Unit 37: What's it like?

1. What's it like?

(Debbie and Barbara are friends. They each moved to a new apartment.)

Debbie	This new flat looks very nice, Barbara.
Barbara	Well, it's not really big enough, you know.
Debbie	I've got a place in King Street.
Barbara	What's it like?
Debbie	Well, the place itself is all right. But there's a woman who lives downstairs.
Barbara	And she's not all right?
Debbie	She laughs a lot.
Barbara	Laughs a lot? Oh, that's OK.
Debbie	When I say she laughs a lot, I mean—a lot.

(Debbie tells Barbara how the woman laughed when she was showing Debbie the place.)

Woman	Well, here we are.
Debbie	Yes. Is this the living room?
Woman	That's right. During the day it's the living room.
Debbie	Only during the day?
Woman	Yes. At night it's a bedroom.
Debbie	I see. And there's a kitchen?
Woman	The kitchen!
Debbie	Oh, yes. Is the cooker gas or electric?
Woman	Gas, dear. My husband says it's laughing gas! Laughing gas! He likes to laugh, my husband.
Debbie	And there's a fridge.
Woman	Oh, yes. Yes.
Debbie	It's got central heating?
Woman	Here we are, dear. It's a very warm room, and comfortable.
Debbie	Er—bathroom and toilet?
Woman	Outside, turn left, dear.
Debbie	Do we all use the same bathroom and toilet?
Woman	There's another toilet downstairs, dear, but we all use the same bathroom. Not at the same time, of course! I'll tell Bill about that. We all use the same bathroom, but not at the same time!

* * *

Barbara	I see what you mean. She does laugh a lot.
Debbie	Yes. But the room's not too expensive. It costs £60 a month. And it's got gas cooker, fridge, central heating.
Barbara	Is there a television?
Debbie	No. But it doesn't matter. With the woman downstairs, who needs a television?

2. It looks good and it is good.

(Richard prepared dinner for Barbara.)

Richard	Hello, darling.
Barbara	Hello. That looks very nice, Richard.
Richard	Yes, it does, doesn't it?
Barbara	Er—can I help?
Richard	No, please sit down. The meal is ready.
Barbara	It is?
Richard	Yes. I said I would cook the meal tonight.
Barbara	I know, but ...
Richard	But what?
Barbara	Well ...
Richard	You didn't think I could do it, did you?
Barbara	Of course I did. What are we going to eat?
Richard	Wait—and see!
Barbara	All right.
Richard	There.
Barbara	It looks wonderful, darling. A real English meal. Roast beef, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding ...
Richard	And two vegetables. Cheers!
Barbara	Cheers!
Richard	Well?
Barbara	It looks good and it is good. But the potatoes need a little salt. I'll get it.
Richard	No, Barbara!
Barbara	Richard ...
Richard	Yes, darling?
Barbara	What's this?
Richard	That?
Barbara	Yes. And this? It looks terrible.
Richard	Yes, it does. And it is terrible. Please sit down and finish your meal, darling.
Barbara	But what is it?
Richard	Yorkshire pudding, roast beef, roast potatoes.
Barbara	I see. What happened?
Richard	Well, I had an accident.
Barbara	What about this?
Richard	I bought it at the Comer Restaurant.
Barbara	Ah! Well, we'll go there tomorrow.
Richard	Why?
Barbara	I can talk to the cook. He certainly knows how to make very good Yorkshire pudding.

3. It's not as good as yours.

(Men talk a lot about cars, especially when there's something new or special.)

Peter	Here we are, then.
Richard	I bought a car yesterday.
Peter	Bought a car—did you really? Something good, I hope. I've got an old Bentley, myself. Look. I've got some pictures.
Barbara	It looks new.
Peter	Ah, but it's old. It's fifty-five years old.
Barbara	No—is it really?
Peter	It's green, and it's got two doors. It's bigger than the early Bentley, of course.
Richard	It certainly looks longer than a modem car.
Peter	It is. And who wants a modem car when you can get a car like that?
Debbie	Peter!
Peter	Yes?
Debbie	Richard said he bought a car yesterday.
Peter	Oh, yes, is it a modem car?
Richard	Yes, it's new, I'm afraid. It's not as good as your Bentley, of course.
Peter	Well, some new cars are all right.
Richard	Come and see us tomorrow in your new Bentley and we'll show you our new car.
Peter	Oh, right. Thanks.
Debbie	And now, that's enough about cars. Let's talk about something else.

4. Come on in.

Babara

Come on in. Richard is here with Toby.