Learning English

14 - Lost property

Mary's having trouble with her university assignment again. She saved her work on a memory stick - which has gone missing in Daniel's chaotic bedroom. Has anyone handed in the missing memory stick to the Lost Property office?

Language focus

Asking for something you've lost 

I wonder if you can help me please?
Has anyone handed in my memory stick?
If somebody hands it in, please can you let me know?
Here are my contact details.

Vocabulary

Words and phrases 

all over the place!
chaotic
hasty
haphazard

Transcript

Narrator
Welcome back to English at University - the series that teaches some English phrases to help you through your first year at university. 
Mary's trying to get hold of her assignment which is saved on Daniel's memory stick – it was in his trouser pocket. Not anymore and the hunt is now on to find it.

Daniel 
Now I put it in my pocket here and walked over there and through the door…

Mary
You should be more careful. Goodness you've got stuff allover the place!

Daniel
It may look chaotic but I'm sure it's here somewhere. It's got my name on it. Oh it's no good - you'll have to go to the lost property office and see if it's in there.

Mary
Me?

Daniel
Well I'll carry on looking for it in here.   Just go down the corridor, turn left and then right, the office is behind the student union. Just tell them 'I've lost a memory stick' or something.

Mary
Oh, ok. See you later.

Narrator
Err Mary – don't be too hasty. You can't just say 'I've lost a memory stick' or something – he hasn't got a clue!
When you get to the lost property office, just say 'I wonder if you can help me please?  I'm looking for a memory stick that I lost earlier.' And 'has anyone handed in a memory stick today?'

Mary
And if they haven't got it?

Narrator
Say that you would like them to let you know if gets handed in.  Give them your details and hopefully it will turn up – it'll be found. Look you're here now…

Mary
OK thanks.

Caretaker
Yes?

Mary
Err, hello. I've… lost something.

Caretaker
Good… I mean, good you're in the right place – the LOST property office.

Mary
Right. Good. Well. I wonder if you can help me please? Earlier today I… well, my friend… lost a memory stick somewhere on the university campus.

Caretaker
Memory stick? We've got thousands of those.

Mary
Oh I see. I wonder… has anyone handed in my memory stick… a black one, with the name Daniel Smythe written on it? It's very precious to me.

Caretaker
What, the memory stick or Daniel Smythe?! Look, I'll see what we've got. Nope, nothing there. Sorry.

Mary
Oh no. Well, if somebody hands it in, please can you let me know? Here are my contact details.

Caretaker
Alright but I don't think there's much chance of it turning up.

Narrator
Oh dear Mary. Things aren't looking good. Daniel's organisational skills seem a bit haphazard. In future, don't trust Daniel with anything valuable. Anyway, you've done your best trying to find that memory stick by using these phrases…

I wonder if you can help me please?
Has anyone handed in my memory stick?
If somebody hands it in, please can you let me know?
Here are my contact details.

You can practise these phrases, pick up a few more plus learn some top tips for studying in the UK on our website at bbclearningenglish.com.
Never mind Mary, I'm sure it will turn up – but now it's time to do some washing at the laundrette…

Daniel
I've searched everywhere and I just don't know what's happened to it… anyway how do you use these stupid washing machines?

Mary
The clothes go in there… the money goes in there… and the powder goes there. Is this the first wash you've done this term?

Daniel
It's the first wash I've ever done - my mum usually does my washing. Hold on, what's this at the bottom? The memory stick! It was wrapped up in with my dirty pants!

Mary
Yuk! You'd better get those in the machine and I'll get that to Professor Not as soon as possible.

Narrator
Crisis averted!

More

If you're studying abroad and need help with your English, we have lots to offer on our BBC Learning English website.

Look at this BBC guide to studying smartly.

Next

It's almost the end of Mary's first term at the University of Studies. She's settled in well and made some new friends. In the next episode we'll find out how well her studying is going when she gets some feedback from Professor Not…