Conversation 4

Man: This chair is broken.

Woman: Who broke it?

Man: I don’t know. It was broken when I got here.

Woman: Should I throw it out?

Man: No, I’ll see if maintenance can fix it.

Woman: Don’t bother. It is more trouble than it’s worth.

Man: You may be right.

Key Language Points from the Lesson1. Get Here

1. Got Here (Get Here)

Example from the lesson:

It was broken when I got here.

Meaning:

Get here means arrive here.

Explanation:

In everyday English, get is often used instead of arrive when talking about reaching a place.

Example Sentences

• What time did you get here?
• I got home late last night.
• She got to work before everyone else.

2. Throw It Out

Example from the lesson:

Should I throw it out?

Meaning:

Throw out means discard, get rid of, or put in the trash.

Explanation:

This phrasal verb is commonly used when something is old, broken, or no longer needed.

Example Sentences

• I threw out my old shoes.
• Don't throw it out. We can still use it.
• We need to throw out these broken boxes.

3. Maintenance

Example from the lesson:

I'll see if maintenance can fix it.

Meaning:

Maintenance refers to the people responsible for repairing and taking care of equipment, buildings, and facilities.

Explanation:

In schools, offices, hotels, and apartment buildings, maintenance workers fix problems such as broken furniture, lights, plumbing, and equipment.

Example Sentences

• Call maintenance to fix the air conditioner.
• The maintenance team repaired the elevator.
• Maintenance is checking the heating system today.

4. Don't Bother

Example from the lesson:

Don't bother.

Meaning:

Don't spend the time or effort doing something.

Explanation:

We use this phrase when something is unnecessary or not worth the effort.

Example Sentences

• Don't bother cooking. Let's order food.
• Don't bother printing it. I can read it online.
• Don't bother calling him. He already knows.

5. More Trouble Than It's Worth

Example from the lesson:

It is more trouble than it's worth.

Meaning:

Something requires too much effort compared to the benefit you receive.

Explanation:

This common expression is used when a task is difficult, time-consuming, or expensive and the result is not valuable enough.

Example Sentences

• Fixing that old computer is more trouble than it's worth.
• Driving there is more trouble than it's worth.
• The project became more trouble than it was worth.

Grammar Focus: Simple Passive

This conversation includes several examples of the simple passive voice.

Passive Structure

Subject + be + past participle

Examples:

• The chair is broken.
• The chair was broken.

Example 1

This chair is broken.

Active:

Someone broke the chair.

Passive:

The chair is broken.

The focus is on the chair, not the person who broke it.

Example 2

It was broken when I got here.

Active:

Someone broke it before I arrived.

Passive:

It was broken when I got here.

The speaker does not know who broke it, so the passive is used.

Why the Passive is Used

The passive voice is common when:

• The person doing the action is unknown.
• The person doing the action is not important.
• The focus is on the result of the action.

Examples:

• The chair is broken.
• The window was broken.
• The report was completed yesterday.
• The computer was repaired.

In this conversation, the speakers focus on the condition of the chair, not on who broke it. This is a very common use of the passive voice in everyday English and workplace conversations.