В различных ситуациях общения

Gratitude. Arresting someone’s attention.

a) How to arrest someone's attention:

Excuse me, (please)...

Pardon me...

Sorry to ...(interrupt, interfere, bother), but...

Look here!

Just a minute!

b) How to reply:

Yes?

Well?

What is it?

What can I do for you?

c) How to thank someone:

Thank you very much.

Thanks.

That's nice (kind) of you.

Thank you any way.

I'm very grateful to you.

d) How to reply to gratitude:

(Oh) that's O.K./all right.

Not at all.

You're welcome.

Don't mention it.

It's a pleasure.

Socializing (Introductions)

a) How to approach the person you are meeting:

It's (Mr. Brown), isn't it?

(Mr./Mrs./Miss Smith)?

Excuse me, are you (Mr. Thompson)?

b) How to reply:

Yes, that's right.

Yes?

Yes, that's right. And you must be (Mr. Williams).

c) How to introduce yourself:

I'm (Charles Brown).

My name's (Sally Kent).

I'm so pleased to meet you.

I've been looking forward to meeting you. I'm Tom Smith.

So glad to meet you.

d) How to respond and reply to an introduction:

How do you do (formal).

Hello (less formal).

e) How to introduce someone who is with you:

May I introduce my girlfriend/ boyfriend /Janet /James.

And this is my wife / husband.

Meet my business colleague, Tom Williams.

Socializing (Greetings and Leavetakings)

a) How to greet an acquaintance:

Hello, Mr. South. How are you?

Good morning, Mr. South. How are you feeling?

Good afternoon, Mr. South. How are you getting on?

Good evening, Mr. South. How are things? (informal).

b) How to reply to a greeting:

Oh, hello, Mr. Ford. Very well. Thanks. And you?

Fine.

All right.

Pretty good.

Not too bad.

So - so.

Not too good, I’m afraid.

Very much the same.

c) How to respond to bad news:

A: How's your brother?

B: Not too good, I'm afraid.

A: I'm sorry to hear that.

Oh, that's awful.

Oh, that's terrible.

d) How to respond to good news:

A: Bill has won the race!

B: I'm glad (pleased) to hear that.

Oh, that's great.

Oh, that's good.

How exciting!

Really!

e) How to take your leave:

Well, I must be off. Good-bye, (formal and informal)

I must be going. Bye./Bye-bye. (informal).

See you later / soon / tomorrow, etc.

f) How to send someone your regards:

Give my regards to your wife.

Remember me to your family.

Requests. Requests for Repetition. Volition.

a) How to make a request:

Would you bring us the menu, please?

Could you bring us the menu, please?

Will you bring us the menu, please?

Can you bring us the menu, please?

Speak a bit slower, will you?

b) How to respond favourably to a request:

of course.

Yes, certainly.

sure.

c) How to refuse a request politely:

I'm sorry I can't.

I'm afraid I can't. I have to rush off to my work after the lesson.

I'm terribly sorry but

d) How to express a desire:

I'd like a ticket for the 5 o'clock train, please.

I want

e) How to ask people to repeat what they have said:

Sorry?

Pardon?

What

When (did you say)?

Where

Suggestions

a) How to ask for a suggestion:

shall we

What would you like to do tonight?

do you want to

b) How to make a suggestion:

What (how) about going to the pictures?

Do you feel like going to the pictures?

Shall we

Let's Why don't we spend the weekend in Brighton?

Why not

Would you like to

c) How to accept a suggestion:

good idea.

Yes, that's a marvelous idea.

that would be nice,

that seems all right.

d) How to half-accept a suggestion:

we could,

Yes, that's a good idea, I suppose, but (there aren't any good

it's not a bad idea films on at the moment).

e) How to reject a suggestion:

No, I'm afraid I can't.

I'm sorry I can't.

Well, I don't really feel like (going to the pictures).

I'd rather not, if you don't mind.

f) How to make a counter-suggestion:

Well, I'd rathe go to the (pub) if you don't mind.

I'd prefer to

Likes. Dislikes and Preferences

a) How to express likes:

like

I (quite) enjoy football.

love

I'm (very) fond of music.

keen on

b) How to agree or disagree with a person's likes:

Agreeing:

So do I.

So am I.

Disagreeing:

I don't.

I'm not.

c) How to express dislikes:

don't like

dislike

I hate loud music,

can't stand

can't bear

d) How to agree or disagree with a person's dislikes:

Agreeing:

Neither do I.

So do I.

Neither can I.

Disagreeing:

I do.

I don't.

I can.

e) How to express preferences:

apples oranges.

I prefer to

watching TV listening to records.

Opinions. Agreement or Disagreement.

a) How to ask for an opinion:

What do you think of/about

What's your opinion of British television?

How do you find

b) How to give an opinion:

I think

I believe there is too much violence on the screen today.

In my opinion

c) How to agree with an opinion:

I (quite) agree (with you).

You are (quite) right.

(Yes), he does (did, was, will, etc.)

(No), he doesn't (isn't, didn't, etc.)

I think so too.

d) How to disagree with an opinion:

I don't (quite) agree (with you).

I disagree.

I don't think so.

No, I don't (didn't, wasn't, etc.)

That's not my opinion.

That's your opinion, not mine.

Advice

a) How to give advice:

Why don't you

you should

I think you'd better go to the seaside.

you ought to

b) How to accept a piece of advice:

that sounds a good idea;

Yes, I'll do that.

I'll certainly try that. Thank you.

All right.

Yes, certainly

Very well.

Invitations

a) How to invite others to do something (with you):

Would you like to

Do you want to come to a party with me on Saturday?

How about

Do you feel like coming to Brighton with me tomorrow afternoon?

b) How to accept an invitation:

I'd love to.

I'd like to very much.

That sounds like a good idea.

That would be nice. Thank you (very much).

Of course.

With pleasure.

c) How to turn down an invitation politely:

No, thank you.

I'm afraid I can't.

I'm (awfully) sorry but I can't.

d) How to accept an invitation and ask for further details:

where exactly?

Yes, (I'd love to) but what time?

when exactly?

which day?

e) How to turn down an invitation but suggest an alternative time or day:

Oh, dear, I can't (on Friday). But another time perhaps?

I'm afraid I'm busy then. Can't you make it another day/time?

I'm sorry but I can't (tomorrow). Does Tuesday suit you?

I'm afraid (Friday's) a bit difficult. What about another day?

f) How to persist with an invitation to try to persuade others to change their minds:

Oh, come on. It should be fun.

Are you sure you can't? I promise it'll be fun.

g) How to give in to persuasion:

all right then.

Oh, very well.

as you wish.

h) How to resist persuasion politely:

No, honestly, I really can't.

it's really impossible.

Apologies

a) How to apologize:

awfully

I'm terribly sorry, (John), but (I'm afraid) I've

so l lost that book you lent me

very

b) How to accept an apology:

that's all right. /O.K.

don't worry about it.

Oh, it doesn't matter.

never mind.

forget it!

Offers

a) How to offer to do something:

Shall

Can I help you?

May

Let me help you.

b) How to accept the offer:

(Yes), please. Thank you.

That's very kind (nice) of you. Thank you very much.

I'd be very grateful. Thanks a lot.

That would be nice.

c) How to refuse the offer politely:

No, thank you (thanks). I can manage.

No, you needn't. Thank you.

No, there's no need. Thanks.

No, that's all right. Thank you.

Don't bother. I'll manage (it).

Permission

a) How to ask permission to do something:

May

Can I go home earlier tonight?

Could

b) How to grant permission:

certainly.

Yes, of course (you /may /can / could).

all right.

please, do.

c) How to refuse permission:

Please, don't.

I'm sorry but you can't.

(No), I'm afraid not.

No, of course not.