Polite? Rude? Neutral?
1 I’m sorry to bother you, but could you ________ _________ a ten-pound note?
Have you got change for a ten-pound note?
2 Where’s the station?
Could you tell me where the _________ _________, please?
3 A This is a present for you.
B For me! Oh, how kind! You _________ _________, really. Thank you so much.
A This is a present for you.
B Thanks.
4 A Can you come to a party on Saturday?
B No, I can’t.
A Can you come to a party on Saturday?
B Oh, what a pity! I’m already _________ _________, I’m afraid.
A Oh well, _________ _________!
B But thanks for the invitation anyway
5 A Excuse me! Do you _________ _________ I sit down here?
B No, not at all.
A Is anyone sitting here?
B No.
6 A Can you give me _________ _________? I need to carry this box upstairs.
B OK, if you like.
A I wonder if I _________ _________ ask you a favour? Would you mind helping me with this box?
B No, not at all.
Polite refusals
1 A Do you think _________ _________ give me a lift to the station?
В I’m terribly sorry, I can’t. I have to be at work by 8.30. I’ll order you a taxi, _________.
2 A _________ _________ _________ help me find my glasses? I can’t find them anywhere.
В Sorry! I’m afraid I have to dash or I’ll miss the bus. I’m hopeless at finding things anyway.
3 A Hi! Listen, would you like to _________ _________ _________ a meal tomorrow evening? I’m cooking Chinese.
В Oh, I’d _________ _________, but I’m afraid I’m already going out.
A Oh, what a _________! Another time perhaps.
4 A Would you mind _________ me your dictionary?
В I _________ if I _________ but I’m afraid I forgot to bring it with me today. Sorry.
5 A Hi, it’s Susan here. Could I ask you a _________ _________? I _________ if you could look after my dog next week? I’m going on holiday.
В I’m terribly sorry, Susan, but I can’t. I’d love to have Molly, you know I _________ dogs, but I’m going away myself for a few days.
6 A Do you _________ _________ _________ where the toilet is?
В Sorry. I’m afraid _________ _________ idea. Ask the guy serving drinks, _________ know.
7 A Would you like me to help you with this exercise? I think I know the answers.
В That’s really _________ _________ _________ but I want to try and work it out for myself. _________ _________.
8 A Excuse me. Would you mind not whistling?
В I'm sorry. I didn't _________ I was.
A _________ _________.
A = Alan S = Sarah
S Hello. 267890.
A Hello. Is that Sarah?
S Speaking.
A Hi, Sarah. It's Alan, Alan Cunningham.
S Alan! Hi! How are you? How are things?
A OK, yeah, not too bad, thanks. And you? How's the family?
S Oh, we're surviving! Busy, busy, busy, but what's new?
A Tell me about it! Listen, I'm phoning about our reunion ...
S Oh, yes? On the fourteenth, right? Friday night. I can't wait. I'm really looking forward to it.
A Have you any ideas where we can meet? A restaurant somewhere?
S Well, what do you fancy? Indian? A Chinese? There's that really good Chinese we used to go to in Claypath.
A Oh, yes. What's it called?
S The Lotus Garden.
A That's right. Now, I'm driving from the Midlands, so I'll be coming into Durham from the M1.
J Where can I park?
S There's a car park bang opposite the restaurant.
A That's great. I'll be leaving about 3.00 in the afternoon, so I should be in Durham about 5, 6 o'clock depending on the traffic.
S Where are you staying?
A In The County. What about you?
S Oh, that's good. I'm staying in The Three Tuns, just down the road. We can meet up for a drink.
A Sounds great! How are you getting there?
S By train. It's direct from Leeds, so it's easy. The journey takes less than an hour. I'm getting the 17.05. Why don't I come to The County at about 6.30? I'll see you in the bar.
A All right. That sounds great. Will you phone James, or shall I?
S Erm ... No, don't worry. I'll phone him.
A OK. So I'll see you in the bar of The County on the fourteenth. I presume there's only one.
S Well, it's not that big. I'm sure we won't lose each other!
A True. OK. See you then.
S About 6.30.
A That's it. Bye.
S Bye. Take care.
J - James S = Sarah
J Hello. Simpson's Travel Agents.
S Hello, James. This is Sarah Jackson. How are you?
J Sarah! Hello! How lovely to hear from you!
S Sorry to disturb you at work.
J Oh, don't worry. I'm only too pleased to be interrupted. How's everything with you?
S Oh, fine. Have you got a lot on at the moment?
J Well, it's our busy time of year. Still, I mustn't complain.
S That's right. Business is business! Anyway, James, I spoke to Alan yesterday, you know, about our get-together in Durham on the fourteenth, and I'm just ringing to let you know what's happening.
J Oh, great!
S We've decided to meet in the Lotus Garden, the Chinese restaurant ...
J You mean the one in Claypath?
S Yes.
J Where we all used to go?
S Yeah.
J Oh.
S Why? Is that no good?
J Er ... it closed about three years ago.
S Oh, dear. Are you sure?
I Uh-huh. Absolutely. But it doesn't matter. There's the other one, the Kwai Lam.
S Now where's that? I've forgotten.
J It's on the corner of Saddler Street.
S Oh, great. OK. Now, how are you coming from Sunderland?
J Well, I'm so close. I'll be catching the bus. The office closes at 6.00, and I'll go straight to the bus station.
S So you'll be there at about ... what? Seven?
J Yeah, something like that.
S Well, look. Why don't we see you in the Kwai Lam? I'm meeting Alan in The County before that, because we both get in earlier than you.
J OK. I'll phone Alan and sort it all out.
S Great. What about if we see you in the Kwai Lam between seven and half past? How does that sound?
J Fine. That'll give me enough time, I'm sure. Shall I phone and book a table?
S Good idea. By the way, where are you staying that night?
J I'm going to phone a friend of mine to see if he can put me up for the night.
S Oh, lovely! Well, we'll see you on the fourteenth, then, around 7.15.
J In the restaurant, that's it. And you know where it is, don't you?
S Yeah, yeah, I've got it. Bye, now, James.
J Bye, Sarah. Thanks for phoning.
Every Breaking Wave
by U2
Every breaking wave on the shore
Tells the next one "there'll be one more"
And every gambler knows that to lose
Is what you're really there for
Summer I was fearless
Now I speak into an answer phone
Like every fallen leaf on the breeze
Winter wouldn't leave it alone, alone
If you go...
If you go your way and I go mine
Are we so...
Are we so helpless against the tide?
Baby, every dog on the street
Knows that we're in love with defeat
Are we ready to be swept off our feet
And stop chasing every breaking wave?
Every sailor knows that the sea
Is a friend made enemy
Every shipwrecked soul knows what it is
To live without intimacy
I thought I heard the captain's voice
But it's hard to listen while you preach
Like every broken wave on the shore
This is as far as I could reach
If you go...
If you go your way and I go mine
Are we so...
Are we so helpless against the tide?
Baby, every dog on the street
Knows that we're in love with defeat
Are we ready to be swept off our feet
And stop chasing every breaking wave?
The sea knows where are the rocks
And drowning is no sin
You know where my heart is
The same place that yours has been
We know that we fear to win
And so we end before we begin
Before we begin
If you go...
If you go your way and I go mine
Are we so...
Are we so helpless against the tide?
Baby, every dog on the street
Knows that we're in love with defeat
Are we ready to be swept off our feet
And stop chasing every breaking wave?