Refusing a Request
I’m sorry (really very sorry), I can’t help you.
I’m sorry, I haven’t got time to ... .
Accepting a Request
Yes, certainly. Anything else?
Yes, of course.
Sure, I will. (esp. AmE)
Exercise 18
Work in pairs. Make requests and respond to them as in the model.
Model: You are at home. You want the TV on.
Will you turn the TV on?
Yes, of course.
1 You are in a library. You want the librarian to show you a few
books on economics.
2 You are very busy. You want someone to post the letter for you.
I am very ...
3 You are taken ill with influenza. Your neighbour is going
shopping. You want some bread and milk.
I can’t go out, I am ...
4 You are short of money. You want to borrow 100,000 roubles
from your acquaintance.
I must pay back my debt.
5 You are on a train. You want the window open.
It is stuffy in the ...
6 You are on holiday. You want someone to take your photograph.
7 You want someone to show you the way to the Rector’s Office.
Exercise 19
You are at an airport travelling with a friend. You need your friend’s help in a number of ways: with the luggage (baggage) - esp. AmE), checking in flight information, etc. Ask your friend to do these things, in varying degrees of politeness. When you have finished talking, write down in dialogue form the conversation you have had. Use the words and expressions below as prompts.
1 a check-in desk
2 flight number
3 departure gate
4 departure gate number
5 at which departure gate my flight is boarding
6 how to get to the check-in desk
7 to announce the flight over the public address system
8 check-in clerk
9 boarding card
10 seat number
11 to listen for destinations and the relevant flight and gate numbers
Expressing Personal Opinions or Personal Points of View
An opinion can be expressed
in a strong way |
I’m sure that ... I am convinced that ... There is no doubt that ... It’s perfectly clear to me that ...
|
|
in a neutral way |
I think you are ... I believe (that) ... It’s my opinion that ...
|
As I see it ... From my point of view The way I see it is that ... |
in a tentative way (with some hesitation or reservation) |
It seems to me that ... I’m inclined to think that ... To my mind ... I see your point but ... I agree up to a point but I suppose you are right but ...
|
|
When talking to somebody or interviewing somebody one can put direct questions expecting direct answers. Putting direct questions often alternates with expressing personal opinion in a conversation.
e.g. - Are you interested in the job of a bank accountant?
- I believe/ As I see it/ It seems to me you are interested in the job of
a bank accountant. Do you have the necessary qualifications?
Note: Tentative opinions are very typical of British people.
Americans would usually be more positive.
Exercise 21
Work in pairs. Express your opinion about the situations in which the following proverbs and idiomatic expressions with the words “money”, “pence”, “pound”, and “dollar” can be used. What are the corresponding Russian proverbs and idiomatic expressions?
1 Look after the pence and the pounds will look after themselves.
2 Lend your money and lose your friend.
3 Money is a good servant but a bad master.
4 Be rolling in money. (e.g. He must be rolling in money!)
5 Marry (into) money.
6 Look like a million dollars.
7 (One’s) bottom dollar.
8 Money doesn’t grow on tree.
9 Hush money.
10 The almighty dollar.
Exercise 22
Work in pairs. Make up and act out conversations on the topic “At a students’ scientific conference”. Make use of the topical words and expressions given below. Make use of expressions of agreement and disagreement, like and dislike, opinion and comment is recommended.
The list of verbs denoting SPEECH ACTS (performatives):
mention - упоминать
report - сообщать, делать сообщение/ доклад
point out - указать, подчеркивать (в речи, сообщении)
stress - подчеркивать, делать акцент на ...
describe - описывать, охарактеризовать
explain - объяснять
to present a paper/ report on ... - представить доклад (на тему) ...
the subject matter of a report - предмет сообщения/ доклада
to listen to a report - заслушать доклад
an abstract of a report - тезисы доклада
to attend a conference/ to parti- - принять участие в конференции
cipate in a conference
participants (in a conference) - участники (конференции)
to speak at a conference - выступать на конференции
to discuss the most important - обсудить наиболее важные
points of the report моменты доклада
to meet a deadline - успеть к установленному сроку
reprint and Xerox copies of - репринты и ксерокопии доклада/
a paper/ a report сообщения
... your report abounds in statis- - в вашем докладе широко
tical data представлены статистические
данные
to make remarks - делать замечания
my report deals with... - мое сообщение касается ...
to show slides at a conference - демонстрировать слайды
to revise one’s point of view - пересмотреть точку зрения
I greatly appreciate your advice/ - я высоко ценю ваш совет/
suggestions предложения
I want to make my point clear - я хочу объяснить суть вопроса
the results of the survey/ the data - результаты обследования/ данные
enabled me to arrive at these позволили мне сделать эти выводы
conclusions
READING