Learn more about the verb “to BE” with this interesting dialogue!
Read the dialogue below and observe how BE has been used in context.
Background: Takondwa and Rachel are school friends. They are in Form 2. Today is Thursday. Takondwa goes to Rachelโs house in the afternoon to study with her classmate. The two girls have a difficult Mathematics test the following week.
Takondwa: Hello! Hello! Rachel! Itโs Takondwa. Are you at home?
(A 10-year-old boy comes to meet Takondwa at the gate after a few minutes).
Takondwa: Thanks a lot Peter. Hi, by the way.
Peter: Hi Takondwa. How are you?
Takondwa: Iโm fine. Whereโs Rachel? Is she at home?
Peter: Yes, she is. Sheโs just washing the dishes. Weโve just had our lunch.
Takondwa: Ok, maybe I should come back a bit later.
Peter: No, no, no. Come in. Rachel said you should come in.
Takondwa: Alright, thanks. Is your dog on the leash?
Peter: Ha, ha, ha. Donโt worry Takondwa, he is. Sorry, I forgot youโre afraid of dogs.
Takondwa: Eh, dogs and I arenโt best friends at all.
Peter: Ha, ha, ha. I know. Jack isnโt a troublesome dog although he looks fierce. He doesnโt bite people.
Takondwa: Eh, Peter. I come here often but Iโm still afraid of the dog.
Peter: Donโt worry. Maybe one day youโll get used to him.
Takondwa: I hope so Peter.
(Takondwa follows Peter. They arrive at the back of the house. Rachel is busy doing her chores. She smiles and wipes her hands on her dress. She comes out and hugs her friend.)
Rachel: Hi Takondwa!
Takondwa: Hi Rachel! Here I am.
Rachel: I thought you wouldnโt come. Did your maid let you go easily?
Takondwa: Yes, I told her I was coming to do my homework. I hope she believes me. If she tells my mother that I went out in the afternoon instead of studying, I donโt know what my mother will do. Anyway, I donโt care. I did my chores and Iโm now going to study. Iโm not doing anything wrong.
Rachel: No, itโs ok, donโt worry. Nothing will happen. Youโre here now. We can do our work and youโll be at home when she gets back. Let me finish doing the dishes and then we can start immediately. My cousin from Chilomoni is here. Sheโs also in form Two.
Takondwa: Oh, thatโs nice. Where is she?
Rachel: Sheโs in the living-room. Misozi! Misozi! Where are you? Please come here! Let me introduce you to my friend.
Misozi: Rachel, did you just call me?
Rachel: Yes, please come. Takondwa, my friend from school, would like to meet you.
Misozi: Oh, just wait a minute ok? Iโm coming.
(The two girls wait for Misozi. Rachel resumes her dishwashing.)
Takondwa: Let me help you with the dishes.
Rachel: Oh, thanks Takondwa. Peter! Where is Peter? Peter! Peter! Come here!
Peter: Yes Rachel! What do you want?
Rachel: Can you bring the red and white tea towel thatโs on the clothesโ line? Takondwa wants to help me with the dishes.
Peter: Why are you asking me? Why donโt you go and fetch it yourself?
Rachel: Peter! What am I doing now? Am I just sitting on the floor doing nothing?
Peter: Of course not.
Rachel: So go and get the tea towel for me.
Peter: But Iโm busy. Iโm doing something else too.
Rachel: Does Peter look like he is busy? Is he busy Takondwa?
Peter: Is he busy Takondwa?
(Peter imitates his sister.)
Rachel: PETER!
(Rachelโs mother comes into the kitchen.)
Mrs Banda: Rachel, why are you talking like that to your brother? Oh hello Takondwa. How are you?
Takondwa: Iโm fine Auntie. How are you?
Mrs Banda: Iโm fine too. My back is just giving me problems nowadays. And now these two. Look at them. They are just quarrelling instead of doing their chores. Do your work in peace and not in pieces.
(Rachel and Peter laugh.)
Takondwa: Oh donโt worry Auntie. Youโll feel better soon. Peter, just go and take the tea towel. Look, you made your old mother come to the kitchen just because of this.
Peter: Alright, Iโll go and get it. Rachel, next time youโll do it.
(Rachel doesnโt say anything. She keeps on washing the dishes. Her mother goes back to the living-room. Peter brings the tea towel. Takondwa thanks him and starts drying the plates. Peter goes away to play in the yard.)
Takondwa: Didnโt your mother go to work today?
Rachel: She did but she came back before lunch. She came with my cousin Misozi.
Takondwa: Oh. The same Misozi you were talking about? Your cousin?
Rachel: Yes, exactly. Misoziโs mother is one of my fatherโs remaining sisters.
Takondwa: Ok, I didnโt know.
Rachel: But sheโs very sick now.
Takondwa: Misozi?
Rachel: No, not Misozi. Itโs my Auntie. Sheโs really sick. Misozi wants transport money so she can take her mother to the hospital. My mother came here to take the cash and they will go together to Chilomoni to fetch my Auntie. They will also buy some medicine at the pharmacy, you never knowโฆ
Takondwa: You never know indeedโฆSorry Takondwa. Iโm really sorry. How old is Misozi?
Rachel: Sheโs only fifteen.
Takondwa: Fifteen? Sheโs courageous.
Rachel: She is. She lost her father two years ago. Takondwa, in this life I tell you, we all have to be brave. Life is tough.
Takondwa: Thatโs true. We see so many things in this life. You canโt survive if you arenโt brave enough.
Rachel: Misozi is brave, I tell you. She still goes to school, you know, and sheโs doing very well. Her dream is to go to Chanco one day.
Takondwa: She will, why not? She will go to Chancellor College and she will succeed. Weโll all do well. Iโll go to Poly and youโll become a top model.
Rachel and Takondwa: He, he, he!
(The two girls clap their hands and continue to laugh at themselves.)
Rachel: No, Iโll not be a beggar.
Takondwa: Over my dead body, ha, ha, ha.
Rachel: Peter ! Peter! Where is this boy now? We always have to look for him. Peter! Where are you? Isnโt this boy a pain in the neck?
Peter: Whoโs a pain the neck? Who said that?
(Peter is still in the yard.)
Rachel: Me, who else? Peter! Come here! Donโt pretend as if you canโt hear me.
(Peter finally comes but remains in the doorway.)
Peter: What again Rachel? Canโt you see that Iโm busy?
Rachel: Busy with what? Can you check if Mum is gone?
Peter: You called me just for this! No.
Rachel: Peterโฆ
(Peter goes back to the yard. He is humming his favourite tune.)
Rachel: I tell you, this boy is rude.
Takondwa: Ha, ha, ha. Heโs still young.
Rachel: Iโm telling you, this boy-is-rude. R-U-D-E. Rude.
Takondwa: Heโs just a boy Rachel.
(Rachel goes to the living-room. After a few minutes, she comes back. Misozi is with her.)
Rachel: Takondwa, this is Misozi.
(Takondwa stops drying the dishes. She wipes her wet hands on her dress.)
Takondwa: Oh, hi Misozi.
Misozi: Oh, hi. You already know my name.
(Takondwaโs right hand taps into Misoziโs briefly.)
Takondwa: My nameโs Takondwa.
Misozi: Nice to meet you Takondwa. You already know my name anyway.
Takondwa: Yes, Rachel told me.
Rachel: Takondwa is my classmate.
Misozi: Alright, I didnโt know.
Rachel: Sheโs very bright, I tell you. Sometimes, I wonder where she got her brains from.
Takondwa: Stop it Rachel. YOU, the boys are always running after you because of your beauty.
Misozi: Ha, ha, ha. Donโt tell me.
Takondwa: Kkkkk Iโm telling you. Eh, THIS girl.
Misozi: Whoโs her boyfriend?
Rachel: Stop it you two.
(Takondwa opens her mouth as if she is about to reveal something. Rachel puts her hand on Takondwaโs mouth. Takondwa is laughing.)
Rachel: Takondwa, DONโTโฆ
Takondwa: Alright …Aargh Rachel, your hand is full of soap.
Rachel: Hey, you asked for it…
(Peter comes back into the kitchen.)
Peter: Who has a boyfriend?
Takondwa, Rachel and Misozi: PETER!!!
(Peter laughs and runs out of the kitchen. Rachelโs mother comes into the kitchen.)
Mrs. Banda: Whatโs happening girls? The whole neighbourhood can hear you. Are you crazy? Whereโs Peter?
Rachel: Ha, ha, ha, Mum…No, we arenโt crazy. Thatโs funny. Ha, ha, ha.
Takondwa: Rachel, your Mum is funny.
Mrs. Banda: Ha, ha, ha, am I? You girls are crazy.
Misozi: Ha, ha, ha, Auntieโฆ
Mrs. Banda: Ha, ha, ha. Itโs true. Where is Peter by the way? Where is my little boy?
Rachel: Which Peter? That rude human being! Iโm always looking for him. Peter! Peter!
(Peter doesnโt come.)
Mrs. Banda: Well, leave him alone.
(Mrs. Banda looks at her watch.)
Mrs. Banda: Eh, I didnโt notice that it was half past two already. Misozi, we should be going now.
Misozi: Alright Auntie.
Mrs. Banda: Rachel, donโt go out until youโve done your homework. I donโt want you to become a beggar in the future, do you hear me? I donโt want any ruffians in my house, is that clear?
Rachel: I already planned to do my homework Mum. Takondwa came here just for that.
Mrs. Banda: Thatโs nice girls. Well, see you. I will call you to tell you if Iโm coming back or not. I might have to spend the night at the hospital with Auntie Tadala.
(Rachel nods her head understandingly and hugs Misozi tightly.)
Rachel: Stay strong.
Misozi: Thanks Rachel.
(Takondwa hugs Misozi too.)
Takondwa: It was nice to meet you Misozi.
Misozi: It was nice to meet you too.
Further Exploration:
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About the Author
Thandi Ngwira Gatignol is the founder of Learn English With Africa. She was born on June 11th, 1981 in Blantyre, Malawi. When she was 19, she left her country of birth for France. She currently lives with her two daughters and husband in Poland.
Thandi holds a Bachelorโs degree in English studies obtained at the Universitรฉ Paris X Nanterre in France and a Certificate in Journalism from Malawi. She has taught English as a French Ministry of Education certified teacher both in France and in Poland. She speaks English, French, Polish, Italian, Chichewa and Chitumbuka. She is now learning Kiswahili, German and Spanish. Salt No More is her debut novel and you can find her other books here on the website or on Amazon.
Course Title: English Grammar: TO BE (Simple Present) with Exciting Dialogue and Engaging pictures (Level A1-A2)ยฉ Learn English With Africa, May 2023
