7.3 Request notes Writing
Work in pairs.
Choose one of the situations below and write a note for it.
Pass your note to another pair.
Look at the note you have received. You can’t help. Write a note to a third person, explaining the situation, and asking him/her to help instead.
1. You can’t go to work tomorrow. Write a note for your secretary. 2. You lent a book to a friend. Write a note asking him/her to bring it back this evening. |
3. You are going to stay out late, and you haven’t got a key. Leave a note for your brother. 4. You are going away on holiday. Leave a note for your next-door neighbour. |
7.4 Asking for permission
Presentation and practice
A driver has just picked up a hitchhiker. The hitchhiker asks for permission to do two things:
Do you mind Is it all right |
if I leave my rucksack on the back seat ? |
Would you mind Would it be all right |
if I took off my shoes ? |
1. What other requests does the hitchhiker make ? Use the ideas below.
-
a)
window
d)
radio
b)
map
e)
sleep
c)
sandwiches
f)
drive
2 What requests for permission might you make in these situations?
You’re having an interview for a job.
You’re staying at a small hotel.
You’re camping in a farmer’s field.
Practice
Hitchhiker: Is it all right if I leave my rucksack on the back seat ?
Driver: Yes, of course. Go ahead.
Hitchhiker: And ... er ... would you mind if I took off my shoes ? My feet are killing me.
Driver: Well, I’d rather you didn’t. It’s a rather hot day.
In pairs, have similar conversations, for the situations below. Each time, you must make up the second request yourself.
You’re staying at your uncle’s house. You want to invite some friends over.
You’re at a friend’s house. You want to borrow a record.
You’re at a party. You want to get some ice from the fridge.
You’re in your boss’s office. You want to take your jacket off.
Now report the conversations you have had, as in the example.
Example He asked the driver if he could , |
leave his rucksack on the seat. take off his shoes. |
The driver |
let him leave his rucksack on the seat. wouldn’t let him take off his shoes. |