20 Examples of Short Dialogues in English

The conversations in English, as in Spanish, are determined by the context or situation (ordering food in a restaurant, asking for instructions to get to a place), and by the level of language or style to be used (formal or informal), depending on the context. For example: I'd like the sirloin steak, please./ I would like the spine, please.

Conversations in English are generally made up of short idiomatic phrases or “phrases”, that many times do not respect a grammatical conformation of the sentences, but must be learned as such. For example: will do (I will) or same to you(likewise).

• It may interest you: Everyday Phrases in English

Examples of dialogues in English

dialogue on the street

1. Dialogue to ask for the time

–Excuse me, could you tell me what time it is?/ Excuse me, could you tell me the time?

– Sure. It's 10.05./ Of course. It's 10:05.

– Thank you./ Thank you.

– You're welcome./ You are welcome.

1. Dialogue to break the ice at a bus stop

– Hi there! Have you been waiting long? / Hello! Have you been waiting long?

– Hello. No, not really. Ten minutes, I suppose./ Hello. No, not really. I think ten minutes.

– This bus is always a bit delayed... Great weather today, don't you think?/ This bus is always a little late... It's great weather today, don't you think?

– Yes, I love a sunny day./ Yes, I love sunny days.

– Oh, there is our bus!/ Oh, there's our bus!

1. Dialogue to occupy a seat

– Is this seat taken? / Is this seat taken?

– No, I don't think so. / I don't believe it.

– Do you mind if I sit here? / Do you mind if I sit here?

– No, not at all. Go ahead. / No not at all. Forward.

1. Dialogue to ask for directions to get to a place

– Hello, do you know how to get to Hyde Park?/ Hello, do you know how to get to Hyde Park?

– Forks. Walk straight ahead for two blocks. The park will be on the right. / Yeah. Walk straight down two streets. The park will be on your right.

– Thank you! / Thank you!

– You're welcome. Have a nice day!/ You are welcome. Have a good day!

1. Dialogue to ask for someone

– Excuse me, do you know where I can find Mr. Jackson? / Excuse me, do you know where I can find Mr. Jackson?

– Yes, he's in his office, second door on the left./ Yes, he is in his office; It's the second door on the left.

– Thank you./ Thank you.

Dialogues in a social sphere

1. Dialogue at the end of a dinner

– Did you enjoy the meal? / Did you enjoy the food?

– Yes, it was really good. Thank you for such a lovely evening./ Yes, she was very rich. Thank you for such a pleasant evening.

– I'm very glad you liked it./ I'm very glad you liked it.

1. Dialogue about bonding with someone

– Where do you know Sarah from? / Where do you know Sarah from?

– We were classmates at school./ We were classmates in high school.

– So you went to Victoria school?/ So you went to Victoria school?

– That's right./ That's how it is.

– What a coincidence! I went to Victoria, too! / What a coincidence! I also went to Victoria!

1. Dialogue to find out where we know someone from

– Don't I know you from somewhere?/ Don't I know you from somewhere?

– Forks. Your face looks familiar. / Yeah. Your face looks familiar.

– Don't you work for Breston Electronics? / Don't you work at Breston Electronics?

– Gone! Do you too?/ Yeah! You too?

– Yeah, I work in the IT department. What about you? / Yes, I work in the IT department. And you?

– I work in accounts./ I work in accounting.

1. Dialogue to greet an acquaintance

– Hey Scott! How are you doing?/ Hi Scott. How are you?

– Hey Joe! Good to see you! I'm fine, thanks. How are you?/ Hi, Joe! Fine, thanks. Good to see you! How are you?

– I'm great, thanks. Good to see you too! It's been a while./ I'm great, thanks! Nice to see you for me too! We haven't seen each other for quite some time.

– Yes, it has! Tell me what's new./ Yeah! Tell me what's new.

1. Conversation to receive a friend

– Hey Tom! It's great to see you! Come on in./ Hello Tom! Good to see you! Happens.

– I was just passing through and thought I'd drop by. / I was just passing by and thought I'd stop by to visit you.

– Great idea! Come and sit down./ What a good idea! Come and sit down!

Dialogues by phone

1. Dialogue to ask for someone by phone

– Buenos dias. IWI Computers. How may I help you? / Good morning. IWI Computers. What can I help you?

– Can I speak to John Wilson, please?/ May I speak to John Wilson, please?

– One moment, please. I'll put you through./ One moment, please. I tell.

– Thank you./ Thank you.

1. Dialogue with communication problems

– … Can you hear me?/ Can you hear me?

– …

– I think it's a bad line. You're breaking up.../ Communication is bad. I hear you all cut.

– …

– We were cut off. / Communication was cut off.

Attention: To start a conversation with a stranger in English, use topics that allude to the weather, or public transport, called small talk. For example: Have you been waiting long?/ Have you been waiting long?

Dialogues in public places

1. Dialogue in a commercial premises

– Excuse me, do you have this shirt in medium size?/ Excuse me, do you have this shirt in a size medium?

– Sure, here you are./ Sure, here you go.

– Do you have it in other colors?/ Do you have it in other colors?

– Certainly. We have it in blue, brown and gray. / Of course. We have it in blue, brown, and grey.

– Can I try it on?/ Can I try it?

– Of course. The fitting rooms are over there. Come this way./ Sure, the changing rooms are over there. follow me here

– How does it fit you?/ How does it fit?

– It's just perfect. How much is it?/ Perfect. How much does it cost?

– It's $15.50./ $15.50.

– OK, I'll take it./ OK, I'll take her.

Attention: To apologize in any context, the expressions are used: I'm sorry Or simply sorry.For example: Sorry (about that)./ Sorry about that).

To respond to an apology in a casual way, the expressions are used: That's ok, No problem, Never mind, all with the meaning “no problem”, “it doesn't matter”.

1. Dialogue at a theater ticket office

– Could I have two tickets for the show tonight, please?/ I would like two tickets for tonight's show.

– I'm sorry, tonight's show is sold out./ Excuse me, there are no tickets left for tonight's show.

– Oh… Do you have tickets for tomorrow, then?/ Ah… Do you have tickets for tomorrow, then?

– Yes, we do; there are some left. / Yeah; some remain.

– What tickets do you have available?/ What tickets do you have available?

– There are two stalls on the right. Second row. / There are two stalls on the right. Second row.

– Okay. I'll take them. / Okay. I take them.

– Which seats would you like?/ What locations do you want?

1. Conversation in a restaurant

– Excuse me, waiter. The menu, please./ Excuse me, waiter. Menu, please.

– Right away./ Right away.

– I think I'll have the filet mignon./ I think I'm going to order the filet mignon.

– And what would you like to drink?/ And what would you like to drink?

– A lemonade, please./ One lemonade please.

…

– Would you like some dessert or coffee? / Would you like some dessert or coffee?

– No, thank you. Just check, please./ No thanks, just the bill, please.

– Sure, I'll bring it straight away./ Sure, I'll bring it to you.

– Can I pay with credit card? / I can pay with credit card?

– Of course. We take Mastercard and Visa. / Of course. We accept Mastercard and Visa.

Attention: To attract the attention of a waiter, or any vendor or person on the street, in English the expression is used excuse mewhich means "excuse me".

1. Conversation at the train station

– What time is the next train to Cardiff?/ What time is the next train to Cardiff?

– It's at 17.04./ It is at 17.04.

– Okay. Two tickets, please./ OKAY. Two tickets, please.

– One way or round-trip?/ One way, or round trip?

– One way./ One way.

– It's $150./ It's $150.

– OKAY. How long does the journey take?/ How long is the trip?

– Two hours./ Two hours.

– Thank you very much./ Thank you so much.

– You are welcome, have a nice trip. / You're welcome, have a good trip.

1. Dialogue to do the check in in a hotel

– Good afternoon. I have a reservation under the name … for two nights./ I have a reservation in the name of … for two nights.

– Good afternoon. Welcome to our hotel./ Good day. Welcome to our Hotel.

– Thank you./ Thank you.

1. Dialogue to request room service

– Reception, good evening./ Front desk, good evening.

– Good evening. This is room 312. I'd like to order room service. / Good night. I'm calling from room 312. I would like to order room service.

– Certainly. What would you like to order?/ Of course. What would you like to order?

– Two chicken sandwiches and two lemon sodas, please./ Two chicken sandwiches and two lemon sodas, please.

– Right away, madam./ Right away, ma'am.

1. Dialogue to deal with a problem in a hotel

– Hello, reception. How may I help you? / Good morning, reception. What can I help you?

– I'm calling from room 312. There are no towels in the bathroom. / I am calling from room 312. No towels in the bathroom.

– Oh, I'm very sorry. I'll take them right away. I apologize for the inconvenience./ Oh, I'm so sorry. I'll take them right away. Sorry for the inconvenience.

– It's ok. Thank you for your help. / Alright. Thanks for your help.

Follow with:

• interjections in english
• Dates in English
• Fruits and vegetables in English
• Cardinal and ordinal numbers in English
• Acronyms and initials in English

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