23/12/15 Rachel English – ENGLISH CONVERSATION PRACTICE 👶 Hiring a Babysitter

Hey, Dana. I was calling to see if you could babysit on Friday.
Why ‘I was calling’ instead of ‘I am calling’?
Sometimes we use the past continuous tense to ask questions.
I was calling to see if you could babysit,
I was wondering if you wanted to go out to dinner with me.
It just adds an extra layer of politeness.

Oh, I can’t. I’m not free that evening.
You could also decline by saying: I’m not available,
I already have plans,
or I’m all booked up.
I am free Saturday evening, though.
I’m sure we can change our reservations.
Let’s do Saturday.
Does seven o’clock work?
It does.
Great! Thank you. See you then.
You’re welcome.

–
金曜日に子守をしてもらえないかと電話しています。
instead of -, 〜のかわりに
past continuous tense 過去進行形
礼儀正しさがさらに増すだけです。
layer 皮、層、地層、レイヤー、積み重ね
decline 断る
available 人が)手が空いている、応対できる、会うことができる
be booked up 予約で満席になっている、先約がある、予定がつまっている、