English for Beginners: Travel with Friends!

Dialogue

Current Situation

Traveling with friends is a wonderful way to create lasting memories and strengthen bonds. It’s becoming increasingly popular as people seek shared experiences over solo adventures. Friends often pool resources, making trips more affordable, and the companionship makes the journey more enjoyable. From planning destinations and activities to sharing laughter and navigating unexpected situations, traveling with friends offers unique opportunities for growth and fun. However, it also requires good communication and compromise to ensure everyone has a great time.

Key Phrases

• dreaming of a big adventure: thinking about an exciting trip. Example: I’m always dreaming of a big adventure to a new country.
• travel buddy: a friend or person you travel with. Example: My sister is my favorite travel buddy.
• sounds nice: expresses that something is a good or pleasant idea. Example: A quiet weekend at home sounds nice after a busy week.
• relax by the water: to rest and enjoy time near a lake, river, or ocean. Example: I just want to relax by the water on my vacation.
• plan first: to make arrangements or decisions before doing something. Example: It’s important to plan first before buying tickets.
• good deals: special offers or low prices. Example: Let’s look for good deals on hotels and flights.
• one adventure at a time: to focus on one task or event before moving to the next. Example: Don’t try to do everything at once; take it one adventure at a time.

Grammar Points

1. Present Continuous (for ongoing actions and temporary situations)

We use the Present Continuous to talk about actions that are happening right now, or temporary situations.

• Structure: Subject + am / is / are + Verb + -ing
• Examples from dialogue:
  • “What are you laughing about?” (Action happening now)
  • “I’m dreaming of a big adventure.” (Temporary situation/activity)
  • “Are you inviting your cat or me?” (Asking about current intent)

2. Making Suggestions: “Let’s…” and “How about…?”

These phrases are useful for suggesting ideas or activities to others.

• “Let’s…”
  • Short for “Let us.” Use this to suggest an activity for a group, including yourself.
  • Structure: Let’s + base form of the verb (e.g., go, eat, play)
  • Example: “Let’s start with the beach, okay?”
• “How about…?”
  • Used to suggest an idea or activity. Can be followed by a noun or a verb + -ing.
  • Structure: How about + noun? / How about + verb-ing?
  • Example: “How about our friends, Lily and Tom?” (followed by a noun)
  • (Another example not in dialogue): “How about going to the park?” (followed by verb-ing)

Practice Exercises