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Chapter 11 – Formal Conversation
Situation: Jane, Leslie, and Mary are having lunch at the restaurant. Since they will have to give a presentation on etiquette rules next week, they try to practice by talking very formally to each other.
Jane: Leslie, may I borrow your cell phone to call my mother after we finish lunch?
Leslie: Yes, of course, Jane. And please, do not forget to ask your mother whether you may go to the movies with us afterwards.
Mary: Jane, could you pass the salt, please?
Jane: Sure, here you are.
Mary: And the pepper too, please. Thank you.
Jane: You are welcome.
Leslie: Would both of you mind if I stop by Marcus bookstore on our way to the movie?
Jane: No, not at all.
Mary: I would love to look at their New Book selection. So, I would like to stop there also.
Jane: Would both of you like to go shopping after the movie?
Leslie: Maybe some other time. I need to be home by 5:00 o’clock.
Mary: I can go with you if you want.
Jane: That would be great. I need to pick up a gift for my brother. His birthday is on Sunday next week. What would you recommend, Mary?
Mary: Just a moment please. Let me think. Maybe a fishing pole since he loves fishing?
Jane: What a clever suggestion! My brother will thank me for the lovely gift. I hope there is a fishing store in the mall.
Leslie: I ordered too many French fries. Would anybody care for some?
Jane: Yes, I would like some.
Leslie: How about you, Mary?
Mary: No, thank you. I have enough food already.
Jane: Leslie, would you like some of my fried rice?
Leslie: Yes, please. Just a little bit.
Jane: Here you go.
Leslie: Oh, that is enough! No more, please.
Jane: Mary, did you remember to bring my Harry Potter book?
Mary: Oh, I am sorry. I completely forgot about it. Could you call to remind me again tonight?
Jane: Certainly.
Leslie: If you do not mind, may I borrow the book after you are done with it?
Jane: I promised to let John borrow it after I get it back from Mary. You are welcome to have it once John is finished. John is a fast reader; he will finish it in no time.
Leslie: I, on the other hand, am a pretty slow reader. How long do you think I may keep it?
Jane: I already read it. So, you may keep it as long as you want. Give it back to me at your earliest convenience.
Leslie: Thank you, Jane. That will save me some money.
Mary: Are we all done? We should leave now to catch the next show; otherwise, we will be late.
Leslie: I am ready anytime you are.
Jane: So am I. Shall we go?
Questions/Answers Practice
| G: Hello Kevin. How are you? | A: I am fine, thank you. |
| G: Good to see you, Ana. How are you doing? | A: I am doing fine, thank you. |
| G: Karen, this is John, our new employee. | A: John, welcome aboard. |
| G: Thank you for your help. | A: You are welcome. |
| G: Thank you for your help. | A: My pleasure. |
| Q: Could you please do me a favor and give Mike a call? | A: I would be glad to give Mike a call. |
| Q: Could you come back after work, please? | A: Yes, certainly. |
| Q: Would you like some coffee? | A: Thank you for your offer, but I do not drink coffee. |
| Q: Excuse me, would you mind repeating that? | A: Not at all. |
| Q: Could you give me a hand to move this desk, please? | A: Yes, certainly. |
| Q: May I help you? | A: Thank you for your help. |
| Q: May I have a word with you, please? | A: Yes, Karen. |
3) Comprehension test
- Why does Jane want to borrow Leslie’s phone?
- What do they want to do after lunch?
- What do they want to do on their way to the movie?
- Why doesn’t Mary mind stopping at the bookstore?
- Why doesn’t Leslie want to go shopping after the movie?
- What should Jane buy for her brother on his birthday? Why?
- Why does Leslie want to give away some of her French fries?
- What did Mary forget to do?
- Why can’t Leslie borrow the Harry Potter book after Jane gets it back from Mary?
- What kind of reader is John?
- How long can Leslie keep the book?
4) Discussion
- What is etiquette?
- What are some of the etiquette rules in your country?
- Do we need to observe etiquette rules? Why? Why not?
GRAMMAR REVIEW VERBS
Contraction of verbs
Verbs do not have to be completely written out. Contractions of verbs are generally used in informal writing.
| Full form | Contraction |
| I am | I’m |
| You are | You’re |
| You are not | You aren’t |
| He/She/It is | He/She/It’s |
| He/She/It is not | He/She/It isn’t |
| I have | I’ve |
| I have not | I haven’t |
| He/She/It has | He/She/It’s |
| He/She/It has not | He/She/It hasn’t |
| I had | I’d |
| I had not | I hadn’t |
| I shall, I will | I’ll |
| I will not | I won’t |
| I should not | I shouldn’t |
| I would | I’d |
| I would not | I wouldn’t |
| I do not | I don’t |
| He/She/It does not | He/She/It doesn’t |
| I did not | I didn’t |
| I can not | I can’t |
| I could not | I couldn’t |
Auxiliary verbs
Auxiliary verbs are verbs that are used with a main verb to express different meanings. The three main auxiliary verbs are: be, have and do. Others are:
Can
- Used to express ability, right or skill.
I can solve this problem. (Ability)
I can use my money any way I want. (Right)
I can sketch a portrait of your child in ten minutes. (Skill)
- Used to request or grant permission.
Can I eat this cake?
You can go now.
Could
- Used to express ability, right or skill in the past.
I could solve this problem when I was in fifth grade.
I could use my money anyway I wanted then.
I could sketch a portrait of your child in ten minutes then.
- Used to express conditional possibility.
If my mother could bake, she would make me a cake.
- Used to express politeness.
Could you pass the salt, please?
- Used to express a suggestion.
We could go to the movies once we finish our homework.
- Has the same meaning as Can with less certainty. He could fall down if he is not careful.
Will
- Used to express future actions.
I will go to Paris next week.
- Used to express a command.
You will clean the house after you finish your homework.
Would
- Used to express a request or desire. Would you join me for dinner? (Request)
I would love to look at their New Book selection. (Desire)
- Used to express a polite request.
Would you mind if I stop by Marcus bookstore on our way to the movie?
- Used to express a habit.
Every year, we would meet to plan a family get-together for my mother’s birthday.
- Used in implied conditions.
I would have done my homework, but I had company. (The implied condition here is: if I had not had company)
I never would have stopped at the stop sign without seeing the policeman. (The implied condition here is: if I had not seen the policeman)
- Used to express the future in past sentences He told me he would go to your party.
- Used to express an intention.
Our mothers would have us clean our rooms every week.
May
- Used to request permission or to express a polite request.
May I go to the movies? (Request permission)
May I borrow the Harry Potter book after you are done with it? (Polite request)
- Used to express possibility of an event or condition happening. It may snow in Denver tomorrow.
- Used to express a desire or wish.
May you have a great Christmas season!
Might
1) Used to express a weaker possibility than may.
I might get sick just from sitting next to Mary.
Must
- Used to express a requirement or necessity.
You must leave for school at 8:00 o’clock. (Requirement) You must do this for me. (Necessity)
- Used to express a command or demand.
You must stay quiet!
- Used to express a high level of certainty.
Why is John still at school?
His mother must be late picking him up. (I am quite certain that his mother is late picking him up)
Should
- Used to express an obligation or duty.
We should leave to catch the next show.
You should finish your work before you leave.
- Used to express strong probability or expectation.
Mary should be calling us soon. (Expectation)
After those long hours at school, she should do well on her exams. (Very strong probability)
Ought
Used to express an obligation or duty. He ought to respect his elders. (Obligation)
John ought to serve his country. (Duty)
Let’s(short for “let us”)
Used to make a suggestion.
Let’s go to the movies tonight.
Questions/Answers Practice
Pair the students and have them practice the following questions and answers. Ask them to come up with similar questions and answers.
| Q: How are you doing? | A: I’m doing fine, thank you. |
| Q: Would you like some coffee | A: I’d like to have some coffee. |
| Q: Could you give me a hand? | A: Sorry, I couldn’t give you a hand. |
| Q: Do they like cookies? | A: No, they don’t like cookies. |
| Q: Did you spend all your money? | A: No, I didn’t spend all my money. |
| Q: Have you done your chores? | A: No, I haven’t done my chores. |
| Q: Has she read the new novel by James Wood? | A: No, she hasn’t read the new novel. |
| Q: Have you done your homework? | A: Yes, I’ve done my homework. |
| Q: Are they hungry? | A: Yes, they’re hungry. |
| Q: Can they drive? | A: No, they can’t drive. |
| Q: Had he been drinking before his arrival? | A: No, he hadn’t been drinking before his arrival. |
| Q: Had he been sick before he went on vacation? | A: Yes, he’d been sick before he went on vacation. |
| Q: Will you return this gift for me? | A: Yes, I’ll return the gift for you. |
| Q: Will you call him for me? | A: No, I won’t call him for you. |
| Q: May I borrow some money? | A: Yes, you may borrow some money from me. |
| Q: Must he call you before he leaves? | A: No, he mustn’t call me before he leaves. |
| Q: Shouldn’t he finish school before looking for a job? | A: Yes, he should finish school before looking for a job. |