Noi tieng Anh dung Tinh huong SPEECH IN SITUATIONS I. SOME COMMON-USE FORMULAS IN SPOKEN ENGLISH A. Some formulas in everyday conversation I. Asking for information 1. Could you tell me if 2. Would you, please, tell me what 3. I wonder if you could tell me when + clause ? 4. May I ask you where 5. Do you happen to know how Model: a. You want to know if there is dinner at service between Hanoi and London. - Would you, please, tell me if there is dinner at service between Hanoi and London ? b. You want to know what time the next train to London is. - May I ask you what time the next train to London is ? II. Asking for somebody’s wish 1. Would you like (something) ? 2. Would you like (to do something) ? 3. Would you like (somebody) + (to do something) ? 4. Question word + would you like + (to do something) ? 5. Question word + would you like + (somebody to do something) ? Examples a. Would you like black coffee ? b. Would you like to go to the cinema this evening ? c. Would you like me to bring in your breakfast now ? d. Where would you like to have dinner today ? e. When would you like me to finish typing your report ? III. Asking for permission 1. May I do something ? 2. I wonder if I may do something ? 3. Do you mind if I do something ? 4. I hope you won’t mind my doing something. 5. Would you mind if I did something ? Model: a. May I come in ? b. I wonder if I may go out. c. Do you mind if I open the window ? d. I hope you won’t mind my using your phone. e. Would you mind if I smoked here ? IV. Asking for somebody’s opinion NguyÔn h¬ng trµ - nguyÔn du high school - 1 - Noi tieng Anh dung Tinh huong 1. Do you think + clause ? 2. Question word + do you think + clause ? 3. What do you think of (something or doing something) ? 4. How do you like (something) ? 5. Is (something) of any good ? or Is it of any good to do something ? Model a. Do you think Tom will pass final examination ? b. Why do you think Mary failed at the examination ? c. What do you think of the play you’ve just seen ? d. Do you like your job at the Travel Agency ? e. Is learning French of any good ? (Is it of any good to learn French ?) V. Expressing Requests 1. Will you (do something), please ? 2. I wonder if you could (do something). 3. Would you mind (do something) ? 4. I wonder if you’d mind (doing something). 5. I wonder if you’d be kind enough (to do something). Model a. Will you close the window, please ? b. I wonder if you could turn off the light ? c. Would you mind cleaning the blackboard ? d. I wonder if you’d mind typing this letter. e. I wonder if you’d be kind enough to lend me some money. VI. Expressing Commands and Prohibitions 1. Do something, please. 2. Don’t do something. Model a. Turn off the radio, please. b. Don’t talk in class. VII. Expressing Suggestions 1. Let’s (do something). 2. Shall we (do something) ? 3. If you don’t mind, we shall (do something). 4. What about (doing something) ? 5. How about (doing something) ? 6. I think it’s a good idea for us (to do something). Model To go to the August Cinema. (A new French film). - Let’s go to the August Cinema.They say a new French film is on there. Now, suggest doing something, then add your reason to justify it. NguyÔn h¬ng trµ - nguyÔn du high school - 2 - Noi tieng Anh dung Tinh huong VIII. Giving advice 1. You’d better (do something or not do something). 2. I strongly advise you (to do something or not to do something). 3. Why not (do something) ? 4. I think it would be better for you (or for somebody else), I would (do something). 5. If I were you (or somebody else), I would (do something). Model I always drive my motorbike very fast and I’ve never had accident. - I think it would be better for you to drive carefully. Accidents always happen to those who drive dangerously. IX. Expressing Preference a,1. I’d rather (do something or not do something). 2. I’d rather (do something) than (do something else). 3. I’d prefer (to do something). b,1. I’d rather you (or somebody else) did something. 2. I’d prefer you (or somebody else) to do something. Model A. Where do you prefer to live in a flat or in a house ? • I’d prefer to live in a house. I hate being disturbed by neighbours of all kinds in a block of flats. B. Mary hasn’t decided whether to get married to Tom or to Bill. • I’d rather she got married to Bill. Bill’s father is a vice-minister and he has a long arm. X. Expressing Apology 1. Excuse me for (something or doing something). 2. I hope you’ll excuse me for … 3. I’m sorry I couldn’t (was not able to) do something. 4. I’m terribly sorry (to do something or to have done something). Example Your bicycle was broken on the way to your office and so, you came to work late. A. Excuse me for coming late. My bicycle was broken. B. I’m sorry I couldn’t come to work in time. My bicycle was broken on the way to the office. XI. Expressing Gratitude 1. Thanks (or Many thanks). 2. Thank you very much. 3. I’m very obliged to you. 4. Thank you for (something, doing something or having done something). 5. It’s very kind (nice) of you (to do something or to have done something). Model I lend you some money and you could pay the rent in time. a. Thank you very much for your money. It’s with it that I could pay the rent in time. NguyÔn h¬ng trµ - nguyÔn du high school - 3 - Noi tieng Anh dung Tinh huong b. It’s very kind of you to have lent me the money. But for it, I couldn’t have paid the rent in time. XII. Giving an offer of help 1. Let me (do something) for you. 2. Shall I (do something) for you ? 3. If you don’t mind, I’ll (do something) for you. Example There is something wrong with my alarm clock. It didn’t go off this evening. a. Shall I take it to the watch-maker’s to have it repaired ? b. If you don’t mind. I’ll get a watchmaker’s to see it. c. Let me have a look at it and see if I can do something about it. XIII. Expressing Regret or Sorrow 1. It’s a pity + that something happened 2. What a pity (or couldn’t happened) Situation: You missed the flight to London yesterday and had to stay at the Airport Hotel for the night. • It’s a pity (or What a pity) that I missed the flight to London yesterday. Otherwise I wouldn’t have had to stay at the Airport Hotel for the night. XIV. Expressing unreal wish 1. I wish 2. If only Situation: Your wife is poor and you are not happy. • I wish my wife were rich. If only my wife were rich. I would be happy. XV. Expressing Reminders 1. Remember (to do something) 2. Don’t forget (to do something) 3. Mind (to do something) 4. You won’t (do something), will you ? 5. I’d like to remind you of (something) 6. I’d like to remind you (to do something) XVI. Expressing Exclamations 1. What a + Noun … ! 2. How + Adjective/Adverb … ! Model a. The weather is fine. • What a fine weather! • How fine the weather is! NguyÔn h¬ng trµ - nguyÔn du high school - 4 - Noi tieng Anh dung Tinh huong b. She dances gracefully. • How gracefully she dances! c. They live in a four-room flat.It’s a comfortable flat. • What a comfortable flat to live in! B. Keeping the conversation going by expressing various kinds of utterance I. Making a deduction 1. I’m sure (somebody) won’t e able (to do something). 2. I’m sure (somebody) will have (to do something). Example Tom crossed the road on red light and was stopped by a policeman a second ago. a. I’m sure he won’t be able to get away from it. b. I’m sure he will have to pay a fine. c. I’m sure the policeman will have to teach Tom a lesson of traffic regulations. II. Making a decision or an intention 1. I think I’ll do something. 2. I don’t think I’ll do something. 3. May be I’ll do something. 4. May be I won’t do something. 5. In that case, I’m probably going to do something. Example You are tired, aren’t you ? a. Yes, I think I’ll have a little rest now. b. Yes, May be I won’t go to the lecture this afternoon. c. Well, I’m probably going to see my doctor. III. Giving rejoinders to express either a cause or a result 1. This is (was) so, because … 2. That’s why … Model Tom failed at the entrance examination to the University last week. a. This was so, because he hadn’t worked hard at his lessons. b. That’s why he was to find a job in a factory to earn his living. IV. Giving an opinion expressing indifference 1. I don’t mind either way. 2. It’s all the same to me. 3. I don’t care (if,who,when,where,how…+ clause). Example Will you listen to modern music or to classical music ? a. Oh, it’s all the same to me. I have no car for music. b. I don’t mind either way. The main thing is for me to relax. c. I don’t care if I listen to modern music or to classical music. I have no taste for music. NguyÔn h¬ng trµ - nguyÔn du high school - 5 - Noi tieng Anh dung Tinh huong V. Giving explanations to justify negative answers Begin with 1. I really couldn’t say … 2. I’m afraid I don’t know … 3. I’m sorry I couldn’t … Model Where is Jim? a. I really couldn’t say where he is. I haven’t seen him since morning. b. I’m afraid I don’t know. He works in another department. c. I’m sorry I couldn’t say anything. He didn’t tell me where he was going. VI. Expressing a supposition (possibility or probability) to react to what you hear I think something must may + (happen, be happening or have happened) might Example I wonder why Tom is so late this evening. a. I think the boss must have asked him to do some extra work this evening. b. Well, he may be working overtime now at the office. c. He might miss the bus and have to walk home. VII. Expressing Disbelief or Doubt in response to Remarks or Statements Begin with 1. I doubt it. 2. I don’t believe it. 3. Something can’t (happen,be happening or have happened) Then add your reasoning. Model I think the secretary has left the office for home. a. Oh, I doubt it. Here is her coat. b. Oh, no. I don’t believe it. It’s only a quarter to 4 p.m now. c. No, she can’t have left the office for home. If she had left the office for home, there wouldn’t be her bike in the corridor. VIII. Expressing criticism of past action 1. (Somebody) should have done (something). 2. (Somebody) shouldn’t have done (something). Model a. I didn’t set the alarm clock and overslept yesterday. b. Oh, you should have set the alarm clock. You might not have overslept if you had set it. IX. Expressing possibility or unnecessariness of past action NguyÔn h¬ng trµ - nguyÔn du high school - 6 - Noi tieng Anh dung Tinh huong 1. Could have done something. 2. Needn’t have done something. Model a. Yesterday, I didn’t know that the meeting was put off and I took a taxi to get there in vain. b. Oh, I see. You needn’t have gone there by taxi. On the contrary you could have stayed at home to have a rest. X. Expressing a necessity or an obligation 1. Have to do something (or not to have to do something). 2. Be supposed to do something (not to be supposed to do something). Example The boss wants you to finish typing his report this afternoon, doesn’t he ? • Yes, he does. I’m supposed to finish it this afternoon.The conference is due to open tomorrow. XI. Expressing anticipation Be looking forward to (something or doing something). Model I hear Tom’ll do practical work in London next month. * Right. He is looking forward to doing his practical work in London. He hopes he’ll improve his qualifications there. XII. Giving short affirmative answer with explanation Example a. Need we leave at once ? b. Yes. We must. The railway station is a long way from here. XIII. Giving short negative answers with explanation Model a. Must I take the children to the Zoo this Sunday ? b. No, you needn’t. They’ll go out for a picnic with their classmates. XIV. Expressing annoyance to react to what you hear Begin with “How annoying?” or “What a nuisance!” and than add your reasoning. Example Mother said she would come over for the weekend. • How annoying? What a nuisance! Our provisions have run out and we’re short of money now. XV. Reasoning in answer to an unexpected event Begin with “So much the better”… NguyÔn h¬ng trµ - nguyÔn du high school - 7 - Noi tieng Anh dung Tinh huong Example a. The conference is put off till next Monday. b. So much the better. There will be plenty of time for us to improve our report. XVI. Adding a statement to what you hear so as to give another information Model That gentleman is Mr Brown. (Prompt: son) • That’s right. And the young boy sitting next to him is his son. XVII. Adding a reasoning to express certainly Model Did Tom catch the bus ? a. Yes, he did. Otherwise he would have been late at work. b. No, he didn’t. Otherwise he wouldn’t have taken a taxi to get to the office. XVIII. Expressing surprise Begin with 1. What ? 2. Really ? 3. (or short question) ? Then add your reasoning Example I live from hand to mouth. a. What? You mean you have to live from hand to mouth? b. Really? I thought You led a comfortable life. c. Do you? I thought You were well-to-do. XIX. Adding a conviction to your disagreement Begin with 1. It’s hardly possible. 2. Do you really think so? 3. I wouldn’t say it’s true. Example Tom is as poor as a church mouse. a. It’s hardly possible. Tom’s father is the president of a bank. b. Do you really think so? Tom comes from a rich family. c. I wouldn’t say it’s true. Tom is always well-dressed and has dinner at the restaurant everyday. XX. Giving protesting answers to remark or unjust commands Begin with “But”… Example 1. Don’t play with the dog • but I’m not going to. NguyÔn h¬ng trµ - nguyÔn du high school - 8 - Noi tieng Anh dung Tinh huong 2. Do your homework. • but I have 3. Be careful. • but I am 4. You should keep quiet. • but I do 5. You shouldn’t drink strong tea. • but I don’t 6. You should have listened to the tape. • but I did NguyÔn h¬ng trµ - nguyÔn du high school - 9 - . Noi tieng Anh dung Tinh huong SPEECH IN SITUATIONS I. SOME COMMON-USE FORMULAS IN SPOKEN ENGLISH A. Some formulas. here ? IV. Asking for somebody’s opinion NguyÔn h¬ng trµ - nguyÔn du high school - 1 - Noi tieng Anh dung Tinh huong 1. Do you think + clause ? 2. Question word + do you think + clause ? 3. What. something, then add your reason to justify it. NguyÔn h¬ng trµ - nguyÔn du high school - 2 - Noi tieng Anh dung Tinh huong VIII. Giving advice 1. You’d better (do something or not do something). 2. I