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Lesson 135 of 240

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The food truck in English

Ana stops at Danny's food truck on the boulevard. She wants lunch, but she does not know the food yet.

She asks what Danny recommends. Then she asks what is in the sandwich.

You will ask for a hot dog, skip one thing in the food, and check if it is spicy.

You will also ask what else the truck has.

By the end of this lesson

Order food at a truck, ask what is in it, and skip one thing.

  • What do you recommend?Which food here should I get?
  • What's in it?What foods were used to make this?
  • Can I get it without ___?Please make this and leave that ingredient out.
  • I'll take a hot dog.I want one hot dog, please.
  • Is it spicy?Does this food have a hot taste?
  • What else do you have?Please tell me the other foods you sell.

Scene — the window is open

Same boulevard near Larch Street. Danny's food truck is parked by the sidewalk. The service window is open.

Ana stands in a small line with her teal tote. Murray waits behind her on the pavement.

Danny has a dish towel on one shoulder. The folded menu board shows no writing.

Danny’s truck is parked by the boulevard sidewalk as Ana joins the short line and Murray waits behind her.

Learn — order at the truck

Six short lines help you order at a food truck.

You will ask what is in the food and skip one thing if you need to.

  1. Ana opens her palms toward Danny as she asks which food she should get.

    What do you recommend?

    Which food here should I get?

    When to use it: Ask this when you do not know what to order.

    They will name a food they think is a good choice.

    Say it: The stress is on mend.

  2. Ana points to the sandwich in a paper tray while Danny indicates its ingredients.

    What's in it?

    What foods were used to make this?

    When to use it: Ask this to learn the foods inside a dish.

    What's is one piece, a short form of What is.

    Say it: What's and in can link.

  3. Ana gestures to leave out the peppers as Danny prepares the sandwich.

    Can I get it without ___?

    Please make this and leave that ingredient out.

    When to use it: Use this to leave one food out of your order.

    Name the food you do not want after without.

  4. Murray points toward a hot dog as he places his order with Danny.

    I'll take a hot dog.

    I want one hot dog, please.

    When to use it: Say this to order one hot dog at a truck.

    I'll is one piece, a short form of I will.

    Say it: I'll sounds like one short word.

  5. Ana considers a small cup of red sauce while asking whether the food tastes hot.

    Is it spicy?

    Does this food have a hot taste?

    When to use it: Ask this if you worry the food will taste hot.

    Spicy means the food has a hot taste.

  6. Danny lifts a pan lid to show Murray other foods available from the truck.

    What else do you have?

    Please tell me the other foods you sell.

    When to use it: Ask this when you want more food choices.

    Else means other things, not the first one you heard.

Story — the usual

Watch Ana order at Danny's food truck. She asks what is in the sandwich, then Murray wants two.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Danny's truck sits on the boulevard. A short line waits on the sidewalk.
  2. DannyHey. You look hungry.He greets her and thinks she wants food.
  3. AnaWhat do you recommend?Which food here should I get?
  4. DannyThe sandwich. That's the usual.He names the sandwich most people get.
  5. AnaWhat's in it? The truck?She asks what foods are in it, then names the truck.
  6. DannyBeef and peppers. Not the truck.He names the foods and kindly fixes her mix-up.
  7. AnaIs it spicy?Does this food have a hot taste?
  8. DannyA little. I can skip the peppers.It has a little heat, and he can leave the peppers out.
  9. AnaCan I get it without peppers?Please make this and leave that ingredient out.
  10. DannySure. For here or to go?He says yes, then asks if she will eat here or take it out.
  11. AnaTo go, please.Put it in a bag; I will take it out.
  12. Murray steps closer. His Ventra card hangs on a cord.
  13. MurrayWhat else do you have?Please tell me the other foods you sell.
  14. DannyHot dogs. You always get two.He names hot dogs and remembers Murray's usual order.
  15. MurrayI'll take a hot dog. Two, I mean.He orders a hot dog, then says he wants two.

Practice — peppers or not

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. Match the pairs

    English

    What do you recommend?Drop the Simple English here
    What's in it?Drop the Simple English here
    Is it spicy?Drop the Simple English here
    What else do you have?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?

    You are at the truck window. Place the order for one hot dog.

  4. What does it mean?

    What do you recommend?

  5. What do you say?

    You want the sandwich, but you do not want peppers in it.

  6. Pick the reply

    Danny says:

    It's beef and peppers.

    He names the foods in the sandwich.

    And you reply with:

  7. Build the line

    Please tell me the other foods you sell.

    ?

    Tap the words in order.

  8. What do you say?

    Danny asks if you will eat here or take the food with you. You will take it away.

  9. True or false?

    This line asks if you will eat here or take the food away.

  10. Pick the reply

    Danny says:

    Hot dog. What can I get you?

    He names a hot dog and is ready for your order.

    And you reply with:

Say it — say your order

Now you're Ana at the food truck window. 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. DannyHey. You look hungry.He greets you and thinks you want food.
  2. Ana (you)Ask which food you should get.

    What do you recommend?

    Which food here should I get?

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
What do you recommend?Which food here should I get?
What's in it?What foods were used to make this?
Can I get it without ___?Please make this and leave that ingredient out.
I'll take a hot dog.I want one hot dog, please.
Is it spicy?Does this food have a hot taste?
What else do you have?Please tell me the other foods you sell.
Next: lesson 136Fruit and bargaining

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

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A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your food-truck lines ready.

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