Learning to speak English? Our Everyday Conversations help you practice. Click the audio link to hear a native speaker pronounce each word while you read. Key terms are explained at the end. Today’s conversation is on using the word “let’s.”
Marnie: It’s going to be sunny and warm this weekend. Let’s do something outside on Saturday.
Blaine: Sure. Let’s play tennis! I bought a new tennis racket last week, and I really want to try it out.
Marnie: I don’t really like tennis. Let’s play basketball instead. There’s a court by my house.
Blaine: That sounds like fun. Will there be enough people to form two teams?
Marnie: I think so. Usually on nice weekends, a lot of people play basketball there.
Blaine: Great! Let’s do that on Saturday.
Now let’s review the vocabulary
Let’s is the contracted form of “let us.” “Let’s” plus a verb is a way of suggesting doing something together.
A tennis racket is a piece of sports equipment used to hit a ball in tennis.
To try something out means to use something for the first time.
Basketball is a game played by two teams. The teams try to score points by throwing a ball through a net located above each end of the court. A basketball is also the name for the ball used in the game.
Instead is used to suggest another choice.
A court is a rectangular area where basketball and other sports are played.
The American English website offers a variety of free resources for learners and teachers of English. The American English Facebook page posts learning materials for English-language learners daily.
Everyday Conversations are developed by the State Department’s Heidi Howland, a senior program officer in the Office of English Language Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
