Speak English Around Town » LESSON 3 - Negotiating a Purchase
Jim: Hello. Jim Harris speaking.
Max: Hello, Jim. My name is Max Taylor. I'm shopping for a used car, and I saw your ad for a 2008 Honda Civic.
Jim: The car is still available, but I'm getting lots of calls for it.
Max: How about if I swing by at 5:30?
Jim: Okay. I'm on 433 Main Avenue, across the street from Arroyo High School.
(Max comes over to Jim s house.)
Max: Hi, I'm Max. I'm here to see the car.
Jim: Good to meet you, Max. I'm Jim. Would you like to take a test drive?
Max: Yes, thanks. The last thing I need is another lemon!
Jim: You don't have to worry about that. This is a great car.
(They return from the drive.)
Max: It does drive well.
Jim: And it's in mint condition!
Max: You're asking $8,000 for it?
Jim: Yes, it's a steal.
Max: It's a nice car, but it's a two-door car and I was hoping to buy a four-door.
Jim: A car like this is going to sell quickly. I'd hate for you to miss out.
Max: I'll give you $7,000.
Jim: Let's split the difference. If you can make it $7,500, you've got a deal.
Max: I'd like to sleep on it. Can I give you a ring in the morning?
Jim: I'd like to reach an agreement now. How about $7,300?
Max: Would you take $7,200?
Jim: I don't want to haggle.
Max: I'm sorry to nickel and dime you, but money is tight for me right now.
Jim: Okay, let's close the deal. I'll take $7,200.
My car is a real (1) __________ and gives me a lot of problems. On Saturday morning, I looked online for used cars. I found a Mini Cooper listed. The ad said the car was purchased last year and was still (2) __________ . Of course, I didn't want to (3) __________ , so I called the number right away. The woman who picked up the phone introduced herself as Donna. She said, "I'm home right now. Can you (4) __________ ?"
I hurried over to her house. The car was a beautiful color and looked like new. Why was Donna selling it? "I don't want to sell it," she said," but I'm moving to Japan in two weeks, and I can't bring it." After (5) __________ , I knew I wanted it and I hoped we could (6) __________ . I said," You're asking $12,000 for this car and my budget is $10,000. How about we (7) __________ and say $11,000?" As you can see, I love to (8) __________ .
"I'd like to close the deal, but that's too low," Donna replied. "This is a great car, and it's already a (9) __________ at $12,000." We negotiated for a few more minutes. When she offered to sell it to me for $11,600, I said,"(10) __________ ."
English has two types of articles: definite (the) and in (a, an).
a/an to refer to something general or any member of a group.
=> Use the to refer to something specific or a particular member of a group. When I say specific, I mean something that is known to both the speaker and the listener.
Compare these two examples from the dialogue:
1. I'm shopping for a used car. (Which used car? The speaker is not being specific).
2. The car is still available. (Both the speaker and the listener know which car. We're talking about a specific car now).
When to use the article "a" or "an":
2) Use "a/an" to describe a person's job, what something is used for, or what type of thing something or somebody is.
Examples:
◼ Julia is a lawyer.
◼ This car is a two-door.
◼ She's a nice person.
3) Use "a/an" to speak about the general properties of somebody or something.
Examples:
◼ An infant requires a lot of attention.
◼ An unpaid parking ticket.can lead to many problems.
◼ A beagle is a friendly dog.
4) Use "a/an" to describe a person in a general sense (if you don't know who the person is or if his or her individual identity is not important).
Examples:
◼ A woman came to the door while you were at the store. (Who? What woman? We don't know).
◼ I'm dating a lawyer.
When to use the article "the":
2) Use "the" when your listener knows which person, place, or thing you're referring to.
Examples:
◼ Please open the window. (Your listener knows which window - perhaps because you 're pointing to it or because it's the only window in the room).
◼ The radio is still on. (Your listener knows which radio).
◼ What happened to the lawyer you were dating? (You're referring to a specific lawyer - someone you've already been told about).
When to use "the" and when to use no article:
2) Most countries do not take "the": France, Australia, South Africa. Some countries do take "the" - especially those countries consisting of more than one word.
Examples: the United States, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, the Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic
3) States, cities, and towns do not take "the" except for "The Hague" and for a few towns in the United States.
Examples: California, Paris, Westport, New Haven
4) The names of most lakes, mountains, volcanoes, and islands do not take "the.''
Examples: Lake Superior, Mount St. Helens, Mount Everest
5) Many expressions do not require "the." They include:
◼ at night (but: in the morning, in the afternoon)
◼ at/to college, school, work
◼ Transportation: by car, by foot, by plane, by train
◼ Days of the week and months of the year used with on or in: on Monday, on Tuesday, in December
DO use "the" in these cases:
1) For points of the globe.
Examples: the South Pole, the Equator
2) For most geographical regions.
Examples: the Midwest, the South, the Middle East
3) For names of oceans, seas, canals, and rivers.
Examples: the Mississippi River, the Atlantic Ocean, the Black Sea
4) For forests, deserts, gulfs and peninsulas.
Examples: the Gulf of Mexico, the Black Forest, the Arabian Peninsula
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