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Level 4: High Intermediate Daily Audio Lessons

This free lesson from DailyStep.com is part 3 of a 5-part conversation. To hear more of this conversation please register for a free trial at http://www.dailystep.com/content.asp?id=9 Lesson title: DailyStep-4_car-garage-004_03
Ellen: So, you finally got your car back! That must be a relief! Gary: Yes, but guess how much it cost me to fix? Three hundred and

eighty-four pounds (384), including VAT. I nearly died! Ellen: Gary: That sounds like an awful lot just to put in a new alternator. Youre telling me! I mean, I dont know much about engines so I

may be wrong, but I thought that replacing an alternator was a relatively straightforward job. Anyway, theres nothing I can do about it now I suppose. Ill just have to shop around next time.
Situation: Gary explains to Ellen that the repair to the car cost more than he thought it would and he feels that the garage has overcharged him. Style: informal conversation . Functions: 1. Opening a conversation: So you finally got your car back! ! (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.) 2. Making an assumption: That must be a relief! (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.) 3. Creating suspense: guess how much it cost me to fix? (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.) 4. Expressing shock: I nearly died! (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.) 5. Very strong agreement: Youre telling me! (note: there is heavy stress on the word me.) 6. Expressing resignation: Anyway, theres nothing I can do about it now I suppose. (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.) . Notes: 1. got your car back = received your car back (more formal) 2. That must be a relief! = I imagine that is a relief! 3. including VAT = this price includes VAT (note: VAT means Value Added Tax. It is currently 20% in the UK)
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Level 4: High Intermediate Daily Audio Lessons

4. I nearly died! (idiom) = I was very, very shocked to hear this 5. an awful lot = a great deal (more formal) 6. to put in (phrasal verb) = to insert / to put in place 7. Youre telling me! (idiom) = Yes, I know, so you dont need to tell me! 8. I may be wrong = it is possible that I am wrong 9. replacing an alternator = exchanging an old alternator for a new one 10. an alternator = an electrical part in the cars engine 11. a relatively straightforward job = quite an easy task compared to other engine repair tasks 12. to shop around (phrasal verb) = to make a number of enquiries in order to find the best price . Audio file name: DailyStep-4_car-garage-004_03 ..

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Thank you for trying DailyStep Audio Lessons from DailyStep.com. If you have any questions at all, please email me at jane@dailystep.com Jane Lawson English teacher London, UK

DailyStep English, London, UK.

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