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Lesson 144 of 240

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The lost umbrella in English

Ana left a black umbrella on the Blue Line. At the station, she has to describe it and ask at lost and found.

Murray walks with her. He is sure the umbrella will turn up, like everything does.

You will say where you left it, what it looks like, and how staff can call you.

Leave a number. Ask them to call if it turns up.

By the end of this lesson

Describe a lost item and ask at lost and found.

  • I left my umbrella on the L.I forgot my umbrella on the train.
  • It's a long black one.The umbrella is black and long.
  • Where is lost and found?Where do people take things they find?
  • Has anyone turned it in?Did someone bring it here?
  • I'll leave my number.You can call me if you find it.
  • If it turns up, can you call me?If you find it, please phone me.

Scene — rain on the platform

Rain starts as Ana and Murray step off the Blue Line at Logan Square. Ana's hands are empty. Her long black umbrella is still on the train.

A staff person stands near the stairs. Lost and found is downstairs. Murray is sure the umbrella will turn up.

Ana and Murray step off the train onto the rainy Logan Square platform as a staff member waits near the stairs.

Learn — a lost umbrella

Six lines help you talk about a lost umbrella. You describe it and ask at lost and found.

You also leave a number, so they can call you.

  1. Ana turns back toward the open train doors, realizing her umbrella is missing, while Murray waits behind her.

    I left my umbrella on the L.

    I forgot my umbrella on the train.

    When to use it: Say this when you forgot something on the train.

    Left here means you did not take it with you when you got off.

    Say it: The stress is on the middle of umbrella.

  2. Ana holds her empty hands apart as her long black umbrella remains on a train seat.

    It's a long black one.

    The umbrella is black and long.

    When to use it: Use this to say the color and the length.

    One stands for the umbrella, so you do not repeat the word.

  3. Ana gestures toward the stairs while asking the station staff member where lost things are taken, with Murray beside her.

    Where is lost and found?

    Where do people take things they find?

    When to use it: Ask this at a station when you lost something.

    Learn lost and found as one piece for the office name.

  4. Ana opens one empty palm toward the staff member near the platform stairs.

    Has anyone turned it in?

    Did someone bring it here?

    When to use it: Ask if someone already brought the lost thing.

    Turned it in means someone brought the thing to this desk.

  5. At the downstairs lost-and-found counter, Ana offers a plain slip of paper to the staff member.

    I'll leave my number.

    You can call me if you find it.

    When to use it: Say this so they can phone you later.

    I'll is a contraction, so learn it as one piece.

  6. Ana asks the lost-and-found staff member to phone her if the umbrella is found, while Murray waits beside her.

    If it turns up, can you call me?

    If you find it, please phone me.

    When to use it: Ask them to phone you if they find it.

    Turns up means they find it, and you will hear it a lot.

Story — it will turn up

Watch Ana at the station. She left her umbrella on the train, and she needs lost and found.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Rain hits the Logan Square platform. Ana's hands are empty.
  2. AnaI always take the Blue Line.I take that train every time.
  3. AnaI left my umbrella on the L.I forgot my umbrella on the train.
  4. MurrayDon't worry. It will turn up.He says the small problem is fine, and it will be found.
  5. They walk to a staff person near the stairs.
  6. AnaExcuse me. Where is lost and found?She gets their attention, then asks where people take lost things.
  7. StaffDownstairs, next to the ticket booth.The office is down the stairs, by the tickets.
  8. Ana and Murray go downstairs to the lost-and-found desk. Another staff person waits there.
  9. AnaIt's a long black one.The umbrella is black and long.
  10. StaffOkay. I can look for that.They will search for a long black umbrella.
  11. AnaHas anyone turned it in?Did someone bring it here?
  12. StaffNot yet. You can leave a number.Nobody brought it, and you may give a phone number.
  13. AnaI'll leave my number.You can call me if you find it.
  14. AnaI wrote my number down.She writes the number and gives it to staff.
  15. StaffIf it turns up, we'll call.If they find it, they will phone you.
  16. AnaTurns up? Will it stand up?She thinks the words mean the umbrella will stand.
  17. StaffNo. If we find it, we call.Kind short words: they will phone if they find it.
  18. AnaIf it turns up, can you call me?If you find it, please phone me.
  19. MurrayWell, it'll turn up, like everything does.He is sure the umbrella will be found, as usual.

Practice — leave your number

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

    I left my umbrella on the L.Drop the Simple English here
    It's a long black one.Drop the Simple English here
    Where is lost and found?Drop the Simple English here
    Has anyone turned it in?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?

    Staff at lost and found asks what your umbrella looks like.

  4. What does it mean?

    Where is lost and found?

  5. Pick the reply

    Staff says:

    The morning shift just put things in the box.

    Staff just added new lost things.

    And you reply with:

  6. Build the line

    You can call me if you find it.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Fill the gap

    If you find it, please phone me.

    If it turns ____, can you call me?

  8. Swap the word

    Tell the lost-and-found staff the umbrella's color and length.

    It's a long ____ one.

  9. True or false?

    Ana takes this train every time.

  10. What do you say?

    You need a staff person to look at you on the platform.

  11. True or false?

    This line tells someone to worry more.

Say it — ask at the desk

Now you're Ana at the station. 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. Ana (you)Get their attention in a polite way.

    Excuse me.

    you say this to get someone's attention

0 of 7 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
I left my umbrella on the L.I forgot my umbrella on the train.
It's a long black one.The umbrella is black and long.
Where is lost and found?Where do people take things they find?
Has anyone turned it in?Did someone bring it here?
I'll leave my number.You can call me if you find it.
If it turns up, can you call me?If you find it, please phone me.
Next: lesson 145A birthday at the diner

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