W: Doctor Brown’s office. May I help you?

M: Yes, man. This is John Smith. I’d like to make an appointment to see doctor Brown. What time do you think is best for me to see him?

W: OK, let’s see. Doctor Brown is available only on Thursday and Friday.

M: Thursday would be better for me.

Dialogue 2.

W: Hey, you are behind time again.

M: Are you kidding? I am just on time. Look at my watch, it’s 10 sharp now.

W: Do you think your watch is right?

M: You bet. I just set my watch by the radio time signal.

Dialogue 3.

W: Professor Wang, I am sorry I won’t be able to see you this afternoon. I’ve got a cold.

M: Oh, I am sorry to hear about that.

W: I wonder if I could postpone my appointment until some other time?

M: No problem. Take good care of yourself.

W: I will, thank you.

Dialogue 4.

W: Oh, hello, John. Does your watch keep good time?

M: Not really. In fact it’s sometimes 5 minutes slow. So I usually have to start out 5 minutes earlier.

W: How is the time now?

M: Oh, never fear, we have plenty of time.

W: We’d better rush now. You know, I’d like to be earlier than the appointed time. Early birds always get the worms.

Dialogue 5.

W: Jack, I am sorry. I have kept you waiting for so long.

M: Rose, here you are. But why did it take you so long to get here? Is there a heavy traffic?

W: Something came up on the way. A jay-walker was killed in a horrible car accident. The road was closed, so I had to turn right to take another road.

M: It’s understandable.

Exercise.

1. I am sorry, but I forgot our appointed time.

2. Buses leave for Qingdao for every 2 hours.

3. I’ll come on time.

4. It takes roughly 2 hours

5. My friend is a very punctual man.

6. You are really an early bird.

7. That clock is always on. It’s 6:15 now.

8. He never asks for leave.

9. Does your watch keep good time?

10. I always set my alarm clock 5 minutes fast.

11. I’ve just set my watch by the radio time signal.

12. It’s 5 o’clock sharp.

13. Now we used the summer time.

14. My watch is out of order.

15. It’s 8:15.