COMMUNICATION: APOLOGIES

COMMUNICATION: APOLOGIES. OFFERS. PERMISSION.

a) How to apologize:

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!

Conversation I

Sally: Oh, Peter, I've been standing here since half past seven!

Where on earth have you been? Peter: I'm terribly sorry I'm late, Sally, but I just couldn't help

it. I got here as soon as I could. Sally: Well, it's not soon enough, is it? It's too late to go in now,

the play has already started! Peter: I know ... and I'm sorry but .... Sally: I've been looking forward to seeing the play all week!

Do you realize that? All week! Peter: Look, Sally, just give me a chance to explain, please¹ ! was

about to leave the house when my sister called round.

She was in tears. Her boy-friend John had been knocked

down and was critically ill. So I couldn't just rush off

without a word, could I? Sally: Oh, I see. Peter: I am sorry about the play - really I am. 1 know how much

you wanted to see it.

Sally: Yes - well, never mind. We can always see it some other

time

Peter: Yes, of course we c 12312m126m an. Sally: And Peter? Peter: Yes?

Sally: I am sorry for the way I snapped at you. Peter: Oh, that's all right. 1 understand. /. Listen to the conversation and answer the questions:

Why is Sally angry with Peter? Why is Peter late for the play? //. Read the conversation. Find in the text appropriate English phrases for the following:

///. Role-play the conversation.

Practice

/. Learn the dialogues:

I'm terribly sorry, but I've broken a plate.

Oh, that doesn't matter.

I'm ever so sorry. Tell me where you bought it so 1 can

get you another.

No, certainly not. I wouldn't dream of letting you do that.

I'm very much afraid I've burned a hole in the rug.

- Oh, that's all right.

- I do apologize. I'll buy you a new one first thing on Monday. Of course not. I never liked it anyway.

I'm afraid I've spilt ink all over the table-cloth. Oh, never mind about that. I'm awfully sorry. Won't you let me pay for it? No, I won't hear of it.

I'm terribly sorry, but I seem to have mislaid your scarf. Oh, don't worry about that.

I just don't know what to say. I'll replace it, of course No_s that's quite out of the question. 152

4. - Forgive me, please. I meant well.

- Never mind. Forget it.

5. - I beg your pardon. I'm afraid I've taken too much of your

time

- Not at all, I'm sure. You're always welcome.

6. - Why were you so rude to me at lunch?

- Was I? Sorry. It was wrong of me.

7. - You didn't ring me up last night. You said you would.

- I'm awfully sorry.

//. Accept your friend's apologies:

1. Sorry, I've kept you waiting. 2. Excuse my interrupting you. 3. I'm sorry I overslept. 4. I'm awfully sorry, but I've acci­dentally taken your textbook. 5. I'm so sorry, I've dialled the wrong number. 6. I'm sorry I forgot to post your letter. 7. I'm sorry I mislaid your book. 8. I'm afraid you'll never forgive me. 9. I'm terribly sorry I can't do it right now. 10. I'm awfully sorry I lost the umbrella you lent me. 11. I'm sorry I didn't phone you last night.

///. Think of remarks which may be followed by the following reassurances:

- It's all right. - Forget it.

5

... ...

- Never mind. Don't worry about it.

- It doesn't matter. - That's

IV. Work in pairs. A apologizes for something he/she has done or failed to do and accepts the apology:

A apologizes for

1. breaking B's watch

2. dropping ash on B's carpet

3. damaging B's roses

4. not having phoned last night

5. not sending the parcel after all

6. not helping with his/her suitcase

7. being late

8. not bringing the book he/ she lent you

9. knocking over B's vase

replies that it was an old one anyway he/she was going to shampoo it soon, anyway they were dying, anyway it wasn't really very important he/she can do it this afternoon

he/she took a taxi

he/she is not in a hurry

he/she doesn't need it at the

moment

he/she never really liked it,

anyway

V. How will you apologize ...

if you think you've hurt someone?

when interrupting a person?

if you think you've been rude?

if you damaged somebody's stereo?

if you have kept someone waiting?

if you haven't done your homework?

if you forgot to post the letter someone gave you?

if you broke a string on someone's guitar?

if you forgot to meet someone's sister last night?

if you borrowed someone's book and lost it?

if you were ten minutes late for class today?

if you feel you are taking up too much of somebody's time?

VI. Translate into English (self check):

VII. Act out the following situations:

A friend borrows your flippers to use on holiday and leaver them in the resort hotel.

2. A friend forgets to buy you some bread which you need foi a party.

3. It's 3 a.m. The phone rings and it's the wrong number.

4. A friend spills black coffee over your new white jacket.

5. You got into the bus without a ticket. A guard comes up to you. You make excuses.

6. You have knocked over a vase. It was on the edge of the table

7. You didn't come to your friend's party because your cousin from Wales arrived unexpectedly.

8. You told a friend last Saturday that you would pick him/her up in the afternoon and take him/her to a football match But you had a car crash on the way to meet him/her.

9. You promised your mother to come and see her yesterdav

afternoon after work. But you were asked to work overtime and didn't finish until 8 o'clock. So you went home. 10. You borrowed your friend's record and broke it.

Offers. Permission.

a) How to offer to do something:

Shall

Can

May

Let

I help you?

me help you.

b) How to accept the offer:

(Yes), please.

That's very kind (nice) of you.

I'd be very grateful.

That would be nice.

Thank you.

Thanks a lot.

Thank you very much.

c) How to refuse the offer politely:

No, thank you (thanks). 1 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).

d) How to ask permission to do something:

May Can Could

I go home earlier tonight?

e) How to grant permission:

Yes,

certainly

of course (you/may/can- could).

all right.

please, do

f) How to refuse permission:

Please, don't. I'm sorry, but you can't. (No,) I'm afraid not. No, of course not.

Conversation 2

Boss: Oh, Miss Brown, would you post this letter, please?

Miss Brown: Yes, certainly. And shall I take this parcel to the post-office, too?

Boss: Yes, please. Oh, and Miss Brown...

Miss Brown: Yes?

Boss: Could you work overtime on Friday?

Miss Brown: I'm terribly sorry but I've already made arrange­ments to go somewhere on Friday.

Boss: Oh, I see.

Miss Brown: May I go now?

Boss: What? Oh, yes ... yes, of course.

/. Listen to the conversation and answer the questions:

What does the boss ask Miss Brown to do? What else does Miss Brown have to do at the post-office? Why can't Miss Brown work overtime on Friday?

//. Listen to the conversation again. Recall the phrases expres­sing requests, offers and permission used in the conversation.

III. Read the conversation. Paraphrase the conversational formulas expressing requests, offers and permission.

IV. Role-play the conversation.

Conversation 3

Joanna: Oh, Simon, could you help me move the table, please?

Simon: Yes, of course Where do you want it?

Joanna: Er, over there, by the wall, I think. It'll give us a bit more

room for dancing, won't it? Simon: Yes, good idea.

(They move the table) Joanna: Thanks. Now, what else? Simon: Shall I move the sofa, too? Joanna: No, there's no need, thanks. It can stay where it is. Oh,

Simon, the light's gone. What a nuisance! I haven't got

any spare bulb.

Simon. Shall I go and buy one? Joanna: Oh, will you, Simon? I'd be ever so grateful!

/. Listen to the conversation and answer the questions:

What are Joanna and Simon doing and why? Does Joanna want to move the sofa? Why does Simon have to go out?

//. Listen to the conversation again. Recall the phrases expres­sing requests and offers.

III. Read the conversation. Paraphrase the conversational formulas expressing requests and offers.

IV. Role-play the conversation.

Practice

/. Learn the dialogues'

1. - Could you wait for me, please? I'll be ready in no time.

- Yes, certainly. Shall I wait downstairs?

- Yes, please.

2. - May I help you?

- It would be very kind of you, thank you.

3. - Shall I close the window?

- Please, don't.

4. - Shall I give you a cup of coffee?

- No, thanks. I'm in a hurry.

5. - May I use your typewriter?

- I'm afraid not. I'm going to type some documents.

6. - Will you lend me some money for a few days?

- I'm sorry, I have no money about me. Shall I bring it to­morrow?

- Oh, that's very kind of you.

7. - Could I leave earlier tonight? I have to meet my mother

at the station.

- Yes, all right.

8. - Can I use your phone?

- Yes, please.

9. - Let me carry your suitcase.

- Please, do.

10. - Can I borrow your umbrella?

- Of course, you can.

// Accept the offers-

I. Shall I give you a light? 2. Let me call a taxi for you. 3. Let me give you a word of advice. 4. Shall I help you with your luggage? 5. Shall I send the parcel now? 6. Shall I unpack your suitcase? 7. Shall I have a look at the engine? 8. Shall I lend you some mo­ney? 9. Can I help you? 10. Let me repair your iron. 11. Shall I give you a cup of tea? 12. Shall I type the article for you?

///. Refuse the offers politely:

1. Shall I give you a lift? 2. Shall I wake you up in the morning?

3. Let me translate the text for you. 4. May I help you? 5. Shall I buy this dictionary for you? 6. Shall I switch on the TV set? 7. Shall I book a ticket for you? 8. Shall I fix your typewriter?

IV Offer someone to:

buy some bread, call a doctor, send the letter, photo-copy the documents, translate the article, wash the windows, fix the record player, lend some money, make coffee, post the parcel.

/she will either accept or refuse the offer.

V. Grant or refuse permission:

1. Can I use your car? 2. May I leave early today? 3. Ma> I ask you a question? 4. Can I study here? 5. Could I use your vacuum cleaner? 6. May I invite Peter to the party? 7. Can I miss the next English class? 8. Can I borrow your pen? 9. May I open the window? 10. Can I gonow? 11. May I just say a word? 12. Could I have a look at your notes?

VI. Ask someone permission to:

use his/her typewriter, come and see him/her, take the day off, take him/her home, keep the book For another week, smoke, come in, listen to the record, go out, switch on the TV set.

/she will either grant or refuse permission.

VII. Translate into English (sell check):

VIII. Ask permission to do things. Someone will either grant or refuse you permission.

IX. Offer your friend to do something. /she will accept 01 refuse your offer.