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Travel apps in English

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English for Beginners: Travel Apps

Dialogue

Alice: Hey Bob, guess what? I’m planning a trip to Italy!

Bob: Wow, Alice! That sounds amazing! Are you all set?

Alice: Not really. My paper maps are everywhere, and my brain feels like spaghetti! So many things to book!

Bob: Spaghetti brain? Haha! You need travel apps, my friend. They’re lifesavers!

Alice: Travel apps? Like, for my phone? My phone mostly takes pictures of my cats.

Bob: Exactly! Think of them as tiny, digital travel agents. For flights, hotels, everything.

Alice: Hmm. So, no more arguing with hotel brochures? Which app should I download first? There are hundreds!

Bob: Start with a flight comparison app. Like ‘SkyScanner’ or ‘Google Flights’. They find the cheapest tickets.

Alice: Oh, cheap tickets sound good! My wallet is already crying about gelato. What about a place to sleep?

Bob: For hotels, ‘Booking.com’ or ‘Airbnb’ are super popular. You can see pictures and read reviews.

Alice: Reviews! Perfect! I need to know if the bed is comfy for my cat naps. And getting around?

Bob: ‘Google Maps’ is your best friend for navigation. It even tells you about public transport. And for language?

Alice: “Ciao!” is all I know. And “spaghetti.” Is there an app for ordering actual spaghetti without hand gestures?

Bob: Haha! ‘Google Translate’ is excellent. You can even point your camera at a menu! And don’t forget a currency converter app.

Alice: Wow, Bob! My phone might actually be useful for something other than cat videos. Thanks! My trip planning just got a lot less “spaghetti brain”!

Current Situation

In today’s world, travel apps have completely changed how people plan and experience their trips. Gone are the days of bulky guidebooks and paper maps! Now, travelers use their smartphones for almost every aspect of their journey. These apps help you find the best deals on flights and hotels, navigate new cities with ease, translate foreign languages, convert currencies, and even discover local restaurants and attractions. They offer convenience, save money, and make international travel much smoother and more enjoyable for everyone, from beginner explorers to experienced adventurers.

Key Phrases

  • Guess what?: Used to introduce exciting news or a question. Example: “Guess what? I’m going on vacation next week!”
  • Sounds amazing!: A phrase to express excitement or approval about something. Example: “A trip to Japan? That sounds amazing!”
  • Are you all set?: Means “Are you ready?” or “Is everything prepared?”. Example: “Your flight is tomorrow, are you all set?”
  • Not really.: A polite way to say “No” or “Not completely.” Example: “Do you understand? Not really, can you explain again?”
  • Lifesavers: Something or someone that helps you a lot in a difficult situation. Example: “This GPS app is a lifesaver when I’m lost.”
  • Digital travel agents: Apps that help you plan and book travel, similar to a human travel agent but on your device. Example: “Travel apps are like digital travel agents in your pocket.”
  • Comparison app: An app that shows prices or options from many different companies side-by-side to help you choose the best deal. Example: “Use a flight comparison app to find the cheapest tickets.”
  • Super popular: Very well-liked or used by many people. Example: “Booking.com is super popular for hotel reservations.”
  • Your best friend: Something or someone that is extremely helpful or useful to you. Example: “For driving directions, Google Maps is your best friend.”
  • Don’t forget…: Used to remind someone about something important. Example: “Don’t forget your passport!”

Grammar Points

1. Present Continuous for Future Plans

We use the present continuous tense (am/is/are + verb-ing) to talk about definite plans or arrangements for the future.

  • Structure: Subject + be (am/is/are) + Verb-ing
  • Example from dialogue: “I’m planning a trip to Italy!”
  • Other examples:
    • She is meeting her friends tonight.
    • We are flying to London next month.

2. Imperative for Suggestions/Commands

The imperative form is used to give commands, instructions, or make strong suggestions. It uses the base form of the verb.

  • Structure (Positive): Base form of the verb (e.g., “Start”)
  • Structure (Negative): Don’t + Base form of the verb (e.g., “Don’t forget”)
  • Examples from dialogue:
    • “Start with a flight comparison app.”
    • “And don’t forget a currency converter app.”
  • Other examples:
    • Open the door.
    • Don’t touch that!

3. ‘Like’ for Examples

We use ‘like’ to introduce examples of something.

  • Structure: Noun/Noun Phrase + like + Example(s)
  • Example from dialogue: “Start with a flight comparison app. Like ‘SkyScanner’ or ‘Google Flights’.”
  • Other examples:
    • I enjoy fruits like apples and bananas.
    • There are many useful apps, like Google Maps for navigation.

4. ‘Should’ for Advice

‘Should’ is a modal verb used to ask for or give advice or recommendations.

  • Structure: Subject + should + Base form of the verb
  • Example from dialogue: “Which app should I download first?”
  • Other examples:
    • You should visit the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
    • We shouldn’t eat too much fast food.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the blank with a key phrase from the list.

  1. A: I have big news! __________? B: Tell me!
  2. A: My vacation is next week! Are you __________? B: Almost, I still need to pack.
  3. A: This new cooking app is a __________. It saves so much time!
  4. A: I need to book a flight. __________ I use? B: Try a flight __________ app.
  5. A: __________ your passport! You can’t travel without it.

Answers:

  1. Guess what?
  2. all set
  3. lifesaver
  4. Which app should, comparison
  5. Don’t forget

Exercise 2: Rewrite the sentences using the grammar points learned.

  1. I have plans to visit Paris next month. (Use Present Continuous)
    → I ____________ Paris next month.
  2. You need to open the app. (Make it an Imperative)
    → ____________ the app.
  3. Give me some advice. Which movie is good? (Use ‘should’)
    → Which movie ____________ I watch?
  4. People use apps such as Instagram or TikTok for social media. (Use ‘like’)
    → People use apps ____________ Instagram or TikTok for social media.

Answers:

  1. I am visiting Paris next month.
  2. Open the app.
  3. Which movie should I watch?
  4. People use apps like Instagram or TikTok for social media.

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