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Lesson 194 of 240

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Storm day indoors in English

Snow has shut Chicago down. Ana walks into the Blue Plate because the L is not running.

Dee is already pouring coffee. Murray sits on two stools with a cup he still has not finished.

By the end, you'll say you're snowed in, wait out a storm, and talk about a story that stops in the middle.

Murray starts a story about the first time. He does not finish it.

By the end of this lesson

Spend a snow day inside, wait out the storm, and talk about a story that stops halfway.

  • We're snowed in today.We have to stay inside because of the heavy snow.
  • Let's wait it out here.Let's stay inside until the storm eases up.
  • What if the power goes out?What should we do if we lose electricity?
  • It's a long story.This will take a while to tell.
  • I remember the first time.I'm thinking back to my first visit.
  • He stopped halfway through.He quit the story in the middle.

Scene — snow at the counter

The snow is deep on Larch Street. Shops are closed. The Blue Plate is still open, lamps on, pie case glowing.

Ana pushes the door. Dee has the coffee pot. Murray is on two stools at the end of the counter.

The jukebox by the door stays quiet. Outside, the street is empty.

Ana pushes open the Blue Plate door as Dee holds a coffee pot and Murray sits at the counter.

Learn — snowed in

Six lines for a snow day inside. You'll stay put and wait out the storm.

You'll also talk about a story that stops halfway through.

  1. Ana stands just inside the diner door and looks back at the deep snow outside.

    We're snowed in today.

    We have to stay inside because of the heavy snow.

    When to use it: Say this when heavy snow keeps you inside.

    We're is we are, said as one piece.

    Say it: The -ed in snowed sounds like d.

  2. Dee holds the coffee pot and gestures toward the empty counter seats.

    Let's wait it out here.

    Let's stay inside until the storm eases up.

    When to use it: Say this when you choose to stay until a storm ends.

    Wait it out means you stay until the storm is over.

  3. Ana looks up at the diner lamps with a lifted hand as she considers losing electricity.

    What if the power goes out?

    What should we do if we lose electricity?

    When to use it: Ask this when you worry the lights might fail.

    What if asks about a possible problem later.

    Say it: Power has stress on the first part.

  4. Murray turns from his two stools toward the room, ready to begin a long story.

    It's a long story.

    This will take a while to tell.

    When to use it: Say this before you start a story that needs time.

    Long story means the tale needs more than a short answer.

  5. Murray looks toward the snowy window with one hoof raised as he recalls his first visit.

    I remember the first time.

    I'm thinking back to my first visit.

    When to use it: Say this when you start a memory from long ago.

    First time means the earliest visit you can think of.

    Say it: Remember has stress on the second part.

  6. The jukebox clicks but stays silent as Dee pauses mid-pour and Murray sits still.

    He stopped halfway through.

    He quit the story in the middle.

    When to use it: Say this when someone does not finish what they started.

    Halfway through means in the middle, not at the end.

    Say it: The -ed in stopped sounds like t.

Story — halfway through

Watch Ana wait out the snow at the counter. Murray starts a story, then loses the thread.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Snow piles against the windows. The street is empty.
  2. DeeCome on in, hon. It's freezing out.Please come inside. The air is very cold.
  3. AnaWe're snowed in today.We have to stay inside because of the heavy snow.
  4. DeeLet's wait it out here. Coffee's hot.Let's stay inside until the storm eases up. The coffee is ready.
  5. AnaWhat if the power goes out?What should we do if we lose electricity?
  6. DeeThen we talk, sweetie. I've got candles.If the lights fail, they will sit and talk. She has candles.
  7. Murray turns on his two stools. His coffee is still full.
  8. DeeMurray, tell her how you got here.She asks Murray to tell Ana about his first visit.
  9. MurrayIt's a long story.This will take a while to tell.
  10. AnaThat's okay.She does not mind if the story takes time.
  11. MurrayI remember the first time.I'm thinking back to my first visit.
  12. He looks at the quiet jukebox, then back at Ana.
  13. MurrayI walked in, and the counter looked the same.He came in, and the diner looked like it does now.
  14. AnaWhat happened next?What was the following thing in the story?
  15. MurrayI started to say something, and then I...He began a sentence and did not finish it.
  16. The jukebox clicks. Nothing plays.
  17. DeeHe stopped halfway through.He quit the story in the middle.
  18. AnaThat's okay. Let's wait it out here.She is fine with the pause. She wants to stay until the storm eases.
  19. DeeMore coffee, hon?She offers to fill his cup again.
  20. MurrayNot yet. Thank you.He does not want more coffee now.

Practice — wait it out

Eleven 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 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    We're snowed in today.Drop the Simple English here
    Let's wait it out here.Drop the Simple English here
    What if the power goes out?Drop the Simple English here
    He stopped halfway through.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?

    The snow is too deep to leave. Dee asks what you want to do.

  4. What does it mean?

    It's a long story.

  5. Fill the gap

    What should we do if we lose electricity?

    What if the ____ goes out?

  6. Pick the reply

    Dee says:

    Do you remember your first visit here?

    She asks if that first visit is still in your mind.

    And you reply with:

  7. Build the line

    He quit the story in the middle.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  8. Swap the word

    It is daytime. Heavy snow is keeping you inside now.

    We're snowed in ____.

  9. True or false?

    This line means it is a hot day.

  10. What do you say?

    A friend is at the diner door in the snow. You want them inside.

  11. Pick the reply

    Murray says:

    I walked in, and the counter looked the same.

    He started a memory and then paused.

    And you reply with:

Say it — say the snow day

Now you're Ana on a snow day at the diner. 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. DeeCome on in, hon.please come inside
  2. Ana (you)Tell her the heavy snow is keeping you inside.

    We're snowed in today.

    We have to stay inside because of the heavy snow.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
We're snowed in today.We have to stay inside because of the heavy snow.
Let's wait it out here.Let's stay inside until the storm eases up.
What if the power goes out?What should we do if we lose electricity?
It's a long story.This will take a while to tell.
I remember the first time.I'm thinking back to my first visit.
He stopped halfway through.He quit the story in the middle.
Next: lesson 195Cooking at home

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