5. Illustrative Dialogue

The Browns have a flat tyre on their way home from a party (informal) Mr. Brown: Now, Mag, you needn't go on at me like that. I didn't do it on purpose. Mrs. Brown: I am not accusing you of anything, but you shouldn't have driven so fast on this bumpy country road.

Mr. Brown: That's not a very nice thing to say in the circumstances. It won't make things any better. Just get out, and I'll fix the spare in no time.

(after a few minutes)

Mr. Brown: All right. Everything's ready. Here we go!

(in the car)

Mrs. Brown: You're a quick one, aren't you?

Mr. Brown: I must say, you were very charming tonight. Did you enjoy the party? Mrs. Brown: Yes, I had a very good time. And the cake was quite good, wasn't it? And I had a very interesting talk with Mrs. Jones. By the way, I invited them to come over to tea next Thursday.

Mr. Brown: You did? Good for you. We're new here and we must get to know people. Mrs. Brown: Look out, Jim! There's a cat crossing the road! (screech of brakes) ...You really ought to be driving more carefully. You nearly killed the poor thing.

6. Exercises

Exercise 1. Using rather or quite and/or a question tag express cautious approval of the following:

Model: your friend's apartment (comfortable, good location)

You have rather a nice place here. Quite comfortable, and the location is very good.

1. the hotel you're staying in (comfortable and not far from the centre);

2. the film you've seen (interesting);

3. your friend’s country cottage (nice);

4. the book you've just finished reading;

5. the exhibition you've just been to;

6. today's weather (warm);

7. John's cleverness;

8. Mary's ability to solve crossword puzzles (good at);

9. the party you went to last night;

10. Susan's good looks.

Exercise 2. Express approval in response to the following statements made by a fellow- student. Use the hints given in brackets.

1. I decided to make a copy of the letter in case the original gets lost, (sensible)

2. So I told her we were willing to pay half of the cost of the repairs, since it was partly our fault, (right)

3. Carpentry is his hobby. He made this cabinet himself, (good/nice piece of work)

4. ( Come on, let's have a quick snack. My wife made a few sandwiches and gave them to me when I was leaving, (thoughtful)

5. Here, take this. I always have an extra pen. Just in case, you know, (wise)

6. They invited us to spend a weekend at their country-house. I thought you might enjoy it and accepted, (exclamation of enthusiastic approval)

7. I thought we might perhaps afford a new TV set, after all, if we buy it on hire- purchase, (good idea)

8. As my car was insured the repair didn't cost me a single penny, but I sold it anyway.

A repaired car is never as good as a new one. (did right)

9. Well, you know, I still feel a bit weak after that flu, so I thought I'd better stay away from physical training for a while, (wise)

10. It switches off automatically when the tape comes to the end. (clever)

Exercise 3. Using Well, personally I think... or don’t you think...? and the hints given in brackets, express tactful disapproval of:

1. a tie/dress a salesgirl is showing you (too bright);

2. the Russian translation of an English novel (too literal in places);

3. watching all the TV programmers (takes too much time);

4. your neighbour's curiosity (too inquisitive);

5. a colleague's lack of initiative (too conservative);

6. today's weather (too cold);

7. the service in a restaurant (too slow);

8. an alarm clock in a showcase (too old-fashioned);

9. the postal service in holiday time (too slow);

10. a hotel room facing a busy city street (too noisy).

Exercise 4. Respond to a question by a fellow-student using rather or a bit to express tactful disapproval of the following:

Model: the food in the hotel (unusual/highly-seasoned)

A: What was the food like? /Was the food, OK? /How did you like/find the food?

etc

B: Well, it was rather dull/unusual/highly-seasoned.

1. the hotel you were staying at (noisy);

2. the beefsteak you've just finished eating (underdone);

3. the party you went to last night (dull);

4. the conference you went to recently (tiring);

5. your summer holiday (disappointing);

6. the film you've just seen (boring);

7. the book you've just finished reading (sentimental / depressing / melodramatic);

8. the weather last weekend (cold and wet);

9. your friend's dress (old-fashioned);

10. Blackpool (crowded at this time of the year).

Exercise 5. Express disapproval in response to the following statements made by a fellow-student. Use the hints in brackets.

1. I thought we might play a game or two of tennis and accepted his invitation (you forgot we had agreed to go to the Manet exhibition on Saturday);

2. It's absurd! I just said she was five years older than Aunt Julie (women don't like any mention of their age);

3. She asked me to help her with a translation. How could I refuse? (You knew I was waiting for you);

4. Mrs. Coleman is in a bad way; the doctors can't do much (there's always some hope);

5. They asked me to make all the arrangements for the meeting (it's not your job);

6. We're all fed up with his jokes, and I said so to his face (he has a lot of influence with Mr. Nicols);

7. Well, you know, I still wasn't feeling well after that flu, so I took a couple of days off (you'll be the first to be sacked next time they start reducing their office staff);

8. You know, I've invited this new chap, O'Greedy, to our party (he is so boring from what I hear about him);

9. If you choose to waste your time and so risk failing your examination, that's your funeral (you know very well I'm doing my best, I'm just having a little rest);

10. She talks and talks and talks. Nobody can get a word in edgeways when she is talking. I don't want to have her at my party (she gave you a very nice present for your last birthday).

Exercise 6. Express either approval or disapproval of:

a friend's tie/dress;

a friend's new hair style;

a friend's good looks;

a friend's new TV set;

the flowers a friend is giving you for your birthday;

a friend's country house which you've visited.