Expressing wants and needs We’d like a house with four bedrooms.

I’d like to go on a vacation.

He’d like to be able to visit his family at least once a year.

No 6

Expressing wants and needs

Receptionist: You need to talk to Shirley—she’s our go-to agent for
apartment rentals. Here, I’ll take you to her office.

Need
https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/46f1aa6f- There are several words that indicate that something is required.
38dc-4304 94a8-fd1924768538/Dialogue.m4a ‘To need’ is used to require urgent attention or action to prevent
damage.

I need a doctor. I’m really bad.

Transcript We need to rest. We’ve been working for six hours.

Receptionist: Good morning! How can I help you? Flowers need water.

‘Need’ can also indicate a requirement dictated by someone else.

Ted: I’d like to rent an apartment in this neighborhood and wonder if you I need six more credits in order to graduate.
can help me. The children need to bring pencils and erasers to class.
Want To be a taxi driver, you need to have a special driver’s license.
To want means to have a desire for something and indicates ‘To have to’ can indicate an obligation to someone else.
some belief that it will be attained.
I have to get my car fixed.
We want to move to a better neighborhood. We’re saving our
He has to work on Saturdays.
money.)
You have to complete the prerequisites before you can take
She wants to go to college. She is trying to make good grades
advanced courses.
in high school.)
She was speeding and has to pay a 100$ fine.
He wants an ice-cream cone. He is going to the ice-cream
store/ordering ice cream.) ‘To be required to' indicates you have to do something that is
imposed by some sort of authority.

The children are required to do their homework before

Would like indicates a desire that may or may not be possible to
watching television.
satisfy.

Expressing wants and needs 1 Expressing wants and needs 2

 The students are required to wear their uniforms to class. I'd much rather go out for a meal than stay in and watch TV.

‘A requirement‘ is a standard imposed on someone by some sort

of authority.
Shirley: OK. First, tell me what you have in mind.
Ability to speak another language is a requirement for this
Mind
position.
‘To have in mind’ means to have a good idea of the kind of thing
It’s a requirement of the home owners’ association that you
you want.
keep your yard neat.
Sure, I’ll help you decorate your living room. What kind of look
A prerequisite is proof of previous instruction or ability
do you have in mind?
necessary for a certain job, course,or position.
‘To have a mind to’ means to be strongly considering an action.
This course is open to beginners. There are no prerequisites.
He stole money from me! I have a mind to report him.
A master’s degree in business is a prerequisite for this job.
‘To mind’ can mean to not be happy about something.
Go-to
I don’t mind going to the store. I’m not happy to do it.
Go-to is an expression used as an adjective to describe a person,
place, or object that people depend on or “go to first” for what they ‘To mind’ can mean to take charge of a store or shop.
need. Thank you for minding the store while I had lunch.
You need a handyman? Call Ron—he’s my go-to person for ‘To mind’ can also mean to babysit.
everything that goes wrong in the house.
Could you mind the children while I go to the store?
I love Cherrydale Hardware. It’s my go-to store for supplies.
‘To mind’ can also mean to pay attention to.

No, I won’t babysit for your children, because they won’t mind
Shirley: Hello, I’m Shirley. Have a seat and tell me what kind of apartment me.
you’re
Don’t mind her—she doesn’t know what she’s talking about.
looking for. Is it just for you?
‘To make up your mind’ means to decide.

I can’t make up my mind between the SUV and the van.

Ted: Well, that depends on what’s available. I’d really rather live alone, but
if I don’t ‘To change your mind’ means to have a different idea or opinion
see anything that works, I could share a bigger place with a friend of mine. than before.

Would rather I was going to paint the dining room red, but I changed my
mind and painted it blue.
If you would rather do something, you would prefer to do that
thing

Expressing wants and needs 3 Expressing wants and needs 4

 ‘Never mind’ means to disregard what was said. ‘Forget it’ is don’t
another way of expressing this. really need all the bells and whistles, but I would like to have a balcony.

What did you say? Never mind—it wasn’t important. All the bells and whistles

The expression all the bells and whistles refers to the most
modern, up-to-date—usually expensive—features of homes and
‘Mind’ is also a noun that refers to the brain.
other buildings that are either new or recently remodeled.
At the age of ninety-five, her body is weak, but her mind is still
The apartment has all the bells and whistles—a soaking tub
perfect.
with jets, multiple showerheads, granite countertops and
A ‘mind reader’ is someone who knows what someone else is stainless-steel appliances in the kitchen, energy-
thinking. efficientappliances, and many more exclusive features.
How was I supposed to know you had a headache? I’m not a
mind reader.

Shirley: And what is your budget? I mean, what monthly rent are you
Ted: The most important thing is the location. I want to be in the city, thinking
preferably in about, including utilities?
this neighborhood, so I can walk to the university and to the metro station. I
Utilities
don’t
have a car. Utilities include the services necessary for the functioning of a
house or apartment, including those for water and sewage,
Preferably
heating, air-conditioning, electricity, and sometimes trash
Preferably indicates someone’s first choice. collection.
I’d like to buy a new car, preferably one that doesn’t use much Some apartment buildings include the cost of utilities in the
gas. monthly rent, and some don’t.

Shirley: OK, then you don’t mind if there’s no parking space. Ted: I’m hoping to find something for about $700 a month.

Shirley: Look, I can tell you right now there are no decent apartments in
Ted: Exactly. But I want a secure building. I also want it to have a living this area
room, a under $1,200 a month—and none of them have dining rooms or balconies.
dining room, one bedroom, and, of course, a modern kitchen and bathroom. I There
are modern, secure buildings that are actually near the metro—but they’re at

Expressing wants and needs 5 Expressing wants and needs 6

 least one-year
six miles outside of the city. lease. Is that right? Oh, one more thing: you don’t have a pet, do you?

Decent Out there

of a satisfactory quality or level Out there is an expression that refers to the real world, at the
present time.
He earns a decent salary.
Go out and have fun! There are a lot of nice people out there.
I haven't had a decent cup of coffee since I've been here.
I’m always careful walking at night. You never know what
dangers are out there.
Ted: There’s no way I’m going to live way out there. Do you think you could
Worthwhile
find a
two-bedroom place closer in for, say, $1,400 a month? Something I could Worthwhile describes something that has value in terms of time,
share with money, experience, or purpose.
my friend?
The translation course is intensive, but it is really worthwhile.
Say
Have a look
Say can introduce an example of a possibility.
To have a look means to make a short investigation.
I’m sure you can get someone to pick you up. Why don’t you
A I lost my earring yesterday. Do you think it might be at your
ask, say, Rosita or Laura?
house?
Why don’t you paint this room a brighter color, say, yellow or B I’ll have a look and see if I can find it.
green?
In the meantime

In the meantime indicates a period of time between two events.

Another word with the same meaning is meanwhile.

Shirley: Let me do a little research this morning and see what I can find. I’m It will be a big help if you go to the store and get what we need
not going for dinner. In the meantime, I’ll set the table.
to tell you that it’s impossible, but I can’t promise anything, either. Give me a
Joey had to go away for six months. In the meantime, Julie
couple
went to classes and learned to cook.
of hours to see what’s out there. If I find anything worthwhile, we can go
have a look
this afternoon. In the meantime, I need you to fill out this form so I have your Ted: Yes, I’m willing to sign a one-year lease, and no, I don’t have a pet.
contact information. As a matter of fact, both you and your friend will have to And I’ll make
fill out sure my friend gets rid of his dog. He can leave it with his family—they have
an application in order to be approved as tenants. I’m assuming you want a

Expressing wants and needs 7 Expressing wants and needs 8

 a place
in the country. I’d better go give him a heads-up right now.

Get rid of

To get rid of means to make sure to no longer have something.

The car used too much gas, so we got rid of it. We sold it last
week.

You should get rid of that jacket. It doesn’t look good on you.

Country

Country can refer to a nation.

What country are you from? I’m from Colombia.

Country can also refer to the areas that are distant from cities,
often where there are farms.

We like to go to the country on weekends, to get some peace

and quiet.

A heads-up

A heads-up is a warning that something is going to happen, so

that the other person will be ready.

Hey, Mom—I’m bringing a friend home for dinner and wanted to

give you a heads-up.

Shirley: Good. Be sure both of you bring your financial and credit
information
with you.

Ted: Right. We’ll see you at noon, then. Thank you very much.

Shirley: See you later.

Expressing wants and needs 9 Expressing wants and needs 10