Everyday Conversations: Learning American English » Dialogue 2-7: At the Post Office

Word List
  • What can I do for you today?
    →

    What can I do for you today? Notice that this question starts with “What,” so the intonation drops at the end of the question. 

  • Or you can send it priority …
    →

    Or you can send it priority … Notice the stress on “or,” which emphasizes that there is another possibility.

  • $11.35 ... $20.35
    →

    $11.35 ... $20.35 Notice the two different ways the postal clerk says the price. First he says eleven thirty-five (without the words dollars and cents), then he says twenty dollars and thirty-five cents.

  • Oh, yeah!
    →

    Oh, yeah! is an expression used here to mean “I just remembered something.” It’s often followed by “I almost forgot.”

  • Your total comes to …
    →

    Your total comes to … is a way of saying “the cost is ….”

Dialogue 2-7: At the Post Office

POSTAL CLERK: What can I do for you today?

CAROL: I need to mail this package to New York, please.

POSTAL CLERK: OK, let’s see how much it weighs … it’s about five pounds. If you send it express, it will get there tomorrow. Or you can send it priority and it will get there by Saturday.

CAROL: Saturday is fine. How much will that be?

POSTAL CLERK: $11.35 [eleven thirty-five]. Do you need anything else?

CAROL: Oh, yeah! I almost forgot. I need a book of stamps, too.

POSTAL CLERK: OK, your total comes to $20.35 [twenty dollars and thirty-five cents].

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