VOA日常语法2024--Reservations and Rentals

This week on Everyday Grammar, we learn some of the grammar you need to talk about getting the things you need while on vacation.

A common summer vacation might involve a trip to a beach or a lake.

Going to a lake

Let's say we are going to Big Bear Lake in California for a week.

Because I am describing my plans like a story, I will use only the present tense. Here is how I would plan our trip:

The first thing we should do is find out where we can stay. My family loves camping, so I looked for a campground. On the Big Bear Lake website, it says Pine Knot Campground is good for families. Hiking and mountain biking trails are nearby. So, I call and make a reservation for a campsite, a place to put up our tent. Here is how the call begins:

"I'd like to reserve a campsite at Pine Knot Campground for the last week of July."

The verb "reserve" means to arrange to use something at a later date. It is a transitive verb, so you need an object. In this case, the object is "a campsite." The reservation manager asks me some questions:

"Do you want a tent or RV space?

How many people are in your party?"

The expression, "in your party" means the number in your group. An "RV" or recreational vehicle is a camping vehicle, often with a bed and kitchen. I answer:

"I want a tent space for five people."

I learn that the cost will be $42 a night. You might hear "per night" or "a night" when you make a reservation to sleep in a place. I give my credit card number to the manager to make the reservation and she says I will get an email "confirmation¹." Usually, a confirmation is a number or a printed code that shows you have made a reservation.

Price difference

With the campsite reserved, the next thing I need to do is to find mountain bike rentals³. My family likes to ride bicycles in the woods, but we cannot bring our bicycles to the lake. I find a few sports shops on Big Bear Boulevard near the park. I call to see if I can rent bikes from them:

"I'd like to rent five mountain bikes for the last week of August."

Note that I do not ask to borrow the bikes because I am paying to use the bikes, so I am renting them. The clerk at the shop asks:

"Kids or adults? And do you want pedal⁴ or electric ones? There are a lot of hills around here."

I had not thought about using an electric bike. It would make biking in the mountains easier. But I need more information, so I ask:

"I need three kid's bikes and two adult bikes. What is the price difference between pedal and electric?"

The clerk answers:

"Pedal is $48 a day, and electric is $120 a day. We only have electric in the adult size, though."

The price helps me to decide. Because $120 a day is a very high daily rate. We will pedal!

Package offers

After I finish renting the bikes, there is just one more thing to plan - what will we do on the lake? I heard there are lots of water sports at Big Bear. I find a web page for the marina, the place where boats are kept. It says they have many different kinds of boats available for rent. A quiet day fishing on the lake is my family's idea of a good time. So, I call to find out about renting a fishing boat:

"Do you rent boats and fishing gear⁵ together?"

The marina staff member answers:

"We have an all-included fishing package - that is, the boat, gear, bait⁶ and even lunch. How many people?"

This sounds like a good "package." Businesses offer a "package" deal when one price covers a number of things that would normally be sold separately. "Gear" is a general word for everything you might need for an activity. For fishing, it means a pole, hooks⁸ and line, and a life jacket. I answer:

"Five. How much is it for the whole day?"

I learn it is $200 for the boat and $25 for the gear. I arrange to rent the boat and make a note to be sure to bring sunscreen and sun hats for everyone.

Planning ahead

In this lesson, we use some common expressions that you will hear when making reservations and renting things. They are: to reserve, to make a reservation, confirmation, a night or per night, a day, price difference, package, and gear. Put these into use and you can plan your own vacation trip.

Learning about all of these rental² and reservation costs a month or two before our vacation makes me think - planning ahead for a vacation is a good idea. Now, I will not be surprised by extra costs, and I will enjoy the time with my family. I hope you enjoy your vacation, too.

Words in This Story

hike - v. to walk a long distance, especially for pleasure or exercise

tent - n. a portable⁹ shelter that is used outdoors, is made of cloth (such as canvas¹⁰ or nylon), and is held up with poles and ropes

pedal - n. a flat piece of metal, rubber, or the like that you push with your foot to make a machine move, work, or stop

credit card - n. a small plastic card that is used to buy things that you agree to pay for later

kid - n. a young person

bait -n. something that looks like something a fish would eat which is used to catch fish

pole - n. a long, straight piece of wood, metal, or the like

hook⁷ - n. a curved or bent¹¹ tool for catching¹², holding, or pulling something

line - n. a long and thin rope, string, or the like

life jacket - n. something that is worn over your upper body like a jacket or vest and that is designed to save you from drowning by holding you up when you are in water

1 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

2 rental   

n.租赁，出租，出租业

参考例句：

• The yearly rental of her house is 2400 yuan.她这房子年租金是2400元。
• We can organise car rental from Chicago O'Hare Airport.我们可以安排提供从芝加哥奥黑尔机场出发的租车服务。

3 rentals   

n.租费，租金额( rental的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• In some large hotels, the income derived from this source actually exceeds income from room rentals. 有些大旅馆中，这方面的盈利实际上要超过出租客房的盈利。 来自辞典例句
• Clerk: Well, Canadian Gifts is on the lower level. It's across from Prime Time Video Rentals. 噢，礼品店在楼下，在黄金时刻录像出租屋的对面。 来自口语例句

4 pedal   

n.踏板；adj.脚的，踏脚的；v.用脚踏动，踩踏板

参考例句：

• He pressed down the accelerator pedal of his car.他踩下汽车的加速器踏板。
• I saw him pedal to school every morning.我看到他每天早晨骑自行车上学。

5 gear   

n.齿轮，传动装置，设备，衣服；vt.使适应

参考例句：

• We have to gear our lives to the new changes.我们必须使自己的生活适应新的变化。
• The teeth of the wheel gear into each other.齿轮互相啮合。

6 bait   

n.饵，引诱物；vt.用饵引诱，折磨，奚落

参考例句：

• The fish took the bait.鱼吞饵了。
• They are too knowing to bite at such a bait.他们很老练，不上这种当。

7 hook   

vt.钩住；n.钩子，钩状物

参考例句：

• The blacksmith forged a bar of iron into a hook.铁匠把一根铁条锻造成一个钩子。
• He hangs up his scarf on the hook behind the door.他把围巾挂在门后的衣钩上。

8 hooks   

钩拳( hook的名词复数 )； 挂钩； 转弯处； 曲线球

参考例句：

• I want to buy the hams hanging on the hooks. 我想买挂在钩子上的火腿。
• This dress hooks at the back, not at the side. 这件衣服是在背后而不是在旁边扣钩。

9 portable   

adj.轻便的，手提式的；n.便携的东西

参考例句：

• I have a portable typewriter.我有一个便携式打字机。
• There is a pretty portable pair of steps in one corner of the room.屋角放着一架小巧玲珑的折梯。

10 canvas   

n.粗帆布，一块油画布

参考例句：

• The times that people used canvas boat have become history.人们用帆船的时代已成为历史。
• Smith painted an oil painting on the canvas.史密斯在画布上画了一幅油画。

11 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

12 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。