Essential Communication

1. Advice:

Advice

asking for advice giving advice

 What do you think I should  You should … / You ought

do?
 Can I ask your advice / to…
opinion about something?  what you need is
 Do you think I should …?  The best thing is to ….
 I’m thinking of … What do you
think?

2. Suggestions:

Suggestion

Making a Replying to a
suggestion suggestion

 Let´s
 We could .../ You YES No
could ....  Yes/ Yeah  Sorry I can’t
 Why don’t we / you … ?  OK / Right / All  How about …
 What about … / How right instead
about …?  Good idea  I’d rather ( do
 Do you want to….?  That sounds something)
great / good  I’d prefer to ( do
 Sure something)

When you say no to

a suggestion, it is
polite to give a
3. Offers
Offers

Offering to do Offering someone a

something for drink, something to eat
someone

 Would you like me to ….: use  Would you like …?

this when you want to be polite  Can I get you … ?
– Would you like me to help
 How about…?
you with your luggage? –
 Do you want me to….?
 Shall I …?
 Should I …?

Saying yes or no to an offer

YES No
 Yes, please  No, thanks
 Thanks  No, I’m fine, thanks
 That’s very kind of you (formal)  That’s very kind of you,
but…
 4. Request: asking someone to do something for you

Request

When you
Asking friends Asking anyone want to be
polite
Can
Canyou..?
you..? Could
Couldyou
you..?
..? DoDoyou
youthink
thinkyou
you
Will
Willyou...?
you...? Would
Wouldyou
youmind...
mind... could
could.?.?
(doing something)? I Iwonder
(doing something)? wonderififyou’d
you’d
mind
mind....(doing
(doing
something)?
something)?
Saying yes or no to a request

Yes No
Yes No
Ok
Ok/ /All
Allright Sorry,
right Sorry,but...
but...
Yes,
Yes,sure I Ican’t
sure can’treally…
really…
Certainly I’m
Certainly I’mafraid
afraid……

5. Permission: asking someone to let you do something

Permission

Asking When you

anyone want to be
polite

 Can I ..?  Would you mind if

(Can I borrow your
pen?) I ...... ? No
 Is it OK / all right if I…?  Sorry, but ..
 Do you mind if I … ? No, sorry
 Would it be Ok / all right
 I’m afraid…
Yes  I’d rather you didn’t
 Yes, of course
 Yes, sure (informal)
 Yes, that’s fine
 No, that’s fine

6. Complaining

The usual way to complain is just to explain what has happened or what is
wrong.

 I’m not satisfied with...

 I’d like to make a complaint about…
7. Apologizing

 Sorry
 I’m sorry :
+ that (I’m sorry that you weren’t told about the payment)
+ about (I’m sorry about the mix-up
 I’m really sorry ( very sorry)
 I apologize (for) formal

8. Saying Thank you

When someone When someone

gives you has done
something or something for
when someone you or has
says your work is offered to do
good something

 Thank you / Thanks  Thank you /

 Thank you very much Thanks
 Thank you very
Thank you is more much
formal than thanks  It’s very kind of

What to say when someone thanks you for doing something or for giving
them something

 That’s OK
 You’re welcome
 No problem (informal)
 Don’t mention it
 Sure (American)

9. Directions
Directions
 Go straight ahead
 Turn left
Asking for Giving
directions  directions
Turn right
 How do I get to ...?
 Is there a … near here?  Go past…
 Could / Can you tell me  Keep going until you get
the way to …?
 Could / Can you tell me to …
where the ….. is?  Take the first / second
Conversation:
1. A: Excuse me, how do I get to the station? B: I’m sorry, I don’t know
2. A.: Excuse me, could you tell me the way to the library , please?
B: Yes, sure. Go straight on and keep going until you get to the post office.
Then turn left and keep going until you get to the crossroads. Turn right at the
crossroads and the library’s on your left
A: Thanks very much