I unlock a Divvy?Ask how to open the lock on a Chicago bike-share bike.
The bike won't unlock.You cannot open the lock on this bike.
The dock is full.There is no empty space to put the bike back.
How do I return it?Ask how to put the bike back in the dock.
Is there a dock nearby?Ask if a return station is close.
This one has no battery.This electric bike has no power left.
Next: lesson 99Taking Amtrak

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

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

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps these Divvy lines ready for the dock.

Open Yak Cards