I. Mind your grammar when you speak
1. Ask your friend how much time he needed to do this or that action, work in pairs:
Model: A: How long have you been studying English? You speak English so well.
B: Let me think ... I began studying English last year.
So I've been studying it for nearly a year.
Prompts: to translate this text – at 10 o'clock; to type the article – at 12 o'clock; to learn to drive a car – in January; to watch TV – at 11 o'clock; to wait for a bus – at 9 o'clock; to live in New York – to come in 1980; to paint the picture – in September; to perform the duties of the manager – in 1992.
2. Explain why you or your friend has achieved some progress in this or that sphere, work in pairs:
Model: A: Kate sings well.
B: She has been studying at the conservatoire for 3 years.
Prompts: Jim – to be a very good teacher – to teach for 20 years; Sam – to speak French well – to study French for 2 years; Nick – to have a rich collection of pictures – to collect pictures for 10 years; Mrs. Blake – to be an experienced lawyer – to practice law for 25 years; Nancy – to be a senior teacher – to wait for promotion for 5 years.
3. Speak about things your friend and you have been trying to do for a long time but haven't succeeded in doing them yet:
Model: I've been playing football for 3 months but I haven't succeeded yet.
Prompts: to make dresses; to play the violin; to paint pictures; to type; to play golf; to drive a car; to perform these duties; to study Spanish; to translate the text.
4. Your friend wants to know what you had been doing prior to another action, work in pairs:
Model: A: What had you been doing before I rang you up?
B: I had been looking through new magazines for
about an hour before you rang me up.
Prompts: to come – to write a report; to become a student – to work at the plant; to return – to prepare for classes; to offer the job – to look for a job; to see Mr. Brown – to work in the garden; the telephone – to ring – to type an article; to come – to do some clerical work.
II. Conversational formulas
G
ratitude
Thank you. |
– Спасибо. |
Thanks. |
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Thank you very much. |
– Большое спасибо. |
Thanks a lot. |
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That’s/It’s very kind of you. |
– Очень любезно с вашей стороны. |
That’s/It’s very kind of you. |
– Очень вам благодарен. |
I'm very much obliged to you. |
– Очень вам признателен (обязан). |
Possible replies
That’s O.K./all right. |
– Пожалуйста. |
N ot at all. |
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Don’t mention it. |
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You are welcome. |
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It’s a pleasure. |
– Мне это доставило удовольствие. |
That’s really nothing. |
– Это пустяк. |
Exercises
1. Read and translate the following flashes of conversation, work in pairs:
1
A: Thank you for the party. It was wonderful.
B: You're welcome. I'm glad you liked it.
2
A: A cup of coffee, Mary?
B: Thanks. I'd like one.
3
A: I'll give you a lift home.
B: That's very kind of you. Thanks a lot.
4
A: How do I get to the nearest police station?
B: It's the next turning on the left.
A: Thank you very much.
B: Not at all.
5
A: Here's your book. You left it in the office.
B: Thanks awfully. I'm very grateful to you!
A: That's OK.
6
A: I have no money on me.
B: I'll pay for your ticket.
A: I'm very much obliged to you.
B: That's all right.
7
A: Thank you for a very pleasant evening.
B: It's a pleasure for me to spend an evening with you.
2. Insert the phrases of gratitude into the following flashes of conversation, work in pairs:
1
A: Oh, where are my glasses?
B: Here they are.
A: Oh, ..., dear. Where have you found them?
B: You left them in the kitchen.
2
A: I've reserved a room at your hotel.
B: Let me see. Oh, yes! We've reserved a room for you.
A: ...
3
A: ... for the journal. It was most interesting.
B: ... I'm glad you liked it.
4
A: Many happy returns of the day, Lucy. Here's your birthday
present.
B: ...
5
A: Could you give me your dictionary for a few hours?
B: Here it is.
A: ... I'll return it in the evening.
B: ...
6
A: ... for your assistance.
B: …