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Learn Spoken English – Online E-Blog

Learn Spoken English in Online is for use by those who have studied English, but find it difficult to converse fluently in the Language. So far your study of English was confined to vocabulary and grammar. You know a good number of words in English. You know most of the rules of grammar. You can write English sentences correctly. But you cannot speak well. If that is your problem this Learn English page will help you. Learning vocabulary and grammar alone will not enable you to speak well in English. For that, you will have to acquire only through practice. Learn English aims at providing this practice.

In the teaching of English in our schools and colleges, emphasis is laid on reading and writing at the expense of listening and speaking. We very often find educated men and women, who can write reasonably correct English, fumbling for words when they attempt to talk to someone in English. They tend to use wrong or inappropriate expressions, or speak written English for example, how do we ask the time? We hear people asking 'what is time?' (Instead of 'what is the time?'). Worse still, we often see people, unable to find suitable expressions twisting their neighbour's arm and looking at his watch. To take another example, if you have not properly heard what someone else was saying? How will you ask him to repeat it? Often people ask 'what?' which is a rude and impolite expression. The right thing to say would be: 'I'm sorry I didn't hear that properly ', or ' Could you say that again, please?' At the other extreme are people saying, ' with regard to the problem raised by you at the meeting of the managing comittee yesterday

Sometimes, even people who can use good expressions displease others by using the inappropriate expression. We can't use the same expression to talk to our friend and to our official superior. When we meet a friend we may say, Hi! Or Hello, but we greet our boss by saying ' good morning, sir' or some similar expression. It is essential that we learn and use the expressions appropriate to each situation. Learn Spoken English does not deal with points of grammar or composition. The different chapters deal with different functions of the language like 'Introducing / Complaining ‘, 'making suggestions' and so on. Closely related functions are given in the same chapter. Thus 'Inviting someone' also includes 'Accepting an invitation ' and 'Declining an invitation'.

At the beginning of each chapter, a variety of expressions suitable for the function are given. These expressions are arranged in such a way that the informal and less polite expressions are arranged in such a way that the informal and less polite expressions come at the beginning and the more formal and more polite ones come later. These are followed by practice dialogues which will give the reader an idea of how to use the expressions in different contexts. The only way to learn spoken English is to speak English. The practice dialogs given in this page are meant to be spoken and not just read. Join with one or two of your friends and speak the dialogs, each person taking one role. Even then, it will not be enough if you look at your lines in the page and read them aloud. Read the line silently and then look up from the page. Speak the line looking at your friend. You may refer back to the page as often as necessary, but the dialogs should be spoken after your eyes have made contact with your friend’s. Speaking involves a lot more than producting the sounds of words. Your expressions, your gestures and your tone convey a lot of meaning that mere words connot convey.

At the end of the day we have listed a number of common errors in the use of English together with the correct forms. The guided speaking and listening practice contained in Learn Spoken English more correctly and more fluently.

SOME USEFUL EXPRESSIONS

I. Encouraging

1. That’s good/fine/allright/lovely.
2. You’re doing fine/very well.
3. Lovely!/Great!/Terrific!
4. I wish I could do as well.
5. Come on!/Go on!/Keep at it!

II. Expressing pleasure.

1. That’s great/wonderful/marvelous.
2. I’m really delighted.
3. It’s real good news.
4. I can’t say how pleased news!
5. Great! / Terrific! / Wonderful! / Splendid! / Smashing! / Fantastic! / Super!

III. Expressing displeasure

1. What a nuisance!
2. That isn’t good enough.
3. I’m really annoyed.
4. It really makes me mad.
5. I’m extremely displeased/irritated/unhappy/angry

IV. Reminding

1. Don’t forget about …

2. I’d like to remind you about ….

3. I hope you’ll remember to ….., won’t you?

4. May I remind you about…….?

5. I hope you don’t mind my reminding you about …..

V. Telling someone to do something

1. Look at this!

2. Will you/would you ….., please?

3. I must ask you to ……., please?

4. Would you mind …….., please?

5. Would you be so kind as to ………?

VI. Refusing to do something

1. I’m sorry. I can’t/ I won’t be able to …….
2. I’m sorry. It’s not possible.
3. Unfortunately, ………
4. I’m afraid it’s not possible.
5. I’m sorry to say that it may not be possible …..

VII. Saying something in another way

1. In other words, ………
2. To put it in another way …….
3. What I mean is …..
4. I was just saying/remarking/asking/wondering ……
5. I was merely pointing out …….

VIII. Giving yourself time to think

1. Just let me think about this/that for a moment ……
2. Well, you see/you know …….
3. Well, how shall I put it?
4. Now, what was that word/phrase/expression?
5. Just a moment, ………

IX. Changing the subject

1. Oh, by the way, ……

2. Incidentally, …….

3. Oh, I nearly forgot to tell you …..

4. Just to change the subject for a moment,…….

5. Now, on an entirely different subject , ……..

X. Avoiding giving an opinion

1. It’s difficult to say …

2. Can’t say, really.

3. Well, I don’t know, really.

4. Well, it all depends.

5. I’m afraid I can’t comment on that now.

Greeting

1. Hi, Raj. How are you?
2. Hello, Tom. Nice to see you again.
3. Good to see you again.
4. How/very nice to see you again.
5. Good morning/afternoon/evening.
6. How is life?
7. What’s new?
8. I trust you’re keeping well.
9. I hope all goes well with you.

Between friends

Raj: Hi, Das.

Das: Hello, Raj. Haven’t seen you for ages. How are you?

Raj: Fine. And you?

Das: Getting on well. How is little Mohn? We really miss him.

Raj: He is O.K. Busy with his studies and NCC activities. He’s been selected for the Republic Day parade this year.

Das: Rally? That’s wonderful. By the way, have you heard about Ramesh?

Raj: No. What about him?

Das: He’s getting married soon to a colleague of his.

Raj: That’s good news. So ramesh will soon settle down to a domestic life.

Das: Sorry, Raj. It’s time for my bus. I must hurry.

Raj: I’ll ring you up some time.

Das: Please do. And give our love to Mohan.

Raj: I will. Bye.

Das: Bye.

On the Telephone

Shela: Good morning. Shela here.

Poonam: Hi, Shela! How are you?

Shela: Hello, poonam. I’m alright. How are things with you? How is your new school?

Poonam: It’s good. I enjoy teaching there. It’s quite different from the one where I was teaching last year. This one has proper classrooms, laboratories and good library.

Shela: So at last you’ve found a place where you’d like to work. How many schools did you change since you started working?

Poonam: Quite a few, I think. Shela, I hear that your friend Rajiu is planning to sell her car. Is it true?

Shela: Yes, she told me so. Why, are you interested?

Poonam: Well, we were thinking of buying one. If the price is within our reach, that is.

Shela: I’ll talk to Rajiu and then call you back. Is that all right?

Poonam: Perfectly. Thanks, Shela. Bye- Bye.

Shela : Bye.

INTRODUCING

Introducing oneself

1. Good morning. I am …
2. Excuse me. My name is Eng-lisha

Introducing others

1. This is Mr/Ms …..
2. Do you know ….?
3. Have you met …..?
4. Please meet mr/Ms…..
5. Please meet my friend/brother/sister/colleague
6. Let me introduce ……
7. May I introduce …..?

Girl talking to her brother’s teacher

A : Good morning, sir.

B : Good morning.

A : I am your student Ravi’s sister.

B : Oh, I see. What brings you here?

A : Ravi is not well. I’ve brought his leave letter.

B : What’s happened to Ravi?

A : He’s running temperature. The doctor has asked him to take rest for a couple of days.

B : Please tell him not to worry about the classes. I hope he gets well soon.

A : Thank you, sir. Good bye.

B : Goodbye.

Boy in his father’s office

A : Excuse me. I am looking for Mr. Sharma.

B : I am Sharma. What can I do for you?

A : I’m Anil, son of Mr. Raghivir Pande.

B : Oh, you’re Raghuvir’s son? Please sit down. What can I do for you?

A : My father is not coming to office today. He’s asked me to give his leave application to you.

B : I hope he’s not unwell.

A : No, sir. He has someone urgent domestic work to attend to.

B : All right, I’ll send in the leave letter.

A : Thank you, sir. Goodbye.

B : Goodbye, Anil.

Company Representative in an office

A : Good morning, sir. May I come in?

B : Good morning. Please come in.

A : I am from Scientific Products India Ltd. Could I take a couple of minutes of your time?

B : This is rather a busy morning. But if you can finish your business quickly…..

A : I’ll be as brief as possible.

INVITING SOMEONE

Inviting someone

1. Would you like to …..?
2. I’d like you to ……
3. How/What about …..?
4. Why don’t you …….?
5. Like to ……?
6. Care for ……?
7. Perhaps you’d care to ……
8. We should be very pleased/delighted if you could ….

Accepting an invitation

1. Thank you. I’d like to very much.
2. That’d be nice.
3. Yes, please.
4. That sounds a nice idea.
5. With pleasure. / O.K. / Alright.
6. We’d very much like to …..
7. What a splendid idea! Thank you.
8. That’d give us the greatest pleasure.
9. That’s really most kind of you.

Declining an invitation

1. Thank you very much, but ….
2. Thank you for asking me, but …
3. I’m terribly sorry. I don’t think I can.
4. I wish I would, but ……
5. I’m afraid I’ve already promised to ……
6. Sorry, I can’t. / No, thank you.
7. Unfortunately, ……. However, thank you.
8. What a pity. I shan’t be …..
9. I regret that I shall not be able to accept …..

Between friends

A : A few of us are planning to go to the Ajanta caves. Why don’t you join us?

B : Thank you. I’d like to very much.

X : My younger son Ajay will be 12 on this Saturday. I’d like you to join us with your family at our residence at 6 in the evening.

Z : I’d love to, but I’m afraid I can’t. You know my father’s left eye is to be operated upon on Saturday. I shall try to send my son yathra to your place. Anyway, thanks .

R : We’re going on a trekking expedition this Sunday. How about joining us?

P : That sounds a nice idea.

R : How about you, Q?

Q : Thank you very much for asking me, but I have an important appointment with my lawyer on Sunday.

R : How about you, T?

T ; With pleasure.

A : I’ve two tickets for the charity show of The New Delhi Times for tomorrow. Would you like to join me?

B : At what time?

A : Six o’clock.

B : I wish I could, but we have a party at Regal till seven. One of our senior Executive is retiring. Thanks a lot for asking me.

I : We thought we’d spend the evening at the Hilton How about a game of tennis and later a drink?

J : I won’t say no. I’ll be with you in a minute.

MAKING REQUESTS

1. Can/could you ….., please?
2. Would you mind …., please?
3. Do you think you could ….., please?
4. I’d be (very) grateful if you could ….
5. I wonder whether you could…..
6. Please do me a favour by
7. Do you think it would be possible …..?
8. Would you be so kind as to ……?
9. I am sorry to trouble you, but …..
10. I hope you don’t mind my asking, but …..

At the Post office/ Railway booking office

A : Excuse me. Could you give me your pen for a moment, please?

B : I’m really sorry. It doesn’t write well.

A : That’s all right.

A : (to another person) Could I have you pen for a moment, please?

C : Certainly. Here you are.

A : Thank you.

Talking to a friend on the telephone

A : Good afternoon. May I speak to Mr. Balasubramaniam, please?

B : May I know who is calling, please?

A : Krishna kumar from Kodaikanal.

B : Please hold on for a moment, sir. I’ll see if Mr. Balasubramaniam is available …. Please speak on, sir. Mr. Balasubramaniam is on the line.

A : hello, Balu, How are you?

B : Hi, Krishna. I’m fine. How are you?

A : Fine, thank you. Balu, I need you help. Do you think you could lend me some money?

B : How much?

A : Two thousand rupees.

B : Oh, certainly. Can you send someone to collect the money?

A : I’ll come myself. I’ll be there in half an hour. Thank you, Balu.

B : Most welcome. See you then.

At the office

D : Good morning, Mr. Murali.

O : Good morning, sir.

D : Mr. Murali, we are planning to hold our next Board meeting sometime during the last week of this month. Can you prepare and present to Board a detailed project report on our proposed handtools plant?

O : Certainly, sir. I’ll be really glad to do that.

D : Thank you. Please get on with the work. You may consult me whenever you want to.

O : Thank you sir. If you don’t mind, may I know the date of the meeting?

D : Most probably it will be the 27^th.

O : The 27^th? I am sorry to say this, sir, but would it be possible to postpone it by a day or so? There is an important religious function at my house on the 27^th.

D : I see. Let me consult the Chairman. I’ll tell you in a day or two.

O : Thank you, sir.