Language Review
A. Learn the prepositions used after some verbs, adjectives and nouns. Use a dictionary to understand their meanings.
-
base on (v)
capable of (adj)
basic for (n)
care about (v)
begin with (v)
care for sth (v) (= like to do sth)
Believe in (v)
careful of (adj)
benefit from (v)
careful about (adj)
blame sb for sth (v)
cause of (n)
blame sth on sb (v)
certain of (adj)
borrow sth from sb (v)
change into (v)
brilliant at (adj)
characteristic of (n/adj)
busy with (adj)
charge for (v)
call for (= demand) (v)
charge sb with (v)
campaign against/for (v)
cheque for (n)
B. Use as many phrases from Exercise A as you can in the situation of your own.
C. Learn the following verbal phrases and their synonymous expressions (or words). Make as many sentences as you can with the verbal phrases.
-
Put
put across
=
to communicate successfully
put away
=
1) to store, 2) to save (usually money)
put back
=
1) to set to an earlier time, 2) to cause to be delayed, 3) to replace sth, 4) to delay till a later time
put forward
=
1) to propose, 2) to set to a later time (of clocks, watches) (opp: put back)
put in
=
1) to include, 2) to apply for, 3) to interrupt
put in for
=
1) to make a formal request, 2) to apply for
put off
=
to postpone
put through
=
to connect by telephone
put up
=
1) to erect; to build, 2) (of prices) to increase, 3) to show in a public place
put up to
=
to give sb the idea of (doing sth usually wrong)
Acquiring More Skills
Diplomatic Language
In certain situations, a more direct approach is needed, e.g. It’ll be difficult to make him change his mind; in other situations, such an approach might seem too direct, or even aggressive, and diplomatic language is more appropriate.
E.g. It might be quite difficult to make him change his mind.
Compare the following sentences:
Can you tell me how you feel about it? – Could you tell me how you feel about it?
A. Make the following sentences sound less “direct”:
That solution will be too difficult to implement. – Won’t…
Tell them what your goals are. – I think you should…
Try and build on the strengths of the team. – I think you should…
I want each employee to have a say. – I’d like…
Tell me honestly what you think is wrong with the management style. – I’d like you…
Yet the staff involved in decision-making. – I think you should…
What’s your main concern? – Could you tell me…
It will be very risky to suggest removing any of the team members. – It might be quite…