W: Doctor Brown’s office. May I help you?
M: Yes, man. This is John Smith. I’d like to make an appointment to see doctor Brown. What time do you think is best for me to see him?
W: OK, let’s see. Doctor Brown is available only on Thursday and Friday.
M: Thursday would be better for me.
Dialogue 2.
W: Hey, you are behind time again.
M: Are you kidding? I am just on time. Look at my watch, it’s 10 sharp now.
W: Do you think your watch is right?
M: You bet. I just set my watch by the radio time signal.
Dialogue 3.
W: Professor Wang, I am sorry I won’t be able to see you this afternoon. I’ve got a cold.
M: Oh, I am sorry to hear about that.
W: I wonder if I could postpone my appointment until some other time?
M: No problem. Take good care of yourself.
W: I will, thank you.
Dialogue 4.
W: Oh, hello, John. Does your watch keep good time?
M: Not really. In fact it’s sometimes 5 minutes slow. So I usually have to start out 5 minutes earlier.
W: How is the time now?
M: Oh, never fear, we have plenty of time.
W: We’d better rush now. You know, I’d like to be earlier than the appointed time. Early birds always get the worms.
Dialogue 5.
W: Jack, I am sorry. I have kept you waiting for so long.
M: Rose, here you are. But why did it take you so long to get here? Is there a heavy traffic?
W: Something came up on the way. A jay-walker was killed in a horrible car accident. The road was closed, so I had to turn right to take another road.
M: It’s understandable.
Exercise.
1. I am sorry, but I forgot our appointed time.
2. Buses leave for Qingdao for every 2 hours.
3. I’ll come on time.
4. It takes roughly 2 hours
5. My friend is a very punctual man.
6. You are really an early bird.
7. That clock is always on. It’s 6:15 now.
8. He never asks for leave.
9. Does your watch keep good time?
10. I always set my alarm clock 5 minutes fast.
11. I’ve just set my watch by the radio time signal.
12. It’s 5 o’clock sharp.
13. Now we used the summer time.
14. My watch is out of order.
15. It’s 8:15.