Sharing Tiffin at School

During the lunch break, Rahul and his friends open their tiffin boxes and share food with each other, trying new dishes from their friends' homes.

Meanings in Rahul, Classmates

Key words and phrases

tiffin boxa container used to carry a packed mealRahul's tiffin box had rice and vegetables today.

lunch breakthe time during school for eating and restingThe lunch break lasts thirty minutes.

share foodto give some of your food to othersThey love to share food during lunch break.

packed luncha meal prepared at home to take to school or workHer mother prepares a packed lunch every day.

deliciousvery pleasant to tasteThe paratha was absolutely delicious.

swapto exchange one thing for anotherThey swapped part of their lunches.

finish your foodto eat all the food given to youThe teacher reminded them to finish their food.

recipethe instructions for preparing a dishHe asked his friend for the recipe of the dish.

leftoversfood remaining after a mealThere were a few leftovers in his tiffin box.

home-cookedfood prepared at home rather than bought outsideHome-cooked food always tastes the best.

spicyhaving a strong, hot taste from spicesThe pickle was too spicy for him.

picklea spicy or tangy condiment made from preserved vegetables or fruitShe added a spoon of mango pickle to her rice.

napkina piece of cloth or paper used to wipe hands or mouth while eatingHe wiped his hands with a napkin after eating.

cutleryspoons, forks, and knives used for eatingShe forgot to pack cutlery with her tiffin.

hungryfeeling a need to eat foodBy lunch break, everyone was very hungry.

blandhaving little or no strong flavorThe dal tasted a bit bland without salt.

snacka small amount of food eaten between mealsHe kept a snack for after school.

curda thick dairy food made from fermented milk, similar to yogurtShe had rice with curd for lunch.

lunch bellthe school bell that rings to announce the start of the lunch breakEveryone rushed out when the lunch bell rang.

favorite dishthe food someone likes the mostRajma chawal is Rahul's favorite dish.

Useful sentences

Ask What did you bring for lunch today?
Answer I brought rice and vegetable curry.
Ask Can I try a bit of your paratha?
Answer Sure, here you go, it's really delicious.
Ask Do you want to swap some of your lunch with mine?
Answer Yes, that sounds like a great idea.
Ask Can you share the recipe with my mother?
Answer Of course, I'll ask my mother to write it down.
Ask Did you finish all your food?
Answer Almost, just a few leftovers.
Ask Is that pickle too spicy for you?
Answer A little, but I still love it.
Ask Did you bring a napkin and cutlery?
Answer Yes, they're right here in my bag.
Ask Are you hungry? The lunch bell just rang.
Answer Yes, I'm starving, let's eat quickly.
Ask What's your favorite dish that your mother makes?
Answer Rajma chawal, it's never bland at all.
Ask Is your food home-cooked or did you buy a snack from outside?
Answer It's all home-cooked, my mother never lets me buy snacks.

Dialogue

RahulWhat's in your tiffin box today? It smells amazing.

ClassmateIt's aloo paratha, my mother made it fresh this morning.

RahulCan I try a piece? I'll share my rice with you.

ClassmateSure, let's swap! This is fun.

RahulThis paratha is delicious! Can you give me the recipe?

ClassmateI'll ask my mother and tell you tomorrow.

RahulDo you have any pickle? Mine tastes a bit bland today.

ClassmateHere, try this mango pickle, but it's quite spicy.

RahulI love spicy food. Thanks for sharing your tiffin with me today.

ClassmateAnytime! Now let's finish our food before the bell rings again.

Common mistakes

Saying "tiffin" as a verb — "I tiffined" is incorrect; say "I ate my tiffin" or "I had my lunch."
Saying "share my food to you" instead of "share my food with you."
Saying "finish your food fastly" instead of "finish your food quickly."
Saying "exchange my lunch to you" instead of "swap my lunch with you" (use "swap ... with," not "exchange ... to").
Saying "the food is too much spicy" instead of "the food is too spicy" (don't add "much" before "spicy").
Saying "I am feeling hungry-ness" instead of "I am feeling hungry" ("hungry" is already an adjective; no need for "-ness").

Quick quiz

1. What is a "tiffin box"?

2. Food remaining after a meal is called ___.

3. Complete: "They ___ part of their lunches."

4. What word means having a strong, hot taste from spices?

5. Complete: "He wiped his hands with a ___ after eating."

6. What do you call spoons, forks, and knives used for eating?

Practise speaking and listening

The free Day to Day English app turns every lesson into practice with audio, a story you follow and more than 1680 words to learn.

Free for AndroidPractise in the app

menu_book Key words and phrases

forum Useful sentences

chat Dialogue

error Common mistakes

quiz Quick quiz