- So, if the car broke down, how did you manage to get to work?
- Well, I had a bottle of water stored in the boot as a provision for just this type of emergency, but when I tried to take the cap off the thing where you top up the water, the blasted thing had melted and fused to the lid of the container.
- Ha ha, sorry, but it’s like a comedy of errors. Please do continue - I could do with a laugh.
- Well, you’re going to enjoy this then! I took my tool box out of the boot, which consists of a hammer and a rusty old spanner. As the adjustable spanner had rusted to the point where it was useless, I thought I’d give the cap on the water container a gentle tap with the hammer.
- Oh, no! Which school of mechanics did you go to?
- It’s not funny! The water container split open and I realised that I would have to get the local garage to tow the car away. The recovery driver gave me a lift to work.
- They must love you down at the local garage. You are probably keeping them in business!
.
Situation: David finds Martha’s story about trying to fix the car very funny and also makes fun of her skills as a mechanic.
Style: Informal
Functions:
1. Asking how somebody was able to do something: So, if the car broke down, how did you manage to get to work? (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
2. Asking someone to continue speaking after an interruption: Please do continue (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
3. Asking someone to be more serious: It’s not funny! (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
4. Making an assumption: They must love you down at the local garage. (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
Notes:
1. the car broke down (phrasal verb) = the car stopped working
2. how did you manage to..? = how were you able to..?
3. the boot = the luggage compartment (normally at the rear of the car)
4. as a provision for = just in case of
5. to take the cap off (phrasal verb) = to remove the top
6. top up (phrasal verb) = to fill to the top
7. the blasted thing = the stupid thing / the useless thing
8. had melted = had turned to liquid (when a solid changes to liquid as the result of heat, this process is called melting)
9. fused to the lid of the container = become stuck to the top of the container
10. it’s like a comedy of errors (here the speaker is referring to a comedy of the same name written by William Shakespeare) = it is a very funny story, with one error after another
11. I could do with (phrasal verb) a laugh (here the speaker is making fun of the other speaker) = I need a laugh
12. tool box = container for tools (such as hammers, spanners, drills and screwdrivers)
13. consists of = is made up of (phrasal verb)
14. a hammer = a tool for knocking in nails
15. adjustable spanner = tool for turning nuts and bolts. This tool can be made larger or smaller depending on the size of the bolt
16. rusted = oxidised (metal)
17. a gentle tap = a soft hit
18. Oh, no! Which school of mechanics did you go to? (here the speaker is using sarcasm) = Where did you learn to fix cars?
19. It’s not funny = It is not a laughing matter (much more formal)
20. split open (phrasal verb) = cracked
21. to tow the car away (phrasal verb) = to take the car away (phrasal verb) with a truck that has a crane on the back
22. The recovery driver gave me a lift (idiom) to work = The driver of the tow truck took me to work in his truck
23. You are probably keeping them in business (here the speaker is joking) = You are probably providing them with enough income to maintain their business