Hello, there!

Here are two very common conversations that can take place at gas stations in the United States. In these conversations the speakers use common daily expressions, so pay attention.

Conversation 01

A: What’ll it be today, ma’am?
B: Ten dollars worth of unleaded, please. Here’s the key to the tank.
A: Comin’ right up… Check the oil for you today?
B: Yes, please, and could you get the windshield, too?
A: Sure thing. Open the hood for me, will you? There’s a lever inside there.
A: Oh, yes, of course.
B: Okay, ma’am, that’ll be ten dollars.
A: Here you are.
B: Thanks. You take care now.

Conversation 02

A: Hmm. Prices at this station aren’t too bad. They’ve got regular, unleaded and premium.
B: What can I do for you?
A: Fill’er up, and check the tires, will you? I think they’re low on air.
B: Sorry, you’re at the mini-serve irland. When you’re here, I just pump gas. You can drive over to the full-serve island and I’ll do it, but the gas will cost you more.
A: Oh, okay, never mind. I’ll check them myself. Go ahead and fill it.

Useful vocabulary

Ma’am – madam
Unleaded – unleaded gasoline does not contain lead and is therefore less harmful to people and to the environment
Windshield – the large glass window at the front of a vehicle
Hood – the metal cover over the part of a car where the engine is
Lever – a bar or handle that moves around a fixed point, so that one end of it can be pushed or pulled in order to control the operation of a machine or move a heavy or stiff object
Fill’er up – fill up the tank
Island – here, an area at a gas station