English Learning for Beginners: In a Restaurant

Dialogue

Alice: Bob, this new restaurant looks amazing! I’m so excited to try it.

Bob: Alice, I’m absolutely starving! My stomach is making strange noises.

Alice: Haha! Well, let’s find a table. Oh, this one looks good by the window.

Bob: Perfect! So, what are you in the mood for? I could eat a horse.

Alice: A horse? Wow, you are hungry! I think I’ll have the pasta. It sounds delicious.

Bob: Pasta? Hmm, I saw a giant burger on the menu. That’s my kind of food!

Alice: Of course it is, Bob. You always go for the biggest thing!

Bob: It’s called “The Everest Burger”! How can I resist?

Alice: Good luck climbing that mountain! I’ll just have a small salad to start, then the pasta.

Bob: Salad? Are you sure you’re at the right place? This isn’t a rabbit cafe!

Alice: It’s a nice start! Maybe I’ll share a fry or two from your Everest.

Bob: Only if you promise not to tell anyone I shared my fries. It’s a secret mission.

Alice: Deal! Oh, here comes the waiter. Are you ready to order, Captain Everest?

Bob: Ready as I’ll ever be! I’m going to conquer that burger.

Alice: Good luck, Bob! I hope it’s as good as it sounds.

Current Situation

Alice and Bob, two good friends, have just arrived at a new restaurant. Bob is famously very hungry and loves big, satisfying meals, while Alice prefers something a bit lighter and more refined. They are looking at the menu, chatting, and teasing each other as they decide what to order.

Key Phrases

• looks amazing!: Used to say something appears wonderful or impressive.
  Example: “This view looks amazing from the top of the mountain!”
• I’m starving!: An informal way to say you are extremely hungry.
  Example: “After hiking all day, I’m starving!”
• in the mood for: To want to have or do something.
  Example: “What are you in the mood for tonight, pizza or pasta?”
• I’ll have…: A common and polite way to order food in a restaurant. (It’s a short form of “I will have…”)
  Example: “Excuse me, waiter, I’ll have the chicken soup, please.”
• sounds delicious: Used when something described as food sounds very good to eat.
  Example: “That chocolate cake sounds delicious. I think I’ll try it!”
• My kind of food: Food that you really like or prefer.
  Example: “Pizza with extra cheese? Yes, that’s definitely my kind of food!”
• Good luck!: An expression used to wish someone success or good fortune.
  Example: “Good luck on your exam tomorrow!”
• Are you ready to order?: A question typically asked by a waiter to know if customers have decided on their food.
  Example: “Waiter: Are you ready to order, or do you need a few more minutes?”
• Deal!: Used to express agreement, often when making a bargain or promise.
  Example: “If you help me with my homework, I’ll help you with yours. Deal!”

Grammar Points

1. The “To Be” Verb (is, am, are)

The verb “to be” is one of the most important verbs in English. We use it to describe states, identities, and characteristics.

• I am: Used with the pronoun “I”.
  Example: “I am hungry.”
• You are / We are / They are: Used with plural nouns or the pronouns “you”, “we”, “they”.
  Example: “You are a good friend.” “They are at the restaurant.”
• He is / She is / It is: Used with singular nouns or the pronouns “he”, “she”, “it”.
  Example: “This restaurant is new.” “The burger is giant.”

2. Present Simple Tense

We use the present simple tense for actions that are habits, routines, facts, or general truths.

• Subject + Base Form of Verb (add -s/-es for he/she/it)
• Examples:
  • “My stomach makes strange noises.” (A fact about his stomach)
  • “You always go for the biggest thing!” (A habit of Bob’s)
  • “It sounds delicious.” (A general truth about the food’s description)

3. Ordering Food: “I’ll have…”

When you are in a restaurant and want to tell the waiter what you want to eat or drink, “I’ll have…” is a very common and polite way. It’s a contraction of “I will have…”.

• Example from dialogue: “I think I’ll have the pasta.”
• Other examples: “I’ll have a glass of water, please.” “For my main course, I’ll have the fish.”

4. Asking Questions with “What”

“What” is a question word used to ask for specific information about things or actions.

• Example from dialogue: “What are you in the mood for?” (Asking about Bob’s food preference)
• Other examples: “What is your name?” “What time is it?” “What do you like to do?”

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks with ‘is’, ‘am’, or ‘are’.

1. I ____ very hungry right now.
2. This restaurant ____ very popular.
3. You ____ a good friend, Bob.
4. The burgers ____ really big here.
5. Alice ____ ready to order her pasta.

Answers:

1. am
2. is
3. are
4. are
5. is

Exercise 2: Match the Phrase to its Meaning.

1. I’m starving!
2. What are you in the mood for?
3. I’ll have…
4. Sounds delicious!
5. Deal!

• a. I agree!
• b. I want to order…
• c. I’m very, very hungry!
• d. That sounds very good to eat!
• e. What do you feel like eating?

Answers:

1. c
2. e
3. b
4. d
5. a

Exercise 3: Put the words in the correct order to make sentences.

1. hungry / am / I / very.
2. menu / the / Let’s / look / at.
3. order / ready / Are / to / you?
4. burger / will / a / I / have.

Answers:

1. I am very hungry.
2. Let’s look at the menu.
3. Are you ready to order?
4. I will have a burger. (or I’ll have a burger.)