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Choosing a second-hand sofa
Name:Date:
Follow a bargaining conversation with a cleft sentence and polite concessions.
Listen to each sentence and write what you hear.
Audio and answer checking: https://joy-english.com/listening-lessons/choosing-a-second-hand-sofa
Words to know
- frame
- The structure inside a piece of furniture.
- fabric
- Cloth used to cover furniture.
- stitching
- Rows of thread holding cloth together.
- willing
- Ready and happy to do something.
Answer key
- The sofa looks fine in the photographs, but I would like to see the frame before we agree anything.'Photographs' has stress on the first syllable: PHO-to-graphs. 'Would like' is said 'd-like'.
- Of course; as you can see, the cushions have been well looked after, and the fabric hardly shows any wear.'Hardly' means almost not at all. 'Looked after' links as 'looked-after'. 'Wear' sounds the same as 'where'.
- It is the stitching along the arm that worries me, since it seems to be coming loose.This is a cleft sentence: 'It is ... that ...' puts the stress on the stitching. 'Since' here means because.
- That can easily be repaired, and I would be willing to reduce the price to cover it.'Can' is weak in 'can easily': 'k'n'. 'Be willing' links as 'bee-willing'.
- In that case, I will take it, provided you can help me carry it downstairs.'Take it' links as 'tay-kit'. 'Provided' means only if. 'Downstairs' is stressed on the second syllable.