Everyday English. Being Polite

22. Study Grammar Reference, (IV) Distancing, p. … and make up short dialogues in the following situations.

1. You are a personal assistant of Mr Greenwood, a Barkley Bank manager. You’ve been given a task of arranging a business lunch with an important client, Mr Casey. The meeting is to take place at the restaurant of ‘Le Merridian’ hotel in Piccadilly Street, London. The problem to be discussed at lunch is the investment Mr Casey is going to make. Get in touch with Mr Casey and enquire most politely if he accepts the invitation and ask him to name the date and time of the meeting. Ask him also to bring his draft contract. During the conversation ask Mr Casey to wait so that you could find out if the time of the meeting is convenient for Mr Greenwood. When you are through, phone the hotel restaurant and book a table for two.

2. You are an exchange student living with an English family. Your hosts seem to be nice and you decide to invite two friends to dinner. Naturally, you will pay for extra food and cooking. Ask the hostess if you can do it.

3. You are a student living in New York. You need money so you’ve got a job as a salesperson in a big department store. Your supervisor asked you to take care of a customer who wants to buy a present for his daughter. Help him to make his choice. Remember that there are some things that you can bring from a back store room if the customer waits a little.

4. Formal correspondence. (See Grammar Reference ( 5 ) p. … ) You are a travel agent. A regular customer, a certain Mr Smith, asked you to arrange a holiday for him in two weeks’ time. Advise him where to go and send him travel brochures to help him make his choice.

1. Dictate a letter to this effect to your secretary.

2. Dictate a similar letter that could be addressed to a friend.