English Conversation

48 Practice Makes Perfect English Conversation

Conversation B: Changing a lunch date

Lisa: Hi, Maria. It’s Lisa. Listen, I’m not going to be able to have lunch with you

next Thursday. I have to have a physical for my new job, and it’s on Thursday at

one o’clock—and it’s in Alexandria. I’m really sorry. Can we make it another day?

Maria: No problem. How about Friday at 12:30?

Lisa: Oh dear, I can’t do that, either. Could you do Wednesday?

Maria: Look, we’re going to have to make it the following week. We’ve both got too

much on our plates right now. Let’s say Thursday, the twenty-fourth, at one

o’clock. OK?

Lisa: Perfect. We’ll have a lot to talk about by then!

Improving your conversation

In/on/at to indicate events

Events—dates, appointments, meetings, receptions, parties, concerts, classes, etc.—all have set

days, times, and locations that are indicated by certain prepositions.

In indicates the month or year of an event.

Her birthday dinner is in October.

The celebration is in 2014.

On indicates the day or date of an event.

The appointment is on Friday.

Our classes are on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Her party is on August 13.

At indicates the time of an event.

The reception is at ten o’clock.

The concert is at 4:30.

Periods of the day are indicated as follows:

in the morning

in the afternoon

at night

At indicates the location of an event or number in the street address.

The movie is at the State Theater.

The State Theater is at 405 S. Washington Street.

On indicates the name of the street in the address of the location.

The movie is at the theater on State Street.

In indicates a location of an event where the address is already understood.

The movie is in Theater A.

The meeting is in the boss’s office.