Essential English Grammar and Travel Phrases

Posted on Mar 18, 2025 in Administration and Management

English Grammar and Travel Phrases

Comparatives: For adjectives with one syllable, add “-er”; for those ending in “-y”, add “-ier”; for more than two syllables: use “more + base adjective”.

Superlatives: For adjectives with one syllable: use “the -est”; for those ending in “-y”, add “the -iest”; for more than two syllables: use “the most + base adjective”.

Have something done: This indicates someone has done something for us, or something has happened.

Subject + have/had + object + past participle:

Yesterday Peter had his car repaired.

I had your luggage brought down.

I need to have my car painted.

They are having the school repaired.

Get someone to do something: When the person performs the action.

Get + subject + to + verb + something.

I will get the chambermaid to clean your room.

I got the workmen to refurbish my house last year.

Relative clauses: Who, which, whose, when, where.

Tag questions:

Affirmative sentences with the verb “to be” in Present Simple: Aren’t you? Isn’t he/she/it? Aren’t we/you/they? Aren’t I?

Negative sentences with the verb “to be” in Present Simple: Am I? Are you? Is he/she/it? Are we/you/they?

Affirmative sentences with the verb “to be” in Past Simple: Wasn’t I? Weren’t you? Wasn’t he/she/it? Weren’t we/you/they?

Negative sentences with the verb “to be” in Past Simple: Was I? Were you? Was she/he/it? Were we/you/they?

Affirmative sentences with other common or defective verbs: Didn’t she? Hasn’t she? Won’t she? Can’t she? Shouldn’t she? Couldn’t she?

Imperatives/suggestions: Let’s -> Shall we? Do/don’t do -> Will you?

Should have done: The modal verb should be used with the perfect infinitive (have + past participle) to refer to past events that did not occur (or may or may not have happened).

Must: Necessity, obligation, “I need to do”, future or present, NOT in the past.

Have to: I have to. In all forms.

Musn’t: It is necessary that you do not do or say.

Needn’t: It is not necessary, you do not need to: we don’t/doesn’t need to.

Didn’t need to: Something necessary for me.

Needn’t have: Something I do because I want to, not because I need to.

Should: Advice: I think/ I don’t think/ do you think? = When you expect something to happen.

Prepositions:

• At: specific place or position, direction.
• On: for something that is on a surface, streets, roads, islands, mountains, avenues.
• In: for closed areas/volume, inside something, country, seas, oceans, cities.
• At: time.
• In: time during the day, month, season, year.
• On: days and dates.

Order of adjectives: Size, other, age/temperature, shape, colour, origin, material, type.

Weather: Freezing – cold – chilly – cool – warm – hot – boiling – sweltering.

Adjectives ending in -ed: How I feel, they indicate or describe emotions.

Adjectives ending in -ing: Characteristic of something or someone, what causes me a feeling.

Although: Although; but: but; despite: despite; while: while; however: however; though: despite everything.

I would recommend + person + to infinitive. I would suggest that + person + infinitive.

Too: Too much, before adjectives/adverbs.

Enough: Sufficiently. Behind the adjectives, in front of the noun.

So: So, like this, then, so + adj/adv. So much/many + noun.

Such: Similar, such, so much, so. Such + adj + noun. Such + noun.

Like: Like.

Unlike: Unlike.

Whereas: While.

Just as: Just like.

Renting a Car

Consulting:

Is it possible to rent a car from here?

We’d like to rent a car.

Can you arrange it for us?

Yes, of course. We can arrange that for you.

Rental duration:

How long would you like to hire it for?

How many days would you like the car for?

How long for?

How long will you be hiring it for?

I’d like it for two days from tomorrow.

I’d like it from Monday morning to Thursday morning.

Conditions:

Where can I pick up/collect the car?

It will be collected at the end of the rental.

Your car will be delivered to the hotel with a full tank of petrol.

You should return the car with a full tank of petrol.

If you return the car with less petrol in the tank, you will be charged for it.

The mileage is unlimited.

Would you read the terms and conditions carefully?

Prices:

The price per day is…

Isn’t there a cheaper car?

Is it unlimited mileage?

Does the price include VAT?

Is there a discount if we hire it for a week?

You can hire a small car for 40 euros a day.

The price is inclusive of insurance.

The price includes delivery and collection from the hotel.

The price includes unlimited mileage.

If you hire the car for a week, it works out cheaper.

Type:

What make of car would you like?

What type of car were you thinking of?

What size car will you need/do you need?

How many people is it for?

How many people will be travelling in the car?

We have a wide range of cars available.

I recommend a minibus / people carrier / four-wheel drive for six people or more.

That car will seat five comfortably.

Insurance:

Does it include full insurance?

Is insurance included?

What kind of insurance is included?

Is the price inclusive of insurance?

It includes third party, fire and theft.

The price is inclusive of CDW.

The price includes insurance and VAT.

Documents:

Have you got a current driving licence?

How long have you had your licence?

You need to have passed your test at least two years ago.

May I take an impression/imprint of your credit card?

Travel Connections

How can I help you?

Can you give me some information about flights to London, please?

Can you find out if there is a connection to Barcelona, please?

I’d like to change my flight.

I’d like to go on an earlier / later flight.

I’d like to book a single to GC via Lanzarote.

I’d like to know what flights there are to Tenerife on Mondays.

Can/Could you find out what time the first flight to Madrid leaves on Friday morning?

Can you book me a flight to Paris, please?

Yes, sir. We can make all your travel arrangements for you.

Will you be travelling tourist, business or first class?

Would you like a single or a return ticket?

When would you like to travel?

There are plenty of flights from here to Paris.

Would you prefer to fly on a scheduled flight or a charter?

There is a flight to Brasil at 10 am.

The flight leaves Madrid at 11:00 and arrives in London at 15:00 local time.

The first flight to Valencia leaves at 10:00 a.m.

Monarch flies to Madrid on Mondays and Saturdays.

There is a flight to Miami every day with a stopover in London.

There are four flights a day to Milan.

There are no direct flights to Miami.

You will have to go via Holada.

You can also go to Granada by jet foil/train/ coach.

The journey / flight takes one hour twenty minutes.

You can pick your ticket up at the airline desk when you get to the airport.

You should be at the airport an hour before the plane takes off.

Wake-Up Call Service

Expressions used by the guest:

Can you give me a wake-up call for 6 o’clock tomorrow morning please?

Could I have an early morning call for tomorrow, please?

Can/could you wake me up at 6.30 tomorrow morning, please?

Expressions used by the receptionist:

Certainly, madam. What room number, please?

Of course, sir. What time would you like us to call you?

What time shall we call you?

Certainly, sir. That’s room 251. A wake-up call for 7.30 tomorrow morning.

Don’t worry, madam. We’ll give you a call at 6.45.

Of course, sir. We’ll be sure to call you at 7.45.

The call itself:

Good morning, Mrs. Miller. It’s 6.30.

Good morning. This is your wake-up call for 6.45.

Would you like us to call you in ten minutes’ time to make sure you’re awake?

Giving Information

Your guide will meet you here in the lobby at 10 o’clock tomorrow morning.

The resort representative will give you all the information about excursions.

Here is a leaflet about some of our excursions.

There is a half-day/full-day excursion to the beaches.

This excursion takes you around the city to see the most interesting places.

The coach tours to the ruins are on Mondays and Wednesdays.

The tour leaves here at 9 a.m. and gets back at 6 p.m.

You will be picked up here at the hotel at 9.30 a.m. and dropped off at 7 p.m.

The coach will pick you up at 10 o’clock and drop you off at 5.30 p.m.

The excursion costs 25 euros and includes lunch.

The price includes lunch and entrance fees to the museums.

Lunch is included in the price.

I’ll ring your room when I have the information.

Of course, sir. I’ll let you know as soon as I can.

Yes, sir. We can make all the arrangements for you.

I’ll send your ticket up to your room.

Here is a map of the city.

I’ll show you the most interesting places on the map.

Changing Money

Here is a list of expressions used when changing money:

I’d like to change some money, please.

I’d like to cash some travellers’ cheques, please.

Is it possible to change euros into pounds, please?

What is the exchange rate?

How many dollars are there to the pound?

What is today’s rate?

How much commission do you charge?

What commission do you take?

Is commission charged on that?

How much would you like to change?

Today’s rate is ………

The rate is 13.19 Swedish crowns to the pound.

There are 1.45 euros to the pound, madam.

We charge a flat rate of ten pounds per transaction.

We charge 2% commission.

I’ll work it out.

That’ll be 15,000 euros minus 2% commission.

That makes 152,000 yens.

That makes a total of €500.

That comes to £1,000, sir.

That’s £234.75 (two hundred and thirty-four pounds, seventy-five pence)

Would you like it in tens or in twenties?

Handling Complaints

1. Apologise:
   • I’m really very sorry.
   • I must apologise for the inconvenience.
   • Please accept our apologies for…
   • I really do apologise.
   • I do apologise.
   • I’m terribly sorry.
   • I’m awfully sorry.
2. Ask for clarification:
   • What exactly is the problem?
   • What exactly is wrong?
3. Take details:
   • I’ll just take some details.
   • Let me take the full particulars.
   • Could you describe…
   • Could you give me all the details?
   • Let me see if I can help. I just need a few details.
4. Be sympathetic:
   • You’re quite right, sir.
   • I see.
   • Oh dear. I’m sorry to hear that.
   • I quite understand.
   • I fully understand.
   • I’m sure there’s been some mistake.
5. Offer explanation:
   • There has been (a bit of) a problem / a mix-up / a misunderstanding.
   • If I could just explain…
6. Give solution / action plan:
   • I’ll… immediately / right away / straight away.
   • I’ll tell you what I’ll do…
   • I’ll see to it straight away.
   • I assure you it will be……
   • Don’t worry, I’ll sort it out.
   • I’ll look into it as soon as possible.
   • I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.
7. Offer compensation:
   • We’d like to compensate you with…
   • Perhaps you’d accept…
   • I’ll arrange a complimentary…
   • We would like to offer you…

Passive Voice

Changing Money: Dialogue

Clerk: Good morning.

Customer: Good morning. I’d like to change some euros into dollars, please.

Clerk: Certainly, how much would you like to change?

Customer: 100 euros. Could you tell me what the exchange rate is?

Clerk: It’s 1.05 euros to the dollar.

Customer: Do you charge any commission?

Clerk: Yes, a commission of 2 %.

Customer: Well, all right.

Clerk: Then, let’s see. 100 euros. That makes a total of 95.24 dollars less 2% commission. So that comes to 93.33 dollars. Here you are.

Customer: Thank you. Goodbye.

Apology Letter

Dear Mrs. M. Rouse,

Thank you for your letter of 21^st October. Four important members of staff have been away for an urgent business trip, and I needed to talk to them before replying in detail to your letter.

We understand that this was a difficult situation for you, and we want to thank you for telling us about the trouble through this letter.

We do appreciate hearing from our customers, as their comments are vital for us to continue improving our accommodation. We are sorry to hear that you were dissatisfied with your stay with us, as we try to ensure that all our guests receive a high-quality service.

We have investigated the situation in detail, and the problem that you mentioned is related to the maintenance department. It is unusual for this hotel because we have never had this kind of trouble, so our employees have no excuse for the little importance that they have given to your room.

They saw that the boiler had a problem, and they had no resources to solve the trouble, so they didn’t give it importance, but we have solved the problem by taking a necessary measure.

On the other hand, we also solved the television trouble. We have hired a better rate for viewing more than 30 channels.

As compensation for the inconvenience suffered, please accept an offer for a 50% discount in the Mon Cheri Hotel Suite on your next stay with us.

As a sign of goodwill, please find enclosed a coupon allowing you to stay at one of our hotels for two nights, free of charge.

Please, again, accept my sincerest apologies.

Thank you again for your comments. We hope that you will give us another chance to serve you.

Yours sincerely,

Hiring a Car in Gran Canaria: Dialogue

Rental Clerk: Good Morning. Sun Car Rent, How can I help you?

Client: Good Morning. We’d like to rent a car. Can you arrange it for us?

Rental Clerk: Yes, of course. We can arrange that for you. How many days would you like the car for?

Client: We would like to have the car for one week …

Rental Clerk: Well! What type of car were you thinking of?

Client: I had thought about an economical model.

Rental Clerk: How many people will be travelling in the car?

Client: Myself, my wife and my one-year-old child.

Rental Clerk: How many suitcases do you take?

Client: Two suitcases.

Rental Clerk: Perfect! We have got available a Renault Laguna for 216€ per week, with five doors, for five passengers. It has got two large cases and one small case.

Client: What price includes the child seat?

Rental Clerk: 40 € per week.

Client: Isn’t there a cheaper car?

Rental Clerk: We have got available a Volkswagen Polo. It has got five doors. It is for four passengers. It has got two large cases and one small case.

Client: Is the cheapest they have?

Rental Clerk: Yes, for the time being.

Client: The car will be driven by my wife too. Do we have to pay for it?

Rental Clerk: Yes, but you only pay 8 € per day.

Client: Well! What kind of insurance is included?

Rental Clerk: It includes third party, fire and theft. It includes full insurance too.

Client: Perfect! Is it limited mileage?

Rental Clerk: You can request for the car limited mileage, but if you want, you can request unlimited mileage too.

Client: Right! I prefer unlimited mileage. You never know where you can get.

And the price includes the VAT?

Rental Clerk: Generally, yes! The price includes CDW and theft protection too.

Client: Well! I think that the rent of the car is complete. Could you tell me a short summary of the hiring?

Rental Clerk: Of course! You would have an economic Volkswagen Polo for one week with doors for four passengers and two small cases for 165 €. Your wife drives too, so we include to the price 8 € per day. You have got a baby, so we also include to the price 40 € per week of the child seat.

Client: Right!

Rental Clerk: Where do you want to pick the car up?

Client: At the airport, please.

Rental Clerk: Well! The cost is 20 €. We’ll include it in the hiring.

Client: Perfect!

Rental Clerk: In what period of time do you want the car?

Client: August 14^th to 19^th.

Rental Clerk: Could you tell me what your name is?

Client: Bruno Mars.

Rental Clerk: Could you spell your surname, please?

Client: Of course! M-A-R-S.

Rental Clerk: Thank You! Taking a look at the costs of the hiring, do you know how you will be paying?

Client: By Visa’s credit card.

Rental Clerk: Can you tell me what the number is?

Client: Yes! It is 0803 5678 1135 2345.

Rental Clerk: And the expiry date?

Client: May, 2013.

Rental Clerk: Could you give your phone number, please?

Client: Yes! 763 76 45 12.

Rental Clerk: And the e-mail address?

Client: brunomars@freereserve.co.uk

Rental Clerk: Thank you. You already have the car rental. We’ll tell you about changes or other reasons. Thank you for trusting us.

Client: Thank you! Good Bye!

Rental Clerk: Good Bye!

HANDLING COMPLAINTS: R: Good morning, Reception. Can I help you?G: I hope so. This is Miss Black, in room 312. I’m very disappointed.R: I’m very sorry to hear that, Miss Black. What seems to be the problem?G:Well, I’ve been given room 312. I’ve just been up to it and it’s not the type of room I booked.R: Oh, I’m very sorry, could you tell me what’s wrong?G: Of course. First of all, I booked a room with a bath, not a shower, and, I also asked for a room overlooking the sea, not the swimming-pool!R: I quite understand… Well, I think there’s been a misunderstanding. You said you required a room on the top floor, and all the rooms on that floor have a shower.G: But you didn’t tell me about it when I made the booking.R: Could be, sorry, perhaps we didn’t know you wanted a room with a bath.G: And what about the sea view? I remember I told you I wanted to see the sea from the room.R: I know, and it’s possible to see it although you have to look towards your left.G: Are you joking? A room overlooking the sea means with the sea in front of you!R: Certainly, madam. Well… perhaps I could give you another room. Let me check on the computer… Yes, there’s a room available with a bath and with views over the sea on the first floor.G: On the first floor? No, I can’t stand being near the restaurant.R: Don’t worry, Miss Black, I’ll give you room 175, which is at the other end of the corridor,so you won’t notice the restaurant is on the same floor, I can assure you. And it has a bath and a balcony from where you will enjoy magnificent sea views.G: Mm… It sounds good.

R: Right, then…TRAVEL CONECTIONS: Travel agent: How I help you? Client: Can you find a single ticket to Paris, please? Travel agent: Yes, of course. When would you like to travel?Client: I need to get to Paris early on Tuesday.Travel agent: Well, there are plenty of flights from here to Paris. Client: Good. What time is the first one? Travel agent Would you prefer on a scheduled flight or a charter? Client: Oh, I don’t mind.Travel agent: Will you be travelling tourist, business or first class?Client: Tourist class please. As early in the morning as possible. Travel agent:The first fligh to Paris leaves at 6.40 from Heathrow.Client: That sounds good. What time would I get there?Travel agent: Well, the journey takes just over two hours. Let me see. Oh, yes, it arrives in Paris at 9.05 local time.Client: Can you book it for me please. Will you be able to give me the ticket now? Travel agent: No, I’m afraid not, madam. You can pick your ticket up at the airline desk when you get to the airport. Client: Ok. That’s fine.Travel agent: Remember you should be at the irport an hour before theplane takes off.  In fact, if I were you I’d be there an hour and a quarter before as you’ve got to pick your ticket up.Client: Don’t worry I’ll be there in plenty of time.

Travel agent: Now If I could just have your particulars…

LETTER OF CONFIRM: Dear Ms McArthur,

Thank you for your telephone booking last Friday of a trip to Rome.

Your booking has been confirmed, so in accordance with your instructions, the full amount has been

charged to your credit card. Please, find enclosed the receipt. This payment includes flight from Heathrow,

four nights´ half board accommodation at the Roman Hotel, transfers between the airport and the hotel and

a full tour of Rome. The holiday insurance is also included in the price.

I enclose your tickets, a hotel voucher, a map of Rome and a leaflet with information about the main

sites. If you need any further information, please, do not hesitate to call in and see me or give me a ring.

We hope you enjoy your holiday.Yours sincerely,T. BarrenTravel consultantEnc

TRAVEL CONNECTIONS:Travel agent: How can I help you?Client: Can you give me some information about flights to Paris, please?Travel agent: Yes, of course. When would you like to travel?Client: I need to get to Paris early on Tuesday.Travel agent: Well there are plenty of flights from here to Paris.Client: Good. What time is the first one?Travel agent. Would you prefer to travel on a scheduled flight or a charter?Client: Oh, I don’t mind.Travel agent: Will you be travelling tourist, business or first class?Client: Tourist class please. As early in the morning as possible.Travel agent: The first flight to Paris leaves at 6.40 from Heathrow.Client: That sounds good. What time would I get there?Travel agent: Well, the journey takes just over two hours. Let me see. Oh yes it arrives in Parisat 9.05 local time.Client: Can you book it for me please. Will you be able to give me the ticket now?Travel agent: No, I’m afraid not, madam. You can pick your ticket up at the airline desk whenyou get to the airport.Client: Ok. That’s fine.Travel agent. Remember you should be at the airport an hour before the plane takes off. Infact, if I were you I’d be there an hour and a quarter before as you’ve got to pick your ticket up.Client. Don’t worry I’ll be there in plenty of time.Travel agent. Now If I could just have your particulars…