Getting shoes repaired
One heel has gone, they are your only good pair, and the man has a hammer in his hand.
The phrase
The heel came off on the stairs.10 words10 sentences
The ten words
- heel/hiːl/
noun
The raised part at the back of a shoe.
- sole/soʊl/
noun
The bottom of a shoe.
- leather/ˈleðər/
noun
Material made from animal skin.
- glue/ɡluː/
noun
A substance that sticks things together.
- stitch/stɪtʃ/
noun
One loop of thread through material.
- polish/ˈpɑːlɪʃ/Also said ˈpoʊlɪʃ.
verb
To rub something until it shines.
- lace/leɪs/
noun
The cord that ties a shoe.
- worth/wɜːrθ/
adjective
Having enough value to justify it.
- cost/kɑːst/Also said kɔːst.
noun
The amount of money needed.
- pair/per/
noun
Two things that go together.
The sentences
The heel came off on the stairs.
Could you replace the sole as well?
The leather is still in good condition.
Will glue be strong enough for that?
A stitch here has come undone.
Could you polish them before I collect?
One lace has broken as well.
Is it worth repairing at all?
What would the whole cost come to?
This is my only decent pair.
Pronunciation
heel/hiːl/
Long vowel and a clear L: HEEL, not hill.
sole/soʊl/
It sounds exactly like soul.
leather/ˈleðər/
The EA is short and the TH is soft: LEH-ther.
polish/ˈpɑːlɪʃ/
The O is short: POL-ish.
pair/per/
It sounds like pear, the fruit.
Questions
- What do I say if the heel has come off?
- You say 'The heel came off on the stairs.'
- What does sole mean here?
- Sole is the bottom of the shoe, as in 'Could you replace the sole as well?'
- How do I ask if it's worth fixing?
- You say 'Is it worth repairing at all?'
The same situation in Spanish.