Indirect suggestions/requests
Fill in the blanks in the sentence below that expresses a subjunctive suggestion>:
I wouldn't do that ( ) I ( ) you.
I wouldn't do that ( if ) I ( were ) you.
Justify your double booking without apologizing. <Non-apoloogy>
WOMAN: Why did you double-book the meetings?
MAN: With my crazy busy schedule,
it was ( )( ) happen.
With my crazy busy schedule,
it was ( bound )( to ) happen.
Rewrite the sentence using weak verbs.
( )( ) that more studying time is correlated with higher grades.
( It )( appears ) that more studying time is correlated with higher grades.
*also: It seems/I assume/One assumes/I believe/I suppose/I doubt etc.,
Answer what the speaker implies.
I don't want a book!
Read the following words with appropriate stress.
amorphic
evaluation
inability
amorphic
evaluation
inability
<Words ending with suffixes -ic, -tion, and -ity usually place stress on the syllable just before the suffix.>
You are a little bit annoyed that your friend often doesn't close the door behind him. Now tell him to close the door but in a nice and indirect way.
You ( )( ) to close the door after you leave.
You ( might )( want ) to close the door after you leave.
<Apologies/promises>
Don't worry, it ( ) happen ( ).
Don't worry, it ( won't ) happen ( again ).
There is a ( ) that I will join you.
There is a ( possibility ) that I will join you.
*also but less common: probability/chance
What does the woman imply?
MAN: Will you help help Professor Tanaka with his research project?
WOMAN: I don't knoooooooooooooooow.
She probably will not help or does not want to.
Read the following phrases, paying attention to "of-linking"
a lot of money
out of town
some of these
a lott(uh) money
out(uh) town
some(uh) these
Your friend says he doesn't know how to study for the test effectively. Give him nice advice by filling in the blanks below.
( )( )( ) to study for the test is to work through the practice test.
( The )( best )( way ) to study for the test is to work through the practice test.
<Indirect Refusal>
Student A: Are you coming to the party tomorrow?
Student B:( )( ) I didn't have class at that time.
( If )( only ) I didn't have class at that time.
=I hope I didn't have class at that time.
Use a weak verb and complete the hedging sentence.
The data ( ) that high cholesterol increases the risk of a heart attack.
The data ( suggests ) that high cholesterol increases the risk of a heart attack.
*Also: implies
Explain what the speaker implies.
Why don't you help me?
Others help me but only you do not.
Read the following phrases, paying attention to common sound linking.
first time
it's so obvious.
black coffee
fis_time
its_o
bla_coffee
Your friend Mike from Canada needs help writing a paper in Japanese. Give him advice by asking him a rhetorical question.
( )( ) tried visiting the student learning center?
( Have )( you ) tried visiting the student learning center?
Acknowledging your responsibility, you express your regret with a pattern of self-insult.
I ( ) ( ) I was so careless!
I ( can't ) ( believe ) I was so careless!
Rewrite the following sentence using a hedging expression to show uncertainty.
Global warming affects our lives now.
→
It is probable (likely) that global warming affects our lives now.
It seems (appears) that global warming affects our lives now.
Explain what the speaker implies.
What is in the blue bag?
Information was received about what is outside the bag, but not inside.
Pronounce the following sentences, reducing the sounds in bold letters.
What did he want?
He has to get a job.
I use salt and pepper.
What did'e want?
He hasta get a job.
I use salt'n pepper.
Try to be polite in requesting something while acknowledging the listener's trouble.
( )( )( )( ), ( ) will you lend me your textbook until next week?
( I )( hate )( to )( ask ), ( but ) will you lend me your textbook until next week?
I'll ( )( )( ), I will pay for the second half.
I'll ( tell )( you )( what ), I will pay for the second half.
Rewrite the following request to a professor using the maximum amount of hedging and make the most polite request.
"Please let me join your laboratory."
→
I was hoping you would let me join your laboratory.
I was hoping you might let me join your laboratory.
I was hoping that you might possibly let me join your laboratory.
What does the man imply?
Women: Do you want to work on the homework assignment together?
Man: Again?! You shouldn't ask me all the time. You will never pass the test if you don't do your homework sometimes.
The speaker thinks that the woman should do the homework by herself because even if her homework gets done, it is due to other people's efforts, not hers.
Read aloud the following statement using "fillers" with appropreate linking, reduction, stress, and rhythm plus some repetition of statements to make the speaker sound more fluent.
An appropreate amount....of sleep for... university students... is about six hours... each night because... it is healty.
(Ex.) An appropreate amount(u) sleep for university students_is (well) about six hours. It_turns _out that six hours(u) sleep_is good because it_is very healthy for students.What_I_mean_is that anything less than six hours_is unhealthy.