Lesson 9 of 18
Confirm Routine Tasks and Their Order
Confirm the order of two routine non-hazardous hospitality tasks (clearing a table, then taking cups to dishwashing) using *prima* and *poi*, and check an unfamiliar task word before starting.
Learn these expressions
Prima sparecchia il tavolo.
First clear the table.
Supervisor gives task 1.
Poi porta le tazzine al lavaggio.
Then take the cups to dishwashing.
Supervisor gives task 2.
Prima sparecchio il tavolo.
First I clear the table.
You confirm task 1.
Poi porto le tazzine al lavaggio.
Then I take the cups to dishwashing.
You confirm task 2.
Faccio subito.
I will do it right away.
Acknowledge and begin work.
Sparecchio il tavolo uno o il tavolo due?
Do I clear table one or table two?
Clarify which table to handle.
New words
- sparecchiare
- to clear the table (remove used cups/plates)
- sparecchia
- clear! (instruction to you)
- sparecchio
- I clear (your confirmation)
- il tavolo
- the table
- le tazzine
- the cups (small espresso/coffee cups)
- portare
- to take / carry / bring
- porta
- take! / carry! (instruction to you)
- porto
- I take / I carry (your confirmation)
- prima
- first / before
- poi
- then / afterwards
- uno
- one (1); due = two (2)
- il vassoio / i vassoi
- the tray / the trays.
- Intende queste?
- Do you mean these? (Point to the cups.)
- Sì, queste
- Yes, these.
- al lavaggio
- to the dishwashing area
You may hear
- Ascolta, per favore. = Listen, please.
- Le tazzine sono le tazze piccole per il caffè. = The "tazzine" are the small coffee cups.
- Proprio così. = Exactly like that.
Grammar tipsShow
Expressing order: Use Prima [Action 1], poi [Action 2].
Supervisor: Prima sparecchia il tavolo uno, poi porta le tazzine al lavaggio.
Your reply: Quindi prima sparecchio il tavolo uno, e poi porto le tazzine al lavaggio.
Confirming an action: put the verb straight after prima or poi:
Say: Prima sparecchio... (First I clear...)
Say: Poi porto... (Then I take...)
Never combine faccio with an action verb: Do NOT say "prima faccio sparecchio" or "prima faccio porto".
Listen to the conversation
Listen once without reading. Then step through the lines below, one turn at a time.
Listening practice
Listen, pick an answer, then reveal the spoken words to check. Practice only, not an exam.
Question 1
What is the worker instructed to do first?
Question 2
What must the worker do after clearing table one?