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Lesson 154 of 240

New here? This is lesson 154 of a free 240-lesson English course.

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The meeting runs long in English

Ana is downtown at the architecture studio. Marcus called a meeting about the small library renovation.

The clock keeps moving. He hates long meetings, and Ana still needs the next Blue Line train home.

By the end, you'll say the meeting is behind, name what is left, skip ahead, and stop for today.

These lines keep a meeting short and clear.

By the end of this lesson

Move a meeting along and say what is left.

  • We're running a little behind.The meeting is taking longer than planned.
  • We still have two items left.We have not talked about two topics yet.
  • Can we skip ahead to the budget?Can we talk about the money next?
  • Let's come back to this later.We will talk about this again another time.
  • We're almost out of time.The meeting is nearly finished.
  • Let's stop here for today.Let's end the meeting now.

Scene — the clock keeps moving

The studio is quiet except for Marcus's meeting. Rolled drawings sit on the long desk. A blank whiteboard waits.

Ana checks the time. The next Blue Line train is not far off. Marcus wants the library plan in a few short points.

He does not like a meeting that runs long.

Ana and Marcus sit at the long desk with the library drawings as the meeting stretches on.

Learn — keep the meeting moving

Six lines help you move a meeting along.

You'll say you are behind, name what is left, skip ahead, and stop for today.

  1. Ana checks the time on her wristwatch during the long meeting.

    We're running a little behind.

    The meeting is taking longer than planned.

    When to use it: Say this when a meeting takes more time than you planned.

    Running behind means you are late on the plan.

    Say it: Behind has stress on the last part.

  2. Marcus gestures toward the two topics that still need attention.

    We still have two items left.

    We have not talked about two topics yet.

    When to use it: Say this to name how many topics are still waiting.

    Items here means topics on the list, not things in a bag.

  3. Ana slides an unmarked folder toward Marcus to bring up the money topic.

    Can we skip ahead to the budget?

    Can we talk about the money next?

    When to use it: Ask this when you want the next topic to be the money.

    Skip ahead means go to a later topic now.

    Say it: Skip and ahead can link.

  4. Marcus sets a color page aside to return to the money discussion another time.

    Let's come back to this later.

    We will talk about this again another time.

    When to use it: Say this when you will finish this topic another time.

    Let's is a short form of let us, said as one piece.

  5. Ana checks her phone for the next train and turns toward the studio exit.

    We're almost out of time.

    The meeting is nearly finished.

    When to use it: Say this near the end, when little time is left.

    Out of time means you have almost no minutes left.

    Say it: Out of can sound like one short piece.

  6. Marcus indicates that the meeting is nearly finished while Ana remains at the desk.

    Let's stop here for today.

    Let's end the meeting now.

    When to use it: Say this when it is time to end the meeting.

    Here means this point in the talk, not a place on a map.

Story — before the next train

Watch Ana help Marcus finish the library meeting before the next Blue Line train.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Afternoon at the studio. Marcus sets the library drawings on the long desk.
  2. MarcusWell, we're running a little behind.The meeting is taking longer than planned.
  3. AnaWe still have two items left.We have not talked about two topics yet.
  4. MarcusPaint colors, then the budget.He names the two topics still waiting.
  5. Ana looks at the clock, then at her tote bag.
  6. AnaCan we skip ahead to the budget?Can we talk about the money next?
  7. MarcusLet's come back to this later.We will talk about this again another time.
  8. He slides the color page away.
  9. MarcusSo, budget. Three sentences.He wants a very short money talk.
  10. Ana checks her phone for the next Blue Line train.
  11. AnaWhat time is it?Please tell me the clock time.
  12. MarcusIt's 5:20. We're almost out of time.He gives the clock time, then says the meeting is nearly finished.
  13. AnaI have to go. The Blue Line.She must leave now to catch that train.
  14. MarcusLet's stop here for today.Let's end the meeting now.
  15. AnaThank you.you say this when someone helps you

Practice — skip ahead or stop

Eleven short 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 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    We're running a little behind.Drop the Simple English here
    We still have two items left.Drop the Simple English here
    We're almost out of time.Drop the Simple English here
    Let's stop here for today.Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

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

  3. What does it mean?

    We still have two items left.

  4. What do you say?

    The meeting is on paint. You need the money talk next, before your train.

  5. Pick the reply

    Marcus says:

    Should we keep going through every paint color?

    He asks if you want to stay on the paint topic.

    And you reply with:

  6. Fill the gap

    The meeting is nearly finished.

    We're almost out ____ time.

  7. Build the line

    Let's end the meeting now.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  8. Swap the word

    You need the money talk next, not the paint.

    Can we skip ahead to the ____?

  9. True or false?

    This line asks for the clock time.

  10. Which one doesn’t belong?

  11. What do you say?

    The meeting is ending. You must leave now to catch the train.

Say it — say it in the meeting

Now you're Ana in Marcus's meeting. 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. MarcusSo, how are we doing on time?He asks if the meeting is on time.
  2. Ana (you)Tell him the meeting is taking longer than planned.

    We're running a little behind.

    The meeting is taking longer than planned.

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
We're running a little behind.The meeting is taking longer than planned.
We still have two items left.We have not talked about two topics yet.
Can we skip ahead to the budget?Can we talk about the money next?
Let's come back to this later.We will talk about this again another time.
We're almost out of time.The meeting is nearly finished.
Let's stop here for today.Let's end the meeting now.
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