Running Out of Cooking Gas

Rahul is halfway through cooking dinner when the flame suddenly dies — the LPG cylinder has run out. He has to manage with a backup plan while waiting for a new one.

Meanings in Rahul, Neighbour, Delivery boy

Key words and phrases

run out of gasto have no cooking gas left in the cylinderThe gas ran out right in the middle of cooking.

flamethe visible fire produced by a gas burnerThe flame suddenly died out while he was cooking.

cylinderthe metal container that holds LPG cooking gasHe checked the cylinder and found it was empty.

emptyhaving nothing left insideThe cylinder felt light, which meant it was empty.

spare cylinderan extra cylinder kept as a backupLuckily, he had a spare cylinder in the kitchen.

emergency refilla same-day gas delivery requested urgentlyHe requested an emergency refill from the gas agency.

borrowto take and use something temporarily with permissionHe decided to borrow a cup of cooked rice from his neighbour instead.

neighboura person who lives near youHis neighbour offered to help while he waited for the delivery.

induction stovean electric cooktop that doesn't need gasHe switched to his induction stove to finish cooking.

delivery boya person who delivers goods, such as a gas cylinder, to your homeThe delivery boy brought the new cylinder within an hour.

weighthow heavy something isYou can estimate how much gas is left by checking the cylinder's weight.

regulatorthe device that controls the flow of gas from the cylinderHe removed the regulator from the empty cylinder.

gas agencythe company that supplies and delivers LPG cylindersHe called the gas agency to ask for an urgent refill.

cooking gasthe fuel used for cooking on a gas stoveCooking gas is delivered in cylinders to most homes.

half-cookedpartly cooked, not finishedThe dinner was left half-cooked when the gas ran out.

backup planan alternative plan used when the first one failsHis backup plan was to use the electric stove.

wait timethe amount of time before something arrives or happensThe wait time for a new cylinder was about an hour.

gas leakan unwanted escape of gas from a cylinder or pipeAlways check for a gas leak before connecting a new cylinder.

connectionthe joining of the regulator to the cylinderHe tightened the connection to make sure it was secure.

estimateto make an approximate calculation or judgementHe tried to estimate how many days the cylinder would last.

Useful sentences

Ask Why did the flame suddenly go out?
Answer The gas cylinder ran out in the middle of cooking.
Ask Do you have a spare cylinder at home?
Answer No, I'll need to order an emergency refill.
Ask How long will the delivery take?
Answer The gas agency said it would take about an hour.
Ask What will you do until then?
Answer I'll use the induction stove to finish cooking.
Ask Should I check if the cylinder is really empty?
Answer Yes, just lift it and check the weight.
Ask Can I borrow anything from you until the gas arrives?
Answer Of course, take whatever you need from my kitchen.
Ask Is there a smell of gas leak anywhere?
Answer No, I checked carefully, there's no leak.
Ask Did you disconnect the regulator properly?
Answer Yes, I removed it carefully from the empty cylinder.
Ask How many days does one cylinder usually last?
Answer I estimate it lasts around three to four weeks.
Ask Has the delivery boy arrived yet?
Answer Yes, he just brought the new cylinder.

Dialogue

RahulThat's odd, the flame just went out.

RahulOh no, I think the cylinder has run out.

RahulLet me check — yes, it feels completely empty.

RahulI'll call the gas agency for an emergency refill.

NeighbourDo you need to borrow anything until it arrives?

RahulActually, yes — could I borrow a little rice for now?

NeighbourOf course, here you go. Use my induction stove too if you like.

RahulThank you so much, that's really helpful.

Delivery BoySir, here's your new cylinder. Let me connect it and check for any leak.

RahulThank you. I'll make sure to keep a spare cylinder from now on.

Common mistakes

Saying "gas is over" instead of "the gas has run out" or "the cylinder is empty" (avoid the direct-Hindi phrase "is over").
Saying "the cylinder finished" instead of "the cylinder is empty" or "the gas ran out" (a cylinder doesn't "finish," the gas inside it does).
Saying "call gas man" instead of "call the gas agency" or "call the delivery boy" (use the correct term for who you're contacting).
Saying "I will borrow rice to neighbour" instead of "I will borrow rice from my neighbour" (use "from," not "to," with "borrow").
Saying "connect the gas" instead of "connect the regulator" or "connect the cylinder" (be specific about what is being connected).
Saying "how much gas remaining" instead of "how much gas is remaining" or "how much gas is left" (don't drop the verb "is").

Quick quiz

1. What does "run out of gas" mean?

2. What device controls the flow of gas from the cylinder?

3. What is a "spare cylinder"?

4. Complete: "He switched to his ___ stove to finish cooking."

5. Who delivers a new LPG cylinder to your home?

6. What should you always check for when connecting a new cylinder?

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