The moment

Grace and Rohan are old friends in Bangalore. Three short exchanges on a slow Sunday: a phone call, a question about work, and a plan that almost doesn't happen. Listen for "bored" (the feeling) and "boring" (the thing), and for how a bored complaint turns into an invitation. Then take one side.

The conversation

RohanGrace
  1. Rohan
  2. Grace
  3. Rohan
  4. Grace
  5. Rohan
  6. Grace
  7. Rohan
  8. Grace
  9. Rohan
  10. Grace
  11. Rohan
  12. Grace

Words to know

a strong "no"; here, "I'm not busy"

casual for "me too"

introduces a new topic

warns that the true answer is coming

"I agree to your offer"

Check yourself

1What does Grace mean by "Not at all"?
2How does Grace feel about her new job?
3Why does Rohan agree to the walk?

Practice · 3 min

Round one: repeat every line. Round two: mute Grace and answer Rohan with your own real Sunday. Round three: mute Rohan and make the call yourself. Check every "bored" and "boring": the person is bored; the movie, the job, the day are boring.

  1. RohanHey, it's Rohan. Are you busy?
  2. GraceNot at all. I'm bored out of my mind.
  3. RohanSame. There's nothing on TV.
  4. GraceI'm sick of staying home. Want to do something?
  5. RohanHow's the new job, by the way?
  6. GraceHonestly? It's pretty boring. Same thing every day.
  7. RohanAt least it pays the bills.
  8. GraceTrue. And I'm asking for more projects.
  9. RohanSo, lunch? Or a movie?
  10. GraceA movie sounds boring. Let's go for a walk.
  11. RohanIn this heat? Fine, but I'm buying ice cream.
  12. GraceDeal. See you at the park in twenty.

Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.