Basic English Institute
Dressmaker: Yes, Mrs. Brown, I have got your skirt ready.
What has she got ready ?
She has got her skirt ready.
I was hoping you would come in today.
What would she do ?
She would come in.
When would she come in.
She would come in today.
What was she hoping.
She was hoping she would come in today.
Here it is.
What does she say ?
She says, "Here it is."
May I see it on you?
What does she say to her ?
She says to her, "May see it on you?".
Mrs. Brown: I'll put it on with pleasure.
What will she put on ?
She'll put it on.
How will she put it on ?
She'll put it on with pleasure.
Takes the skirt.
What does she take ?
She takes the skirt.
The cloth is very thick, isn't it?
How thick is it ?
It is very thick.
Was it unwise to have it made into a skirt?
What does she ask her ? (What does she make a request of her)
She asks her if it was unwise to have it made into a skirt.
Dressmaker: No, it will be quite all right.
How right will it be ?
It will be quite all right.
If it had been a rough cloth it would have been better for a coat,
What cloth had it been ?
It had been a rough cloth.
How would it have been ?
It would have been better.
What had it have been better for ?
It would have been better for a coat.
In what condition would it have been better for a coat ?
If it had been a rough cloth it would have been better for a coat.
… but a smooth cloth like this is the very thing for a warm winter skirt
What thing is it ?
It is the very thing.
What is it the very thing for ?
It is the very thing for a warm winter shirt.
Mrs. Brown takes off her dress, . . .
What does she take off ?
She takes off her dress.
. . . puts on her skirt
What does she put on ?
She puts on her skirt.
. . .and goes to a long looking-glass.
Where does she go ?
She goes to a long looking -glass.
Mrs. Brown - looking at herself in the glass
What is Mrs. Brown looking at ?
She is looking at herself.
Where is she looking at herself ?
She is looking at herself in the glass.
I'm looking my worst today.
How is she looking ?
She is looking her worst.
When is she looking her worst.
She is looking her worst today.
I've had such a cold.
What has she had ?
She has had such a cold.
The skirt is hanging beautifully
How is it hanging ?
It is hanging beautifully.
and it's very well cut.
How well is it cut ?
It's very well cut.
It makes me seem thinner than I am, which is a good thing.
How does it make her seem ?
It makes her seem thinner.
How is he ?
She is thin.
What does it make her thinner than ?
It makes her seem thinner than she is.
What is it ?
It is a good thing.
What is a good thing ?
It is a good thing that it makes her seem thinner than she is.
I've been putting on fat this summer.
How has she been putting on ?
She has been putting on fat.
When has she been putting on fat ?
She has been putting on fat this summer.
Mr. Brown says I'll have to give up sweets.
What will she have to give up ?
She'll have to give up sweet.
What does Mr. Brown say ?
He says she'll have to give up sweet.
Dressmaker : You aren't fat.
How isn't she ?
She isn't fat.
It's a good thing to be well covered.
How is she covered ?
She is well covered.
What is it ?
It's a good thing.
How is it a good thing to be ?
It is a good thing to be well covered.
Yes, the general effect is very good.
What is very good.
The general effect is very good.
How is it for comfort ?
What does she ask ?
She asks how it is for comfort.
Is the band tight ?
What does she ask ?
She asks if the band is tight.
Mrs. Brown : It seems all right at present
How does it seem ?
It seems all right.
When does it seem all right ?
It seems all right at present.
... but it might be a little tight after a meal.
How tight might it be ?
It might be a little tight.
When might it be a little tight ?
It might be a little tight after a meal.
There isn't much room for expansion.
What isn't there ?
There isn't much room for expansion.
Dressmaker,: I'll let it out a little, because the band is not very elastic.
What will she let out ?
She'll let it out. (the band)
How will she let it out ?
She'll let it out a little.
How elastic is the band not ?
It is not very elastic.
Why will she let it out ?
Because the band is not very elastic.
She takes out some stitches with the scissors
What does she take out ?
She takes out some stitches.
What does she take them out with ?
She takes them out with the scissors.
... and puts some pins in.
What does she put in ?
She puts some pins in.
Mrs. Brown: giving a little cry
What cry is she giving ?
She is giving a little cry.
The point of that one has gone through my underclothing.
What has it gone through ?
It has gone through her underclothing.
The dressmaker quickly takes it out
What does she take out ?
She takes it out.
How does she take it out ?
She takes it out quickly. (pin)
... and puts it in differently.
What does she put ?
She puts it. (the pin)
How does she put it ?
She puts it differently.
.
That's better.
What does she say ?
She says, "That's better.
Dressmaker: Is it loose enough now ?
How loose is it ?
It s loose enough.
When is it loose ?
It is loose enough now.
What does she ask ?
She asks if it is loose enough now.
Mrs. Brown: Yes, that will do very well.
What does she say ?
She says, "Yes, that will do very well."
Dressmaker: What sort of pockets are you going to have ?
What does she ask ?
She asks what sort of pockets she is going to have .
Mrs. Brown : My idea was to have two square pockets like the ones you put on the last skirt you made for me.
What was her idea ?
Her idea was to have two square pockets like the ones.
What did the dressmaker put ?
She put the ones.
Where did she put them ?
She put them on the last skirt.
What did she make ?
She made the last skirt.
Who did she make it for ?
She made it for her.
What was her idea to do ?
Her idea was to have two square pockets like the ones the dressmaker put on the last skirt she made for her.
Dressmaker: Where will you have them ?
What does she ask ?
She asks where she will have them.
Pointing with her finger
What is she pointing with ?
She is pointing with her finger.
Here and here ?
What does she say ?
She says, "Here and here ?"
Mrs. Brown : Not quite so high.
What does she say ?
She says, "Not quite so high."
The dressmaker puts her finger lower.
Where does she put her finger ?
She puts it lower.
That's right.
What does she say ?
She says, "That's right.
The dressmaker makes marks on the cloth with a bit of chalk.
What does she make ?
She makes marks.
What does she make marks on
She makes marks on the cloth.
What does she make marks on the cloth with ?
She makes marks on the cloth with a bit of chalk.
Dressmaker: It might be better to have the skirt a little less wide here,
How might it be ?
It might be better.
How wide does she have the skirt ?
She has the skirt a little less wide.
Where does she have the skirt a little less wide ?
She has the skirt a little less wide there.
How might it be better to do ?
It might be better to have the skirt a little less wide here.
... pointing to the lower part of the skirt.
What is she pointing to ?
She is pointing to the lower part of the skirt.
Mrs. Brown: Let me see how it would be if it was narrower.
What does ask ?
She asks her to let her see how it would be if it was narrower.
The dressmaker makes a line down the side with the bit of chalk.
What does she make ?
She makes a line.
Where does she make a line.
She makes a line down the side.
What does she make a line down the side with ?
She makes a line down the side with a bit of chalk.
Yes, you are right.
What does she say ?
She says, "Yes, you are right."
But don't take away more than that, because a narrow skirt is of no use for walking in.
What does she ask her not to do ?
She asks her not to take away more than that.
What is a narrow skirt of ?
It is of no use.
What is it of no use for doing ?
It is of no use for walking in.
Why does she ask not to take away more than that ?
Because a narrow skirt is of no use for walking in.
The dressmaker puts pins down the white line made by the chalk.
What does she put ?
She puts pins.
Where does she put them ?
She puts them down the white line.
What is the white line made ?
It is made by the chalk.
What white line does she put pins down ?
She puts pins down the white line made by the chalk.
Is it long enough ?
What does she say ?
She says, "Is it long enough ?"
Dressmaker: Quite long enough.
What does she say ?
She says, "Quite long enough."
Skirts are very short now.
How short are they ?
They are very short.
When are they very short ?
They are very short now.
Mrs. Brown: That's true.
What does she say ?
She says, "That's true."
I'll keep it as it is.
What will she keep ?
She'll keep it.
How will she keep it ?
She'll keep it as it is.
But isn't it shorter at the back than at the front ?
How isn't it ?
It isn't shorter.
What does she ask ?
She asks, " Isn't it shorter at the back than at the front ?"
The dressmaker gives the skirt a pull at the back
What does she give the skirt ?
She gives the skirt a pull.
Where does she give the skirt a pull ?
She gives the skirt a pull at the back.
... and goes round it on the floor with a rule.
Where does she go ?
She goes round it.
Where does she go round it ?
She goes round it on the floor.
How does she go round it on the floor ?
She goes round it on the floor with a rule.
Dressmaker: The measure is the same all round.
How is it ?
It is the same.
Where is it the same ?
It is the same all round.
It only seemed shorter at the back because you hadn't got it on quite straight.
How did it seem ?
It only seemed shorter.
Where did it only seem shorter ?
It only seemed shorter at the back.
What hadn't she got on ?
She hadn't got it on.
How hadn't she got it on ?
She hadn't got it on quite straight.
Why did it only seem shorter at the back ?
Because she hadn't got it on quite straight.
Mrs. Brown: Good.
What doe she say ?
She says, "Good."
Now let me see the back.
What does she ask her to do ?
She asks her to let her see the back.
The dressmaker puts a small looking-glass into her hand
What does she put ?
She puts a small looking-glass.
What does she put it into ?
She puts it into her hand.
and, with her back to the long glass, she has a look at herself in the small glass.
Who does she have a look at ?
She has a look at herself.
Where does she have a look at herself ?
She has a look at herself in the small glass.
How does she do it ?
With her back to the long glass, she does it.
Yes, I'm very pleased with it.
How pleased is she ?
She is very pleased.
What is she very pleased with ?
She is very pleased with it.
Will I be able to get out of it with all these pins in ?
What does she ask ?
She asks her if she is able to get out of it with all those pins in.
Dressmaker: I'll see first if it is pinned to anything,
What is it pinned ?
It is pinned to anything.
What will she see ?
She'll see if it is pinned to anything.
How will she see if it is pinned to anything.
She'll see first if it is pinned to anything.
Has a look.
What does she have ?
She has a look.
No, it is quite all right.
Is it right ?
Yes.
How right is it ?
It is quite all right.
You'll be able to get out of it without any trouble.
What will she be able to get out of ?
She'll be able to get out of it.
What will she be able to get out of it without ?
She'll be able to get out of it without any trouble.
Mrs. Brown takes off the skirt.
What does she take off ?
She takes off her skirt.
Mrs. Brown: How are you getting on with my dress ?
What does she ask ?
She asks her how she is getting on with her dress.
You hadn't much more to do to it last time I was here.
What hadn't she ?
She hadn't much more.
What does she do to ?
She does to it. (my dress)
What hadn't she much more to do ?
She hadn't much more to do to it.
Where was she ?
She was there.
When hadn't she much more to do it ?
She hadn't much more to do to it last time she was there. .
Dressmaker: It is ready for you to take away,
How is it ?
It is ready.
What does she take away ?
She takes it away. (my dress)
What is it ready for her to do ?
It is ready for her to take away.
... but it might be wise for you to put it on
How might it be ?
It might be wise.
What does she put on ?
She puts it on. (the dress)
What might it be wise for her to do ?
It might be wise for her to put it on.
... and see if it is all right.
How is it right ?
It is all right.
What does she see ?
She sees if it is all right.
I have taken it in at the neck
What has she taken in ?
She has taken it in. (the neck of my dress)
Where has she taken it in ?
She has taken it in at the neck.
... and made the armholes a little wider.
How has she made the armholes ?
She has made the armholes a little wider.
Gives Mrs. Brown the dress.
What does she give her ?
She gives her the dress.
It is a beautiful bit of silk, isn't it ?
What is it ?
It is a beautiful bit of silk.
Mrs. Brown : It's the best quality.
What quality is it ?
It's the best quality.
It was cheap because it was the end of the roll.
How was it ?
It was cheap.
What was it ?
It was the end of the roll.
Why was it cheap ?
Because it was the end of the roll.
Puts on the dress and goes back to the glass.
What does she put on ?
She puts on the dress.
Where does she go back.
She goes back to the glass.
I see nothing wrong at all.
What does she see ?
She sees nothing wrong.
How is it ?
It has nothing wrong at all.
In fact, I'll keep it on
What will she keep on ?
She will keep it.
How will she keep it on ?
In fact, she will keep it on.
... and get you to make a parcel of my other dress.
What will she get her to make a parcel of ?
She will get her to make a parcel of her other dress.
Dressmaker: One minute.
What does the dressmaker say ?
She says, "One minute."
The collar is loose at the back.
How is it ?
It is loose.
Where is it loose ?
It is loose at the back.
Let me put a stitch in it.
What does she ask her to do ?
She ask her to let her put a stitch in it.
She takes a thread
What does she take ?
She takes a thread.
... and puts it through the hole of a needle.
What does she put ?
She puts it. (thread)
What does she put it through ?
She puts it through the hole of a needle.
Then she takes the end of the thread between her finger and thumb,
What does she take ?
She takes the end of the thread.
What does she take the end of the thread between ?
She takes the end of the thread between her finger and thumb.
... gives it a twist,
What does she give it ?
She gives it a twist.
... and makes a knot.
What does she make ?
She makes a knot.
While she is stitching Mrs. Brown puts questions about friends for whom the dressmaker does work.
What is she doing ? (the dressmaker)
She is stitching.
What does Mrs. Brown put ?
She puts questions.
Who does she put questions about ?
She puts questions about friends.
What does the dressmaker do ?
She does work.
Whom does she do work for ?
She does work for Mrs. Brown's friends.
What friends does Mrs. Brown put questions about ?
She puts questions about friends for whom the dressmaker does work.
During what time does she put such questions ?
While the dressmaker is stitching she puts such questions.
It's hard to get this sort of collar to keep flat
What does she get that sort of collar to do ?
She gets that sort of collar to keep flat.
How is it ?
It is hard.
What is it hard to do ?
It's hard to get this sort of collar to keep flat.
... but it seems all right now.
How does it seem ?
It seems all right.
When does it seem all right ?
It seems all right now.
Mrs. Brown : I'm hoping you'll be able to make another dress for me.
What will she be able to make ?
She'll be able to make another dress.
Who will she be able to make another dress for ?
She'll be able to make another dress for her.
What is she hoping ?
She's hoping she'll be able to make another dress for her.
(Mrs. Brown is hoping the dressmaker will be ... dress for Mrs. Brown.)
Have you the time ?
What does she ask ?
She asks her if she has time. (to make another dress)
Dressmaker: Yes, I haven't a great amount of work at present.
What hasn't she ?
She hasn't a great amount of work.
When hasn't she a great amount of work ?
She hasn't a great amount of work at present.
Mrs. Brown: I have here some black and white printed cotton which I got in town yesterday.
What does she have ?
She has some black and white printed cotton.
Where does she have them.?
She has them there.
What did she get ?
She got some black and white printed cotton.
Where did she get them.
She got them in town.
When did she get them in town.
She got them in town yesterday.
What cotton did she have there ?
She has there some black and white printed cotton which she got in town yesterday.
She takes it out of her bag.
What does she take ?
She takes it.
What does she take it out of ?
She takes it out of her bag.
May I have a look at one of your books ?
What does she ask ?
She asks if she may have a look at one of her books.
It may give me an idea.
What may it give her ?
It may give her an idea.
Dressmaker: putting a book full of pictures of coats and dresses and other clothing on the table and opening it
What is she putting ?
She is putting a book full of pictures of coats and dresses and other clothing.
Where is she putting it ?
She is putting it on the table.
What is opening ?
She is opening it. (a book)
Here is a copy of ' The Good Dressmaker.'
What is here ?
Here is a copy of The Good Dressmaker.
It is the latest number.
What number is it ?
It is the latest number.
Any of the dresses on these pages may be made of cotton or linen.
What may be made of cotton or linen ?
Any of the dresses on these pages may be made of cotton or linen.
Mrs. Brown: pointing to different pictures
What pictures is she pointing to ?
She is pointing to different pictures.
That's sweet,
What is it ? (coats and dresses and other clothing)
It's sweet.
... but it would only do for a young girl.
Who would it do for ?
It would do for a young girl.
How would it do for a young girl ?
It would only do for a young girl.
That's not bad,
What is it not ?
It's not bad.
... but it's a town dress
What sort of dress is it ?
It's a town dress.
... and not quite what I'm needing.
What is it not ?
It's not quite what she's needing.
This is more like what I have in mind.
What is it ?
It's more like what she has in mind.
A dress with buttons down the front and a square neck with a band of white round it.
What is it ?
It's a dress with buttons down the front and a square neck with a band of white round it.
But the skirt isn't wide enough.
How isn't it ?
It isn't wide enough.
Dressmaker: I would be able to give you a wider skirt if I made a join here
What would she be able to give her ?
She would be able to give a wider skirt.
What did she make ?
She made a join.
Where did she make a join ?
She would make a join there.
In what condition would she be able to give her a wider skirt ?
She would be able to give her a wider skirt if she made a join here.
... pointing to the middle of the dress
What is she pointing to ?
She is pointing to the middle of the dress.
Mrs. Brown: That's a very good idea.
What idea is it ?
It's a very good idea.
I haven't any buttons
What doesn't she have ?
She doesn't have any buttons.
... but I'll get some
What will she get ?
She'll get some. (buttons)
... and send them to you.
What will she send ?
She will send them.
Who will she send them to ?
She will send them to her.
Which would be better, black or white ?
What does she ask her ?
She asks her which would be better, black or white.
You are a better judge of these things than I am.
What is she ?
She is a better judge of those things.
What is she a better judge of those things than.
She is a better judge of those things then she is.
Dressmaker: White buttons would be brighter.
How would they be ?
They would be brighter.
Mrs. Brown: Yes, they would, wouldn't they ?
What does she say ?
She says, "Yes, they would, wouldn't they ?
Dressmaker: There's no need for you to send the buttons.
Is there a need ?
There's no need.
What does she say she will send ?
She says she will send the buttons.
What is there for her to do ?
There's no need for her to send the buttons.
Let me have them when you come to put the dress on.
What does she lets her have ?
She lets her have them.
What does she put on ?
She puts the dress on.
What does she come to do ?
She comes to put the dress on.
When does she let her have them ?
She lets her have them when she comes to put the dress on.
What does she ask her to do ?
She asks her to let her have them when she comes to put the dress on.
Will you be able to come a week from today ?
What does she ask her ?
She asks her if she would be able to come a week from today.
Mrs. Brown : looking at her notebook
What is she looking at ?
She is looking at her notebook.
That's not a very good day for me.
What is it ?
It's not a good day for her.
I have to go to a meeting of our Music Society.
Where does she have to go ?
She has to go to a meeting of their Music Society.
But I am free the day after.
How is she ?
She is free.
When is she free ?
She is free the day after.
May I come then ?
What doe she ask ?
She asks if she may come then.
Dressmaker: Yes. That will do quite well.
What does she say ?
She says, "Yes, That will do quite well."
There is the sound of a bell.
What is there ?
There is a sound of a bell.
The dressmaker has a look out of the window.
What does she have a look out of ?
She has a look out of the window.
Dressmaker: That's Mrs. Black at the front door.
What is it ?
It's Mrs. black at the front door.
Mrs. Brown: Do you do work for her now ?
What does she ask ?
She asks if she does work for her now.
You seem to be making things for all my friends.
What does she seem to be making ?
She seems to be making things.
Who does she seem to be making things for ?
She seems to be making for all her friends.
I had no idea that I was such a good advertisement.
What was she ?
She was such a good advertisement.
What did she have ?
She had no idea.
What idea did she have ?
She had no idea that she was such a good advertisement.
I see that it is getting late.
How is it getting ?
It is getting late.
What does she see ?
She sees that it is getting late.
Mr. Brown will be waiting for me,
Who will he be waiting for ?
He will be waiting for her.
... so I'll have to go.
What will she have to do ?
She'll have to go.
Saburo Terada
Saitama Prefecture