The moment

It's Friday afternoon in a Singapore office. Arjun wants to invite Mei to a food market on Saturday, but her plans are already full. Listen for how they move the plan around instead of giving up, and for all the "going to" and "-ing" forms that carry the future.

The conversation

ArjunMei
  1. Arjun
  2. Mei
  3. Arjun
  4. Mei
  5. Arjun
  6. Mei
  7. Arjun
  8. Mei
  9. Arjun
  10. Mei
  11. Arjun
  12. Mei

Words to know

here, "why are you asking?"

the kind way to say no to an invitation

here, a joke: fall down on the couch from tiredness

"that's a good reason, I understand"

asks someone to suggest a time

Check yourself

1Why can't Mei go to the market on Saturday?
2What does Arjun mean by "Fair enough"?
3Why does Arjun suggest six o'clock?

Practice · 3 min

Round one: repeat every line. Round two: mute Mei and turn down the Saturday plan in your own words, then agree to Sunday. Round three: mute Arjun and make the invitation yourself. Keep "I'd love to, but" warm; the "but" should sound sorry, not sharp.

  1. ArjunHey, Mei. What are you doing tomorrow?
  2. MeiTomorrow? Why, what's up?
  3. ArjunThere's a new night market near the river. Want to come?
  4. MeiI'd love to, but I'm helping my sister move.
  5. ArjunOh, that's a lot of work. All day?
  6. MeiProbably until four. Then I'm going to collapse.
  7. ArjunFair enough. What about Sunday evening?
  8. MeiSunday could work. What time are you thinking?
  9. ArjunAround six? It gets crowded later.
  10. MeiSix is good. Can I bring my sister?
  11. ArjunSure. She's going to be hungry after the move.
  12. MeiVery. OK, I'll text you tomorrow night.

Say it today

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