Reported commands, requests and suggestions.

GREETINGS, LEAVETAKINGS, WISHES, THANKS,

INTRODUCTIONS, APOLOGIES AND EMOTIONS

IN REPORTED SPEECH.

Illustrative Situations

Reporting verbs used to report:

order — order; request — ask, beg; instruction — tell, advi-

се — advise; reminder — remind; warning — warn; invitation — invite; suggestion — suggest; offer — offer; permission — allow; prohibition — forbid; persuasion — persuade; recommendation — recommend

1. The doctor to the patient: Take the medicine twice a day: mor­ning and evening, (instruction)

The doctor told the patient to take the medicine twice a day.

2. Mary to the waiter: Will you please bring me my bill? (re­quest)

Mary asked the waiter to bring her the bill.

3. Tom to Kate: Please, don't be late, (request) Tom asked Kate not to be late.

4. Mr Walker to his children: Off to bed with you and no more television for tonight, (order)

Mr Walker ordered his children to go to bed.

5. Mr Fox to his son: You may use my car. (permission) Mr Fox allowed his son to use his car.

6. The policeman to the children: Don't play football in the street, (prohibition)

The policeman forbade the children to play football in the street.

7. Mrs Parker to her son: Don't go out. It's too cold, (prohibi­tion)

Mrs Parker didn't allow her son to go out because it was cold.

8. Mrs Smith to her friend: You should consult Dr Brown. I'm sure he will help, (advice)

Mrs Smith advised her friend to consult Dr Brown.

9. Lucy to Helen: Don't forget to bring the book, (reminder) Lucy reminded Helen to bring the book.

10. Jane: Oh, stay a little longer. Mary: All right (persuasion) Jane persuaded Mary to stay a little longer.

11. The teacher to the boys: Don't make a fire in the wood, (war­ning)

The teacher warned the boys not to make a fire in the wood.

12. Mr Smith: I can drive you home in my car, Ben (offer) Ben: Thank you. That's very kind of you.

Mr Smith offered to drive Ben home in his car and Ben willingly accepted the offer.

13. Mr Parker: Shall I drive you to the country on Sunday, Mary? Mary: No, thank you. I'm going by train with some friends of mine.

Mr Parker offered to drive Mary to the country on Sunday but she declined the offer, (or she refused)

14. Robert: What about going to a dance with me, will you? (invitation)

Susan: I'd love to.

Robert invited Susan to a dance and she willingly accepted the

invitation.

15. Jack: Come to a play with rne tonight, will you? Helen: Oh, I can't, I'm too busy.

Jack invited Helen to a play but she declined the invitation, (or didn't accept the invitation)

16. Bob: Let's play a game of chess, (suggestion) Steve: That's a good idea.

Bob suggested playing a game of chess. Steve agreed.

17. Peter: Shall we go to the cinema tonight? Dick: I'm afraid I can't.

Peter suggested going to the cinema but Dick refused.

Reporting verbs used to report:

greetings — greet; leavetakings — part, say good-bye; thanks — thank; wish — wish; apologies — apologize; introduc­tion — introduce

— Hello, Ann.

— Hello, Steve.

Ann and Steve greeted each other.

Mike to Helen: Good-bye, Helen.

Mike said good-bye to Helen.

George: Good-bye, Roger.

Roger: So long, George.

George and Roger parted.

Tom: Good night, Mary. Tom wished Mary good night.

Alec to Peter: A happy journey to you. Alec wished Peter

a happy journey.

Mary: Come to the cinema with me.

Kate: Thank you.

Mary invited Kate to the cinema. Kate thanked her.

Helen to Dick: Excuse my ringing up at such a late hour.

Helen apologized to Dick for ringing him up at such a late

hour.

Harry: Mary, this is Steve Baxter, an old friend of mine.

Harry introduced his friend Steve Baxter to his wife.

Reporting verbs used to report emotional utterances:

exclaim, cry, shout, regret, console, sympathize, cheer up, praise

a) adverbs

to say joyfully, angrily, proudly, cheerfully, sadly, etc.

b) adverbial phrases

to say with disappointment (joy, surprise, anger, regret, dis­may, annoyance, indignation, etc.)

c) adjectives + nouns

to say in a cheerful (joyful, angry, sad, proud, rude, etc.) voice (tone)

d) be + adjective (participle 11)

He was surprised (angry, disappointed).

e) give an exclamation of surprise (disappointment, annoyance, regret)

Mr Hanson: Will you call Mr Jackson, please?

Secretary: But he has already left.

Mr Hanson: Has he? It's only 5.

Mr Hanson asked his secretary to call Mr Jackson. His secre­tary said he had already left. Mr Hanson was surprised. He said it was only 5.

Mr Brown: The Baxters won't be coming to the party.

Mrs Brown: What a pity!

Mr Brown told his wife that the Baxters wouldn't be coming to the party. On hearing that his wife gave an exclamation of disappointment.

Mrs Green: I'm so happy! My son has become a student.

Mrs Green said joyfully that her son had become a student

Victor to his brother: Stop making that noise, Mike. You are getting on my nerves.

Victor told his brother angrily to stop making noise.

Jack: What a shame! We've lost the game.

Jack said with disappointment that they had lost the game.

Bob: Hurrah! We've won the match!

Bob exclaimed in a cheerful voice that they had won the match.

Mrs Smith: What a pity! All the flowers in our garden arc ruined.

With an exclamation of regret Mrs Smith said that all the flo wers in their garden were ruined.

Mary: I say, Ann, I've failed in history. I am in such a state.

Ann: Oh, come on now, it can't be that bad.

Mary told Ann that she had failed in history. She was in des­pair. Ann tried to console her.

Practice

/. A supervisor is giving instructions to a group of exam stu­dents. One of these, Bill, reports the instructions after the exam

a) A: Sit at the numbered desks.

B: He told us to sit at the numbered desks.

b) A: Don't smoke:

B: He told/warned us not to smoke.

1. Hang up your coats. 2. Don't write in the margin. 3. Put your name on each sheet. 4 Read the questions carefully. 5. Start each question on a fresh sheet. 6. Answer the questions in order. 7. Don't spend too much time on the first question. 8. Don't talk to your neighbour. 9. Don't try to copy your neighbour's answers. 10. Keep to the point. 11. Watch the time. 12. Be careful about your spelling. 13. Write clearly. 14. Count the number of words in your essays. 15. Look over your work before you hand it in.

16. Number your sheets. 17. Tie the sheets together. 18. Go out quietly when you've finished. 19. Don't take any paper out of the room. 20. Come back at two o'clock.

//. Mr Jones calls Ann into his office and gives her some inst­ructions. She then returns to the main office and tells a colleague what she has been asked to do.

A: Would you please file these letters?

B: He asked/told me to file these letters.

Would you please...

1. copy this contract? 2. correct this spelling mistake? 3. add something to this letter? 4. pin up these notices in the canteen?

5. look up our MP's address? 6. order some more paperclips? 7. contact our American branch? 8. send this report to our head office? 9. check these figures? 10. bring your taperecorder to the meeting? 11. type out a full report? 12. put these documents in the safe? 13. lock the safe? 14. leave the key on my desk? 15. take these books back to the library? 16. buy some flowers for my wife?

17. tell my wife I won't be home tonight? 18. remind the cleaners to empty my ashtray? 19. advertise for a new office boy? 20. book two plane tickets for New York?

///. Bill is at his office, where he has just heard that he has won £ 200000. Ann, his secretary, and Tom, a colleague, are giving him advice, which he later reports to a friend he meets on the train home.

A (=Ann): Why don't you give up your job?

B: Ann advised me to give up my job.

A (=Tom): Don't do anything in a hurry.

B: Tom warned me not to do anything in a hurry.

1. You should send out for a bottle of champagne. (Ann) 2. You'd better wait till lunchtime. (Tom) 3. Why don't you spend £ 5.000 on a terrific holiday? (Ann) 4. Invite all your friends to a party. (Ann) 5. Don't begin entertaining too lavishly. (Tom)

6. You'd better give some of it to a charity. (Ann) 7. Don't offer to help everyone. (Tom) 8 You should get a new car. (Ann) 9. Why don't you visit your sister in Australia? (Tom) 10. You should buy presents for your wife and the children. (Ann)

IV. A students' club are planning a holiday abroad. The committee is now discussing where to go and what to do. Three members make suggestions. The secretary reports the suggestions afterwards to someone who wasn't at the meeting:

A (=Bill): Shall we start on Friday?

B: Bill suggested starting on Friday.

1. Shall we hitch-hike? (Paul) 2. There are too many of us. Let's go on motor cycles. (Bill) 3. That's too uncomfortable. Why don't we hire cars? (Ann) 4. It would cost too much. What about borrowing the college bus? (Bill) 5. Shall we sleep in Youth Hos­tels? (Bill) 6. Let's camp out. (Paul) 7. Why not rent a caravan? (Ann) 8. Shall we pick fruit and make some money? (Paul) 9. Fruit picking is hard work. Let's spend the day on the beach. (Bill) 10. (And) let's visit museums and art galleries. (Ann) 11. Shall we eat in restaurants? (Paul) 12. Why don't we cook over an open fire? (Bill) 13. Let's pack plenty of tinned food and Coca Cola. (Ann) 14. Shall we find out about pop festivals? (Bill) 15. Let's look out for classical concerts. (Ann) 16. Why don't we bring guitars and make our own music? (Paul)

V. Mr Jones, a widower, has to go away for a fortnight, leaving his house and two children in the care of his neighbour, Ann. He gives Ann various instructions, which she reports to her husband.

A: If one of the children gets ill, ring the doctor.

B: He said if one of the children got ill I was to call a doctor.

1. If one of the children loses his appetite, take his temperature. 2. If the temperature is very high, ring the doctor. 3. If one of them cuts himself, wash the cut and put on a plaster. 4. When they have finished their homework, let them watch TV. 5. When they are in bed, read them a story. 6. If it gets colder, make them wear coats. 7. If they miss the school bus, send them by taxi. 8. When you go out, doublelock the door. 9. If you haven't time to cook, open tins 10. If it gets colder, turn on the central heating. 11. If the central heating doesn't work properly, phone the company. 12. If any letters come for me, please forward them. 13. If the gardener turns up, ask him to cut the grass. 14. When the milkman brings his bill please pay it.

VI. Match the reported speech with the actual word spoken:

Reported speech

1. She advised him to get a summer job.

2. She warned him not to drive too fast.

3. He reminded her not to dri­ve too fast.

Words spoken

a) "Mary, meet my friend, Gil."

b) "Would you like me to help you?"

c) "I'm sorry I'm late."

4. She persuaded her to come

5. He told them not to be late.

6. She suggested going for a coffee.

7. I offered to help them.

8. He refused to help them.

9. I invited her to lunch.

10. She apologized for being late.

11. She agreed to ask him.

12. He introduced Mary to his colleague.

d) "You should get a summer job."

e) "О. К. I'll ask him."

f) "Don't drive too fast. The road is dangerous."

g) A: "Oh, please come!" B: "Oh, all right then."

h) "Don't be late!"

i) "Why don't we go for a cof­fee?"

j) "I'm not going to help you."

k) "Would you like to come to lunch?"

1) "Don't forget there's a speed limit here."

VII. Read the following dialogues and choose the verb which best describes the actual words spoken.

1. Mike: Would you like to come with Greg and me to the open-air concert on Saturday?

a) apologize b) offer c) invite Jane: Brilliant! I'd love to come, a) accept b) refuse c) remind

2. Ben: What should I do about my briefcase? a) agree b) ask c) introduce

Sue: Why don't you go to the police station and report it? a) offer b) tell c) suggest

3. Mark: Mum, please can we go to the carnival? We'll be all

right! You know we will, a) try to persuade b) try to agree c) warn Mum: O.K., but don't take a lot of money in case there are

pickpockets around, a) agree but remind b) agree but warn c) refuse

VIII. Tell the children what doctors advise us to do (not to do):

lie in the sun too long; smoke; sleep in the open air; take cold showers; have regular meals; take a walk before going to bed; go in for sports; go to bed late; drink strong drinks

IX. Tell the visitors what they are requested to do or not to do in a hospital:

come at stated time; stay too long; keep silence; talk too much to the patients; put on overalls; take off hats and coats; smoke; make noise; talk loudly

X. What does your teacher often ask you to do (not to do)? What did your mother (wife, daughter, etc.) ask you to do? What did you ask your friend to do?

XI. Report the following dialogues:

1. Jack: Why don't we go to the movies? Mary: I'd like to.

2. John: Would you like to spend the weekend in Brigh-

ton?

Nick: I don't think I can. I must visit my parents.

3. Alice: • Do you feel like going to the theatre tonight? Betty: No, I'd rather go to the movies.

4. Peter: What about having a cocktail? Victor: I don't mind.

5. Donald. Let's drive to the country.

Roger: Why not go to the seaside for a change?

6. Robert: Come and see me on Sunday, will you? Steve: I'm afraid I can't. I'll be busy on that day.

7. Bill: How about coming to a party with me tonight? Ann: ГН be delighted.

8. Mrs Brown: Have a cup of tea, Bob. Bob: With pleasure.

9. Mr Robinson: Shall I give you a lift? Mr White: Thank you. I'd rather walk.

10. Victor: Would you like me to buy some medicine for

you?

Jack: No, thanks. I can manage.

11. John: Let me give you a helping hand. Mary: That's very kind of you.

12. Mr Morgan: You'd better start at once. Mr Smith: Will you join me?

13. Peter: You should subscribe to some American news-

papers. Helen: I've subscribed to "Washington Post."

14. Mr Baxter: Come and have lunch with us on Sunday.

We'll be pleased to see you.

Mr Parker: Thank you. We'll come.

15. Bill: Please don't speak too fast. Ann: I'll try not to.

16. Jane: Don't forget to lock the door, Mother. Mother: Don't worry, dear.

17. Peter: Could you please lend me your bike for a few

days? Bob: Yes, certainly.

18. Jane: Will you please help me with my suitcases?

Alec: Yes, of course.

19. Ann: Would you please translate this text for me? Mary: I'm afraid I can't. I have to rush off to work

now.

20. Mrs Fox: Don't go out. I want you to help me. Dick: All right.

21. — Good morning, Mrs Ford.

— Good morning, Mr Davis.

22. — Hello, John.

— Hello, Robert.

23. Mary: It's time to get aboard. The train's.leaving

in ten minutes. Good-bye. Alice: Good-bye.

24. Robert: You've done me a great favour. Thank you for

the trouble you've taken. Mr Green: No trouble at all.

25. Mr Brown: I'll do everything you asked me. Mrs Lee: Thank you in advance.

26. Nelly: I'm sorry I'm late. Jack: Never mind.

27. Mrs Jackson: May I introduce Mr Smith to you, Nelly? Mr Smith: How do you do! Glad to meet you. Nelly: How do you do!

28. Jane: I hear you've been promoted. My congratu-

lations! Andrew: Thank you.

29. John: Merry Christmas! Sally: Merry Christmas!

30. Mr Ford: Have you heard the amazing news? Tom won a

swimming race! Mrs Ford: I was sure he would win.

31. Becky: I would like a dark supper today. Mother: A dark supper? What do you mean by it? Becky: Well, you said that the supper you gave me

yesterday was light and I didn't like it.

32. Ann: It seems to me we've lost our way. Lucy: What a nuisance!

33. Husband

(on coming home): What! No supper ready? That's the limit! I'm

going to a restaurant. Wife: Wait just five minutes.

Husband: Will it be ready then? Wife: No, but then I'll go with you.

34. Steve: Nick has failed his exam in maths. Bill: Really!? He said he was good at maths.

35. Henry: Isn't it great! I've been offered a job at a re-

search Institute! Mr Davis: Glad to hear it.

36. Mike: All the tickets are sold out. Jane: What a pity!

37. Nina: I'm taking my exam in two days. I'm awfully

nervous about it. Alec: Oh, pull yourself together. Everything will be

all right.

38 Helen: Alice didn't keep her appointment again.

Dick: That's the limit!

39. Jane: I'm so sorry. I can't go to the seaside this

summer.

40. Dick: Just fancy! I have won a car in the lottery. Bill: You don't say so! What luck!

41. Mr Ford: Mary has brought a basket of apple*.

Mrs Ford: A basket of apples? But I askeu her to bring pears.

42. Johnny: Do you know, Mum! I've got a ticket for the

football match.

43. Mrs Davis: I'm so worried about Dick. The operation is to

take place tomorrow. Mrs Ford: Cheer up! Everything will be all right.

44. Mother: Mary, where is Jenny?

Mary: She is in the house. She is playing a duet on

the piano.

Mother: A duet? How can she play a duet alone?

Mary: I played it with her but I finished my part first.

45. Mother: What are you reading, Maggie? Little Maggie: I don't know.

Mother: You don't know? But you were reading aloud,

so you must know. Little Maggie: I was reading aloud but I wasn't listening.

Fluency

/. Listen to the conversation, read and learn it:

Mr Power: Yes, Miss Wright? What is it?

Miss Wright: Mr Hudson wants to speak to you, sir.

Mr Power. I'm very busy at the moment. Ask him to ring

later.

Miss Wright: Yes, sir. Mr Power: Oh, and Miss Wright? Tell Chris to photocopy the

Director's report.

Miss Wright: Yes, sir. Anything else, sir?

Mr Power: Yes. Tell Miss Davis not to ring her boyfriend on

the office phone. Miss Wright: Yes, sir.

Hello? This is Mr Power's secretary... Mr Hudson: Yes... Hudson here. Miss Wright: I'm afraid M~ Power's busy at the moment. Can

you ring later?

Mr Hudson: All right... what about this afternoon? Miss Wright: Yes, that'll be all right.

Miss Wright: Oh, Chris?

Chris: Yes, Miss Wright?

Miss Wright: Mr Power wants you to photocopy this report.

Chris: Oh, yes... I'll do it later.

Miss Wright: No, Chris... do it now... I know it's important...

Miss Wright: Miss Davis! Did you ring your boyfriend on the

office phone yesterday?

Miss Davis: Well, yes... I did... but it was urgent. Miss Wright: Hmm... I think Mr Power heard you. He wasn't very

pleased about it. Don't use the office phone for

personal calls. Miss Davis: No... no, Miss Wright... I won't do it again... I'm

sorry.

Mr Power: Miss Wright? Did you speak to Mr Hudson?

Miss Wright: Yes, I did. I asked him to ring later. He says he'll

ring you this afternoon.

Mr Power: That's fine. Has Chris photocopied that report yet? Miss Wright: Not yet... but I told him to do it immediately.

I think he's doing it now. Mr Power: Good. Did you tell Miss Davis not to ring her

boyfriend from here? Miss Wright: Oh, yes... I told her not to use the office phone for

personal calls... she says she won't do it again. I'm

sure she won't.

Mr Power: I hope she won't... her boyfriend lives in Australia! //. Listen to the conversations and report them:

1. Man: Hello, little boy. What are you doing? Boy: I've lost a com and I'm looking for it.

Man: How much have you lost, and where did you drop it? Boy: I've lost a tenpence and I dropped it on the road. Man: Don't cry. I'll give you another tenpence. Buy yourself some chocolate. Good-bye.

(Some minutes later)

Man: What's the matter? Have you lost the coin I gave

you already? Boy: I haven't lost that one, but I want to find the first one.

Then I'll have 20 pence.

2. A talkative passenger addressed a lady who was in the same compartment. "Have you a family, madam?" "Yes, sir, one son." "Indeed? Does he smoke?" "No, sir. He has never touched a ciga­rette." "Does he drink wine?" "Oh, no, he has never touched a drop of it." "Does he come home late at night?" "Never. He always goes to bed directly after dinner." "I congratulate you, madam. He is a model young man. How old is he?" "Four months today,

г sir."

3. Nora is talking to a neighbour, Mrs Howard.

Nora: Yes, of course, Mrs Howard, I mustn't boast, but

it really is a comfort to have such a hard-working boy as Robert.

Mrs Howard: You needn't apologize, Mrs Parker. It's very natu­ral for you to feel proud. Will he go to the Univer­sity, do you think?

Nora: Well, he may or he may not. You see we can't really

tell until he takes his scholarship examinations.

Mrs Howard: Oh, but I'm sure he'll win a scholarship.

Nora: Yes, we hope he will. He's done well in all his exams

up to now, but we don't count on his winning one. If he doesn't win a scholarship, he may go to a technical college.

Mrs Howard: Would he like to do that? What's he studying now? Is he studying science?

Nora: Yes, and I think he's getting' on quite well at it

He is certainly working very hard. Why, this very afternoon, although it's such a fine day, he is at the library working all the time.

Robert: Hello, mum! Good afternoon, Mrs Howard! It's a

lovely day, isn't it!? Well, the Rovers won, Mum!

Nora: The Rovers, Robert? Why, where have you been'

Robert: At the football match, of course.

Nora: Haven't you been at the library?

Robert: No.

Nora: But I thought...

Mrs Howard: Don't worry, Mrs Parker. A library is quite the wrong place for a boy on such a fine afternoon.

///. Listen to the text. Retell it.

John Smith was a man who always forgot everything he had to remember. One day a friend invited him to dinner. "Come on Tuesday at 8 in the evening", he said. "Your brother's old friend will be here and he wants to see you. Don't come on Wednesday. I shall not be at home then." John Smith smiled and said he wouldn't make a mistake because on Wednesday he had to go to the country to see his father who would be waiting for him at the railway station at 10.30 in the evening. Tuesday came, but Smith did not come. On Wednesday at a little past 8 John Smith ran into the room. "I'm sorry I'm late", he said. "I got into the wrong bus." "Why, it's you?" his friend exclaimed. "But I asked you to come on Tuesday! I can't stay now. I must go. But don't you remember you have to go to the country today? Your father will be waiting for you." "Oh, so he will. I must hurry," and in a moment he was out of the room.

Self check

/. Report the phrases in brackets:

1. The platform was empty, so Fred asked a porter... and the porter answered... ("Has the train for London left?" "It left ten minutes ago.") 2. John told Mary... but she laughed and told him... ("You are the most beautiful girl in the world". "Don't talk such nonsense".) 3. My watch stopped today, so I took it to a watchma­ker and asked him.... He examined it, shook his head and told me:... ("What's wrong with it?" "Throw it away and buy a new one.") 4. Mary is a strange girl. The other day, when I asked her..., she said that.... But I saw her there myself the very next night. "Would you like to come to the cinema with me?" "I've already seen this film.") 5. The manager asked me... and I answered him... He then asked me..., so I told him.... ("Do you like your work?" "Yes, I do." "Why do you want to leave it then?" "I'm moving to Glasgow." 6. I was walking down the road the other day when a man stopped me and asked the way to the nearest post office. I told him... ("Take the first turning to the left and go as far as the post office".) The man asked me... ("How far is it?") and I told him... ("It's about half a mile at the most.") He thanked me and walked off.

//. Report the conversation which took place a week ago:

Mr Robinson: Hello. Glad to see you in London. How long have you been here?

Mr Thompson: Oh, only a few days, since Monday and I am sorry to say we have to return tomorrow.

Mr Robinson: Is it your first visit to London?

Mr Thompson: It's my wife's first visit, but I've been here several times before. I have to come over at least once a year on business and I feel quite at home in Lon­don.

Mr Robinson: And what do you think of London, Mrs Thompson?

Mrs Thompson: Oh, I think it's a wonderful place.

Mr Robinson: What are your plans for tonight? What about coming to our place?

Mr Thompson: Thank you, but I'm afraid we can't. We are leaving tomorrow morning and we've got a lot of things to do. Next time, perhaps.

///. Report the following joke:

An old lady was going to take a taxi. "Driver", she said, "I want you to take me to the station." "Yes, madam," said the driver. "And you must drive slowly and carefully. Don't go until the policeman lowers his arm, and, please, don't rush round the corners as the road is very wet." The taxi-driver was getting angry. "All right, madam," he said. "But if we do have an accident, what hospital would you like to be taken to?"

IV. Translate into English:

1. Вчера у меня был выходной день. Я предложила Ане схо­дить в кино, но она отказалась, сказав, что готовится к экзамену по немецкому языку. Мы договорились, что сходим в кино на следующей неделе. 2. Преподаватель спросил меня, почему я пропустил так много занятий. Я ответил, что я уезжал в коман­дировку. 3. Когда я собирался уходить, мой брат напомнил мне, чтобы в следующий раз я принес ему свой русско-испанский словарь. Он сказал, что ему нужно перевести статью по элект­ронике. Я ответил, что приду к нему через два дня и пообещал, что не забуду о его просьбе. 4. Когда я вернулся домой, мой сын уже спал. Я хотел поговорить с ним, но жена сказала, что­бы я не будил его, потому что он очень устал, так как целый вечер чинил автомобиль. 5. Врач посоветовал мне, чтобы я про­водил больше времени на свежем воздухе и не ложился спать поздно. 6. Нина поинтересовалась, пойду ли я на вечер, и я отве­тила, что пойду.

UNIT 15 TOPIC: HOTEL

TEXT. LONDON HOTELS

There are plenty of good hotels in London and you're nearly always sure of finding a room in one of them. Still if you don't want to be disappointed, especially during the holiday season, it's better to reserve a room beforehand. You'll find London hotels just the same as in all large cities. You enter a large entrance hall or lounge and go to the reception desk. The reception clerk will tell you which is your room, what floor it is on and will give you the key. You will sign the register and give your luggage to the porter who will take it up in the lift to your room. If you need some help you can call the chambermaid by the room telepho­ne. There is usually a laundry and a dry cleaning service at the hotel. You can have your clothes cleaned, washed, ironed and delivered within 24 hours.

The people in the office will always help you if you don't know your way about the town. They'll tell you where to go and what to see. They'll book seats for you at the theatre and do all they can to make your stay a pleasant one.

If you want a guide to show you round, or an interpreter for a business interview, they'll get you one. If you have to write business letters and can type, they'll provide you with a typewriter. If, on the other hand, you prefer to dictate your letter, they will get you a short-hand typist. If your wife is going to be with you she'll find plenty to amuse her. She'll be able to spend her time looking at the shops while you're busy.

Comprehension

/. Listen to the text and answer the questions:

What is registration at a hotel like? What services can you get at London hotels?

//. Read the text, analyse its language peculiarities. Do some exercises in the next section to remember them.

Special Difficulties

/. Make up sentences with the word combination "to be sure of doing smth.":

e.g. She/get a visa

She is sure of getting a visa.

1. He/win the prize 2. She/pass the exam 3. I/book a ticket 4. She/get a rise 5. I/find a room 6. He/marry her 7. She/meet him at the party 8. He/get the money

//. Answer the questions:

e.g. A: Do you clean the windows yourself? B: No, I have them cleaned.

1. Did you paint the house yourself? 2. Do you cut the grass yourself? 3. Does he wash his car himself? 4. Does she polish the floors herself? 5. Are you going to shorten the trousers yourself? 6. Are you going to cut down the tree yourself? 7. Did you repair the clock yourself? 8. Do you sharpen the knives yourself? 9. Does he tune his piano himself? 10. Does she sweep the stairs herself? 11. Did he build the new garage himself? 12. Did he plant the trees himself? 13. Is she translating the book herself? 14. Did she make the suit herself? e.g. A: Did she have the window repaired? B: No, she repaired it herself.

1. Did she have the coat shortened? 2. Does she have her car­pets cleaned? 3. Does the manager have the accounts checked? 4. Did you have the ceiling whitewashed? 5. Did he have his tooth taken out? 6. Did they have the tree cut down? 7. Did you have your coat cleaned? 8. Are you going to have your house repaired?

///. Ask someone at the hotel to have your laundry done, to have a blouse or shirt ironed, to have your car looked at or repaired, to have a rollaway bed moved into your room, to have a call to Minsk dialled by the hotel switchboard operator and to have a table reserved for dinner. The hotel employees should assure their partners that it will be done immediately.

Text Exercises

I.Ask and answer questions on the text.

2. Speak on the London hotels.

Conversation Practice

/. Listen to the dialogues, read and learn them: