Презентация из цикла уроков элективного курса Business English (Unit 7 Useful expressions in business language)

Plan of the lesson: Phonetic drill 2. Making up and acting out the dialogs with using of business language expressions. ASKING FOR AND EXPRESSING AN OPINIONIf you want to ask for an opinion, you can use:— What do you think of...?— Could you give (me) your opinion / views / ideas on ...?You can introduce your opinion with phrases like:— I think / feel / believe that...— In my opinion / view ...— I'd like to say / point out / stress that...If you cannot or do not want to give an opinion, you can say:— I'm sorry, but I don't know so much about...— I don't think I can say anything about...— What can I say? I don't have the faintest idea ASKING FOR INFORMATIONSuch requests are usually introduced with:— Could you tell me ..., please?— Would you mind telling me (if it is a White Tie or a Dinner Jacket Party)?— I wonder if you'd mind telling me...— Do you think you could tell me ...— You just mentioned ... I'm not sure what it means. Could you explain, please.Replies to such requests are:— Oh yes, of course. ...— Well, as a matter of fact... / The point is ... / The thing is...If you cannot or do not want to give the information:I'm sorry I can't answer that at the moment.— I'm afraid that information is not available at the moment.— I'm afraid I don't have that information at hand. ASKING FOR AND GIVING EXAMPLESIf during a talk or discussion the speaker makes a point you want to be illustrated, you can say:— Could you illustrate this point?— I'd be grateful if you could give us an example.— I'm not sure if I understand ... What is the point?The answer could be:— Take .... for instance.— To give you an example (of what I mean), take ...— To illustrate this point let us consider ... ASKING IF SOMEBODY IS INTERESTED-— Are you interested in ...?— I wonder if you have any interest in ...?If you are interested, you can say:— Oh yes, I'm very interested in ...— I find ... extremely interesting / fascinating.If you are not, you say:— Oh, I'm sorry, but... / Actually, I don't have much / any interest in ...— I can't say I find ... so very interesting / fascinating. ASKING AWKWARD OR EMBARRASSING QUESTIONSYou can ask like this:— I hope you don't mind me asking this, but hasn't your firm been connected with this scandal?— I don't know how to put it, but...— Perhaps I shouldn't really ask this, but...If the person addressed does not wish to give a reply:— I'd rather not answer that, if you don't mind.—You don't really expect me to answer that, do you? I— I'm not really sure I want to answer that. ASKING ABOUT PREFERENCES — Do you prefer American literature to English literature?— No, I don't.— Do you prefer playing basketball yourself or watching it onTV?— Well, actually I don't like either.— Well, I'd rather watch it on TV.— Why do you prefer being single to being married?— Well, I'd rather be single, because ... ASKING HOW SOMEONE FEELS AFTER ANEVENT— Did you like /enjoy ... (it)?— How did you feel about... (that)?Replying that you are impressed:— I am / was really impressed by ...— What struck me most was ...Replying that you liked it very much:— What I really liked was ...— It was exciting / thrilling / lovely / marvellous, etc.Replying that you were disappointed:— Oh, I'm disappointed. I thought..., but...— I must say I had hoped ...— The .. .was too bad / dreadful / appallingReplying that you were bored:— I didn't find ... very interesting. - I'm sorry, but...it rather bored me. EXPRESSING AGREEMENT OR POLITE DISAGREEMENTIf you wish to express your agreement, you can use:— You are right. / Oh yes, that's right. /I fully agree with you.-— Yes, 1 definitely share your view / idea that...— Oh yes, there can be no doubt about... / that... ,If you wish to express polite disagreement, you can say:— I'm sorry but I can't agree with you / to that...— I'm sorry but I don't think this is right / you are right.— I'm afraid I can't agree with you /to ...— I see what you mean but...— Perhaps, but don't you think that... EXPRESSING ASTONISHMENT AND SURPRISEThese can be expressed in many different ways and with a variety of adjectives:— It's rather amazing / surprising / astonishing that...— I am / was very surprised that... / about...— How strange / odd / surprising that...— Surprisingly / strangely enough / incredibly...— Wonders will never cease!— Words fail me! = I'm too surprised. EXPRESSING CERTAINTY AND UNCERTAINTYIf you want to express certainty, you can say:— I'm quite certain ... / I'm absolutely sure ..,— Definitely / certainly / without doubt / absolutely— Depend on it.— And I don't mean maybe. = I mean exactly what I say.If you want to say you are not certain:- Well, I'm not sure / certain (that)...- Well, perhaps / maybe ...- Well, it all depends. / Well, you can never tell... EXPRESSING DOUBTIf you want to express polite doubt, you can say:— Is that really so? / Are you sure that...?— I'm sorry but I'm not quite sure / certain convinced ...If you want to express more categorical doubt, you can say;— That's what you say / think ...— I'm not all that sure / certain / convinced that...— I strongly / very much / definitely doubt if /that... EXPRESSING REGRET AND HOPETo express regret, you can start a sentence like this:— I very much regret that...— I deeply regret the inconvenience caused to you...— I'm very sorry to hear that...— Please accept my / our sincere apologies for ...I— I'm extremely sorry for ...If you wish to express hope, you can say:— I hope that... will ...— I trust him to do so. / You can trust in him.— All hopes come true. / Let's hope against hope. EXPRESSING WORRY AND RELIEFIf you want to express worry, you can say:— I'm a bit / rather / highly worried about / that.,|It's worrying / disturbing that... If you want to express relief, you can say:— Oh, that's a relief, indeed— Thank goodness for...— I'm very glad to hear ...— It's a good thing to know ... BEING PLEASED OR DISPLEASEDYou can use sentences like:— I'm very / greatly pleased about / at / with ...— I'm so glad of/ about...— I'm delighted to hear that...— I can't say how pleased I am about / at...— I can't say how delighted I am at / by ...If you are displeased, you can say:— I can't say I'm (at all) pleased at / with / about...— I'm very annoyed at / with ...— I'm extremely displeased at / about / with... unhappy about... angry at / about / with ...— If you think that, you've got another thought coming. PROBABILITY AND IMPROBABILITYVarious degrees from probability to improbability can be expressed like this:Question — Do you think there will be another crisis? Answer: — Yes, there's no doubt about it.— Most probably there will.— There might possibly be a crisis.— Perhaps there will be.— It's not very probable.— It's quite / very improbable there will be one.— There certainly won't be any crisis.— No, I'm absolutely certain there won't be any. CLARIFICATIONIf something is not quite clear to you, you can say:— I'm sorry, but I don't quite understand ...— I'm sorry, but I'm not really clear about...— I'm sorry, but could you possibly explain ...?If you want to give such an explanation, you can start likethis:— Well, what I'm trying to say is ...— Well, the point I'm trying to make is that...— Well, I think / suppose what it's meant that... MAKING SUGGESTIONS— Do you feel like going to the opera?— What shall we do tonight?— What do you suggest we do?— What would you like to do today?— Where do you fancy going at the weekend?— What about going to the pictures? / How about going . — Would you like a drink?Accepting a suggestion:— Yes, that's a good idea / that's a marvellous idea.— Yes, that would be nice / that would be great / that sounds nice.— Yes, I'd love to.Rejecting a suggestion:— Well, we could, I suppose, but...— Well, it's not a bad idea, I suppose, that...— I suppose we could, but...— Some other time, perhaps.Showing indecision or indifference:— I don't mind really. (= Why don't you choose?)— I'm not really sure.— It's all one to me. / It makes no odds.— Suit yourself, it's all the same to me. OFFERING SOMETHINGHere are some useful ways of offering (to do) something— Would you like...? - Can I offer you ...?— What can I get you?— Could I give/get you ...?— Would you like me to get it for you?— Can I help you with that?— How about my helping you with ... You accept such offers with answers like:- Yes, please. / Thank you very much. - That's very kind of you. Thanks. - Oh would you? Thanks a lot. Or you refuse the offers: — No, it's all right, I can manage. SOME MORE PHRASES FOR DISCUSSIONWhen you want to express that something is important, you can use:-What you've just said is of great importance (for ...). That's a very important point / fact / statement / matter. It was very important to me to know ...If you want to express the opposite, you can say:I don't think this so important because ... 1 don't think this makes much of a difference. If you agree with a view or opinion, you can use:-That's it. Exactly so. I quite agree on / about the plan. That goes without saying.- That's evident / clear / obvious.- No doubt about it.- Most decidedly / definitely. I'm all with you there. If you don't agree, you can use:— Do you really mean to say that...?— Are you seriously suggesting that...?— I'm sorry, I don't quite agree.— That's not how I see it. — That's a very sweeping statement.— Well, actually I'm afraid that...— I'd like to say yes, but...If you want to defend a view:— Yes, I've thought about that, but...Yes, I've taken that into account, but... Expressions for linking your ideas:After all, and what's more ..., as you know, on the one hand ... and on the other ..., on top of that, oddly / curiously enough, I mean to say, come to that, that is to say, well then ..., etc. Expressions for summing up:To sum up then ... In short... So the basic question is …,etc. GIVING POSITIVE OR TENTATIVE ADVICEProblems: I've lost my keys. I've got a pain in my back. Advice could be offered like this: — I think you should ...— Perhaps you could ...— If I were you I'd ...— Well, it might be a good idea to /if...I advise you to... /I advise you not to... If you can accept the advice, you may say:— Yes, that sounds a good idea. Thanks a lot.— I'll do that. Thanks for the advice.— Well, that's worth thinking about. Thank you.— Well, 1 could do that, I suppose. I can think about it anyway.If you refuse the advice, you can say: — I'm not sure really. But thanks anyway. - Mmm, I doubt if that would work. But thanks all the sad GIVING YOURSELF TIME TO THINK OR CHANGING THE SUBJECTIf in a discussion you cannot respond at once, you might use phrases like:— (Er), let me see,...— Well, how shall I put it,...— Just let me think about it / this for a moment:... —You know / You see ...— Now I come to think of it = Now that I stop to think of it...If you need more time or do not wish to answer at all, you can say:— Just to change the subject for a moment,...— Oh, by the way, before I forget: ...— If we could move on now to the question of...If you want to indicate that you are not prepared to discuss the subject, you say:— Well, I think we'd better change the subject.— I don't think I'd like to discuss this.— I don't think it is advisable to continue with this topic. PROPOSING A TOAST— Cheers! (This is the most usual formula when you have a drink.- Your very good health, Mr Virge! — Yes, your very good health, too.— I should like to propose a toast to our host / hostess: His/her very good health! — Thank you very much indeed. Your very good health, too.— Here's to you! — Thanks.— Here's to success in your business / life! –I want to propose a toast to you / Mr Evans! MAKING A COMPLIMENTIf you want to compliment somebody during a meeting, a 1 party or some other occasion, you can say:— What a charming dress (you are wearing)!— That's a very nice / smart blouse / necktie / suit you are wearing!— I must congratulate you on ... (e.g. during a business 1partner's dinner). More formal formulas are:— If I may say so, the dinner / wine is most / very delicious.— May 1 say how elegant / charming you look in that dress? 'IYou respond like this:— Thank you. / It is very kind of you to say so.— Is it really? I'm glad you like it. ENDING A CONVERSATION, DINNER, ETC.— Well, I'm afraid I must go now.— It's been a great pleasure talking to you.— I've really enjoyed talking to you but I'm afraid I have to below.I must apologize, but I'm afraid I have to go now.I'm afraid we'll have to leave it there. (At the end of adiscussion.)— Thank you for the lovely evening. The food was delicious and everything else was perfect. You can respond like this:— It is all right. Thanks for coming anyway.— That's all right. Be seeing you.— Yes, certainly. Till the next time.- Thank you. I'm glad you could come. EVERYDAY COURTESIES— May I introduce you to Grace Cooper? This is Ben Plotkin, a friend of mine, and this is Grace Cooper.— May I introduce myself. My name is Janet Boyle.— Oh, I'm Rachel Branten. How do you do. — How do you do.— Pleased to meet you. / Pleased to make your acquaintance.— Good morning. / Good afternoon. / Good evening. /Hello.— How are you? — Fine, thank you, and you?— How's life? / How are things? — Not too bad, thanks.— How are you getting on? — Quite well, thank you.door)!Nice you could come! Nice to see you! Do come in (at the end of the week)- Welcome to our place next Saturday! / You are most welcome to our summer cottage in July!/ Welcome to Moscow anytime!— Thank you for your lovely party. The cake was absolutely delicious and everything else tasted so good.— Thank you. I'm glad you could come. Hope to see you soon.— Give my regards to your wife, please. — Thanks, I will.— Please remember me to your family. — Thank you, I'll do that.— Goodbye. Bye bye. Bye now. So long. — (The answer is the same)— Be seeing you. — OK. See you soon.— I hope to see you again. — Yes, certainly, see you.— Thanks. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you ever so much.— That's all right.— Thanks a lot. — Don't mention it.— Have a good time! / Have a nice time! / Enjoy yourself. —I Thanks, I certainly will.— Lookout! Careful! Watch out! Mind! Mind your head! Take care you don't fall! Watch your step! Caution! — Thank you for your help. — It was a pleasure.— It was so very kind of you. — Oh, forget it. It's nothing.— Many thanks. — Not at all. / You're welcome (Am).— Good luck! Best of luck! (before an event)— Congratulations! (after an event)— Many happy returns of the day! Happy birthday!Happy anniversary!— I wish you every happiness, (to the newlyweds)— Sorry. So sorry. I'm terribly sorry. Very sorry indeed!— Oh, that's all right.— Sorry to trouble you! — That's no trouble at all.— Sorry to have kept you waiting! — Oh, it doesn't matter.— Excuse me, could you tell me the time, please? — Certainly. 1— Excuse me, but I really have to go! — That's all right.— Excuse me, may I ask you a question? — Certainly. / Sure./ Go ahead. (Am)— Pardon! Pardon me! Excuse me! (Am) — That's all right, (before poking people in the back when trying to get out from acrowded bus)— Please forgive me! Can you ever forgive me? (when you \have done something serious)— I apologize for being late. — Oh, that's all right.—Would you come to the concert? — Yes, I'd love to. Yes, that's a good idea.— Would you attend the meeting tonight? — I wish I could,but I've got another appointment. Home task:Exercises ( документ « Tексты и тесты» Unit 7)