生活英语对话 Episode 17: Booking tickets

（单词翻译）

本单元是关于订票的对话。
Agent: Good morning, London Attractions.
Michal: I'd like to book two tickets for next week. For River Boat cruise¹ please.
Agent: OK. When?
Michal: Next Thuesday.
Agent: Sorry?
Michal: Thuesday.
Agent: I'm sorry sir, is that Tuesday the first or Thursday the third?
Michal: Thursday the third.
Agent: Right, and what time would you like?
Michal: In an evening.
Agent: Because it's winter, the last trip is at 7.00. Is that OK?
Michal: Yes thanks.
Agent: OK, just let me put you on hold for a moment please?


Vocabulary:

To put someone on hold (used in business telephoning): To ask a phone caller to wait (usually music is played while s/he is waiting).

本单元的语言点是冠词，英语中有三个冠词，下面是关于冠词的用法。

There are three types of articles in English. The definite article (the), the indefinite² article (a or an) and the zero article (when we don't use a, an or the).
Here are some of the rules about when we use each of them:

The indefinite article (a or an)

To refer to something (that is singular and countable³) for the first time in a conversation or piece of text:
She's got a dog and a cat.
Do you want to see a film tonight?
With job titles, professions or to explain what people do:
She's an artist.
Alice is a nurse.
Helen's a student.
He's a house-husband.

Note: He's an unemployed⁴. (incorrect) He's unemployed. (correct)

With expressions of quantity:
a pair of, a few, a little, a piece of, a bit of, a hundred, a thousand, a million, an hour, a day, a week

The definite article (the)

To refer to something (that is singular or plural⁵, countable or uncountable) when both the writer and reader, or speaker and listener, know which thing is being referred to:
She's got a dog and a cat. The dog is friendly but the cat always scratches me.
Do you want to see a film tonight? Yes, let's see the new Harry⁶ Potter one.
With rivers, seas and mountain ranges:
the Thames , the Atlantic , the Alps
Where there is only one of these things or people:
the White House, the moon, the UN, the EU, the president
With superlative adjectives:
She's the best in the class at English.
They're the fastest team in the race.

The zero article (when we don't use any article)

To refer to something (that is plural or uncountable) when talking about things in general:
France makes very good cheese.
She hates that kind of music.
That shop sells fantastic cakes, sweets and chocolates.
With streets, cites, countries, mountains:
Fifth Avenue, Beijing, India, Mount Fuji
With some places and some modes of transport:
to/in bed, at home, to/at work, at/to school/college/university, by bus/train/car, on foot