B: Yes, we have. We’ve got two or three big customers.

A: How many employees does your company have?

B: It has 300.

Now expand the notes below to make questions with have or have got. Then take it in turns to ask and answer the questions with a partner. Talk about yourself and your own imaginary company.

1 any customers in the USA?..............................................................................................................

2 how many employees / your company?…………………………………………………………

3 any staff in other countries?..........................................................................................................

4 your company/ factories abroad? ……………………………………………………………….

5 how many staff / the head office? ………………………………………………………………

6 many competitors? ………………………………………………………………………………

7 your company / a big market share? …………………………………………………………….

8 research department?.....................................................................................................................

C Complete the sentences with a, some, any.

1 We’ve got some problems with cash flow this month.

2 Joe’s office has got air conditioning, but it hasn’t got ______ windows.

3 The invoice is incorrect. Please send us _______ new one.

4 My new office hasn’t got _______ very nice view.

5 Have you got ________ meetings on Tuesday?

6 We haven’t got _________ information about the missing documents.

7 Has he got _________ problems with the new boss?

8 Please give us ________ details.

9 They haven’t got ________ Korean customers.

10 Ms Torres has got ________ meetings on Friday, but she’s free on Monday.

 

TEXT B

1 Study this vocabulary and definitions and think of Russian equivalents:

to retire – to leave one's job, typically upon reaching the normal age for leaving employment

retirement age – age at which people retire

part – time – apart of the usual working day or week (e.g. to work part-time)

full – time – the whole of each normal working day or week (e.g. to work full-time)

personal assistant – a person who does office work and administrative work for one particular person

to sack, fire – to tell someone to leave a company

downsizing – becoming smaller

to resign – to leave the company

 

2 Listen to the text. Try to understand as much as you can. Then write down the information.

NAME	JOB	AGE
Buster Martin	Cleans vans
Charlie Mullins
Keith Boardell
Edwin Boxall

3 Read and translate the text. Pay especial attention to the words in bold.

EMPLOYEES WHO DO NOT WANT TO RETIRE

People live longer today, but most people stop working when they are 65 years old. However, not everyone retires at 65.

Some companies have employees who are in their 70s, 80s and even 90s. Britain’s oldest employee, Buster Martin, cleans vans part-time for Pimlico Plumbers. He is 101 years old next month. The company also employs a 78-year-old driver and a personal assistant who is 66. Charlie Mullins, Managing Director and owner, says: “We don’t have a retirement age. If they can do the job and want to stay on, they can. It’s their choice.”

Why do people work if they do not have to? Some people just like being busy and useful. Companies employ older workers because they have experience, are polite and work hard.

Reed Boardall is another company that employs older people. Keith Boardall, Managing Director, is 72, but works from nine to six every day. His oldest employee is 88 and looks after the vehicles.

The Co-operative Group also employs older people. Edwin Boxall, one of the Co-op’s older employees, works part-time as a post-office manager: “I’m 75 on my next birthday and I might retire then. But I’m quite fit and I enjoy work, so why can’t I continue?”

 

4 Shut the book and listen to the text. You should understand the text completely.

 

5 Discuss the following questions:

a) At what age do most people retire in Russia?

b) Do you think it’s a good idea to have a fixed age for retirement?

c) When would you like to retire?

d) Do you think there are any problems employing older people?

 

GRAMMAR FOCUS 2 – can / can’t

i We use can to talk about ability

He can write computer programmes.

She can fly a helicopter.

 

ii We use can to ask for permission.

Can I make a phone call, please? - Yes, go ahead.

Can we park in this space? - Sorry, you can’t park here. It’s reserved.

 

iii We use can to talk about what is possible.

Can you come next Thursday? - Sorry, I’m afraid I have another appointment.

Can we put another desk in here? - No, the room is too small.

 

iv We do not use to after can.

NOT *She can to ride a motorbike.

ASSIGNMENTS

A Put the questions in the right column according to the meaning of can.

can(ability)	can (permission)	can (what is possible)

1 Can we fly direct from Rome to Tashkent?

2 Can you use the new photocopier?

3 Can she speak Russian?

4 Can I use your computer?

5 Where can I buy phone cards?

6 Excuse me. Can I open the window?

7 Can you hear me now?

8 Can I just make a phone call, please?

9 Can we go to the airport by underground?

B Read and translate this article adapted from the Financial Times paying special attention to the verb

can / can’t.

HOW TO SACK A FRIEND.

“ I have to sack my friend or fire someone better”

Three years ago, I became my friend’s boss. At first, this was fine, but now the company is downsizing, and I have to sack someone. My friend is lazy and unhappy, and is the weakest person. I don’t know how I can fire him. But I can’t fire someone who works better.

Lucy Kellaway: The Answer

Firing people is difficult, and firing friends is really hard. Keeping your friend and sacking someone who is better is bad for them and for your company. You could resign and avoid the problem. But this helps nobody. You have to do the right thing as a manager and forget your friendship.

Reader suggestions

A Firing your friend may be good for him. It happened to me, and I was unhappy at first, but I got

a better job with more money.

B Discuss the situation with your friend. Give him goals to reach. If he agrees, sack the most

junior person. If he doesn’t, sack him. It is his decision.

C I’ve been in exactly the same position. Fire your friend, but help him find a new job. Tell

everyone you know about him and help him plan his future.

C Decide whether these sentences are true or false:

a) The writer is his friend’s boss. ______

b) His friend is a good worker. ______

c) Lucy Kellaway says firing people is easy. ______

d) She says the writer must do the right thing for the company. ______

e) Reader A now has a better job. ______

f) Reader B advises the writer to talk to his friend. ______

g) Reader C suggests the writer helps his friend to find a new job. _____

D Answer the questions:

1 Would you like to work in the same company as your friends? Why (not)?

2 Do you think it would be difficult if your friend was your boss?

3 Which of the suggestions from the article do you think is best?

4 Have you got any other suggestions?

 

3.3 VOCABULARY BOOSTER – PREPOSITIONS in, at, on

A Complete the sentences with at, in or on.

1 Our departmental meeting is ……… Friday afternoon.

2 I don’t like meetings ……… the morning.

3 The first interview is ……… 17 December.

4 The second interview is ………. January.

5 When he travels all day, he can’t sleep ……. night.

6 She usually visits our head office …….. the autumn.

7 They never work …….. the weekend.

8 Are you free ……… Wednesday?

9 Susan sometimes works …….. Saturdays.

10 Do you often go out ……… the evening?

11 He starts his first meeting …….. 8:30.

B One word is missing in each of these sentences. Find its place and write it in.

1 Some of my colleagues love listening hard rock.

2 My boss and I don’t like watching football TV.

3 My colleagues and I often go to the cinema Saturdays.

4 I quite like reading, but I hate to the radio.

5 Our new secretary sometimes tennis at the weekend.

6 How often do you go abroad holiday?

 

E Complete the time phrases in the sentences with at or in. Write Ø if no word is missing.

1 Can I see you …… next Tuesday?

2 They’ll deliver the goods …… the end of the month.

3 We need to have a meeting ……. This afternoon.

4 The office closes …….. 6.00 p.m.

5 There’s a staff party ……. Every December.

6 Our visitors arrive ……. three hours’ time.

7 She worked very hard …… last winter.

8 Hurry up! The bank closes ……. ten minutes.

9 He traveled to China ……. 1999.

10 I’m sorry. Mrs Moor’s in a meeting …….. the moment.

 

DISCOVER THE RULE

Study the ten sentences above and complete the rule:

We do not use at / in / on before next, ……….., …………. or ………… in a time phrase.