Читай и говори пособие 1 курс

Additional formulas

(Because of the nature of what is to be expressed, virtually all formulas of apology and responses to them are polite and at least mildly formal.)

EXERCISES

I. Read the dialogue aloud several times.

II. Act the dialogue until you are thoroughly familiar with it.

111

III.What would you say in the following situations?

1.You want to push past someone in a crowded bus, tram, etc.

2.You have not heard what someone has said to you.

3.You have trodden on someone’s foot.

4.You want to draw someone’s attention to the fact that he has dropped something.

5.You want to apologize for being late.

6.You want to ask someone the time.

7.You want to ask someone the way to the railway station.

8.You want to ask someone for a light.

9.You have promised to lend someone a book and have forgotten to bring it with

you.

10.You want to break into a conversation.

11.You want to ask a favour of someone.

12.Someone is busy, and you want to ask him a question.

13.You have used someone’s telephone without asking him beforehand.

14.You have corrected someone in public and you want to reassure yourself that he didn’t mind your doing so.

Give appropriate replies to the formulas you have used in situations 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.

IV. Give appropriate replies to the following:.

1.I’m sorry but I couldn’t get you a ticket for tonight’s performance.

2.I’m afraid I’ve broken one of your cups.

3.I must apologize for loosing my temper.

4.I’m terribly sorry, but I thought you were Mrs. Adams.

5.I hope you didn’t mind me correcting you.

6.I’m sorry to butt in, but I must speak to you.

112

V. Invent five shot dialogues with various expressions of apology and replies to them.

Example: Miss Shaw: Sorry I’m late.

Mr. Riley: It doesn’t matter.

3. Requests, thanks

Dialogue A (relatively informal)

(Mrs. Wade comes out of the backdoor of her house, crosses the lawn, leans over the hedge and calls to her next-door neighbour’s teenage daughter, who is lying in a deck chair.)

Mrs. Wade: Joan, could you do me a favour? I want to go to the launderette, and my husband isn’t back yet. Do you think you could look after Angela while I’m away? I shan’t be long.

Joan: Of course. I’ll come round straight away. Mrs. Wade: Thanks a lot.

Joan: Would you mind if I had the TV on? I want to watch the hockey international.

Mrs. Wade: No, of course not. Make yourself at home.

Joan: If you meet my mother when you are going to the bus, would you tell where I am?

Mrs. Wade: Yes, of course. Well, I’d better be off now. It’s very nice of you to help out.

Joan: Oh, that’s all right.

Dialogue B (formal)

(Two people who do not know each other are sitting at the same table in a restaurant having a meal.)

Man: Could I trouble you for the mustard, please?

113

Woman: (handing him the mustard) Here you are.

Man: Thank you.

Dialogue C (relatively formal)

(Two men, strangers to each other, are waiting for a late-night bus.)

Mr. Cox: Could you give me a light? I’ve run out of matches.

Mr. Hill: (handing him a box of matches) Here you are. You may as well keep hem. I’ve got another box.

Mr. Cox: Thank you very much.

Additional formulas

114

115

EXERCISES

I. Read the dialogues aloud several times.

II. Act the dialogues until you are thoroughly familiar with them.

III. Make up shot dialogues with requests, and appropriate responses expressing consent. Use the following imperative sentences as a starting point.

Example: Close the window!

Mrs. Cox: Would you mind closing the window?

Mr. Bell: Not at all.

1.Post these letters for me!

2.Don’t lock the door!

3.Answer the phone!

4.Lend me your copy of Shakespeare!

5.Make your own bed!

6.Repeat that!

7.Make a little less noise!

8.Pass me the mustard!

9.Don’t have the radio on too loud!

10.Don’t bang the door!

11.Don’t smoke in here!

12.Hand me the dictionary!

13.Don’t talk!

14.Don’t make such a noise!

15.Help me on with my coat!

116

IV. Respond appropriately to the following, expressing acquiescence.

1.Do you mind if I smoke?

2.Would you call me at 7.15, please?

3.May I keep this copy?

4.Would you mind waiting outside a moment?

5.Could I borrow this record, please?

6.Do you mind sleeping on the couch?

7.Would you return these books to the library?

8.You won’t tell her, will you?

V.Make up five shot dialogues with various expressions of thanks and replies to them.

Example: Mr. James: Here’s the book I promised to lend you. Mrs. Hill: Oh, thank you very much.

Mr. James: That’s all right.

117

CONVERSATIONAL FORMULAS III

1. Agreement, partial agreement, etc.

Mr. Hardy: I used to think that children should be brought up and educated at home until they start school, but I’ve changed my mind over the last few years. In my opinion, nursery education in Britain should be greatly expanded and integrated into the whole education system.

Mrs. Craig: I agree with you. Children who attend a nursery find it easier to fit into the routine of school life.

Mrs. Hughes: I quite agree. They’ve got used to playing and working in a larger group.

Mr. Hardy: Precisely. They’ve already learned the elements of discipline and self-discipline which are essential at school.

Mrs. Craig: That’s true. Quite a lot of children who are only used to being at home and playing in the street find it difficult to settle down at school.

Mrs. Hughes: That’s just it. I think more or less every child would benefit from attending a nursery.

Mr. Hardy: So do I. In fact I hope some form of attendance at nursery will be compulsory some day.

Mrs. Craig: I couldn’t agree more.

Additional formulas

Agreement etc.

I agree with you completely / entirely. I quite agree with you.

I agree completely / entirely. I quite agree.

That’s (quite / perfectly) true. You’re (quite / perfectly) right. I’m of the same opinion. Exactly.

Hear, hear! (Expression of agreement with a speaker at a meeting, etc.)

118

Partial agreement

(Formulas used to indicate some measure of agreement and to introduce or imply a partial objection to what has been said.)

I partly agree (with you).

I agree (with you) to a certain extent. I agree (with you) up to a point.

That’s true to a certain extent / up to a point. You’re right to a certain extent / up to a point. (Yes,) I suppose so (but ...).

I suppose not (but ...).

There’s something in what you say (but ...). I wouldn’t deny that, but ... .

(Formulas used to indicate what has been said also applies to oneself.)

So do I. So can I. So was I, etc.

Neither do I. Neither can I. Neither was I, etc.

EXERCISES

I. Make a list of all the formulas in the dialogue which indicate agreement and related notions.

II. Ask questions on the dialogue to elicit the following short replies. Where appropriate, use phrases such as ‘according to Mrs. Craig’ and ‘in Mrs. Hughes’ opinion’.

1.That children should be brought up and educated at home until they start school.

2.In Britain.

3.To playing and working in a large group.

4.The elements of discipline and self-discipline.

119

5. They find it difficult to settle down at school.

6.More or less every child.

7.Some form of attendance at nursery.

III.Express full agreement with the following statements, using as many different formulas as possible in each case.

1.All boys should be taught to cook.

2.Smoking is a bad habit.

3.English should be compulsory for all students from the first course on.

4.Money spent on education is an investment for the future.

5.I don’t like people who are very ambitious.

6.Men ought to do more to help with the housework.

7.Life would be much easier if people were more tolerant.

8.Girls are usually more hard-working than boys.

9.Men are more boastful than women.

IV. Express partial agreement with the following statements, using as many appropriate short-response formulas as possible.

Example: She’s too self-assured for my liking.-

I partly agree. / I agree to a certain extent. / etc.

1.Smoking is a bad habit.

2.Motor-bikes are dangerous.

3.Boxing is a brutal sport, in my opinion.

4.Women still have to do most of the housework and shopping.

5.English isn’t easy as some people seem to think.

6.A well-educated person should know at least two foreign languages.

V. Repeat Exercise IV, this time adding some specific objection to the opinion expressed.

Example: She’s too self-assured for my liking. -

120