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Intro
A free trip sounds like a lot of fun. But working when you’d rather be sightseeing or lounging by the pool doesn’t sound fun at all. Actually, that sounds like a business trip.

Many jobs involve traveling. You might need to go to another city, state, or even a different country to attend an important meeting, visit a client, or work on a project.

Business trips can be tiring, especially if you have to take a lot of them and are frequently separated from your family because of your job. But every once in a while, taking a trip on the company dollar can be fun, especially if you get to visit an exotic location.

Jeff is about to go on his first business trip. Hear him talk to Amy about what to expect.

Dialogue
Amy: Are you ready for your business trip, Jeff? Are you excited?
Jeff:  I don’t know. It’s my first one.
Amy:  Oh man, it’s gonna be so great. Do you have your expense account all set up?
Jeff:  What’s that?
Amy:  That’s how you get to eat for free, buy everything for free. Just expense it.
Jeff:  Wait. That’s free?
Amy:  Yeah, if you’re on a business trip, you’re on the company dollar. You can go out to eat, order a steak dinner.
Jeff:  Wait, wait, wait. Let me get this straight. Sounds like you’ve done this a lot.
Amy:  Yeah. I’m kind of a seasoned pro.
Jeff:  What’s the coolest place you’ve been to?
Amy:  Hawaii.
Jeff:  Hawaii?
Amy:  Yeah. We had like one meeting, and then I just spent the rest of the time on the beach. It was great.
Jeff:  Which island? What beach?
Amy:  Maui.
Jeff:  I mean, you had time to sightsee?
Amy:  Oh yeah. I swam with dolphins. I mean, it was pretty awesome. Flew business class. Are you gonna have time to sightsee? Do you have all that set up?
Jeff:  I hope so!
Amy:  Alright. Well, it sounds like you’re ready to go.

Discussion
Jeff is about to leave for his first business trip. Amy has traveled for work a lot and gives him advice.

Amy asks if Jeff has an expense account. She explains that with an expense account, you can get your company to pay for your meals and other expenses while you travel. Amy encourages Jeff to go out to expensive meals on the company dollar while he’s on his business trip.

The best place Amy has ever gone on a business trip was Hawaii. She says that she didn’t have to do a lot of work while she was there, so she got to sightsee and spend time at the beach. Jeff hopes his business trip will turn out to be a lot like Amy’s.

Have you ever gone on a business trip? Do you think it would be fun to travel for your job?

Grammar Point
Comparatives and Superlatives
Jeff asks Amy about the coolest place she’s ever been to on a business trip. She says the coolest place she’s gone is Hawaii.

Coolest is the superlative form of the adjective cool. Superlatives are special adjectives that we use to compare more than two things. Many superlatives end in “est,” like coolest.

A comparative is what we use to compare only two things. Many comparatives end in “er.” For example, the comparative form of cool is cooler. You can say, “Hawaii is a cooler place to visit than Texas.” Just don’t say that to a Texan!

Which is correct, “Miami is hotter than San Francisco in the summer,” or, “Miami is hottest than San Francisco in the summer”?

Quiz

❶　Where is Jeff going on his business trip? Hawaii Florida New York He doesn’t say.　✓❷　Amy says Hawaii is the __ place she’s ever been on a business trip. cool cooler coolest　✓❸　How many business trips has Jeff been on? 0　✓ 1 2 Many.❹　How many business trips has Amy been on? 0 1 2 Many.　✓❺　When she travels for work, Amy flies __. in coach in business class　✓ in first class in a private jet

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