Internet Dhanam

OFFERING HELP

Offering help

1. May I help you?
2. May I be assistance?
3. If there is anything i/we can do, please do let me/us know.
4. Do you think I/we can help you?
5. What can I do for you?
6. Is there anything I can do?
7. I’ll do it for you?
8. How about…..?

Accepting an offer of help

1. You are most kind.
2. That’s most/extremely good/kind/thoughtful of you.
3. That’s very kind of you.
4. If it’s no trouble for you.
5. If you don’t mind.
6. Oh, yes. please.
7. Just what I needed.

Declining an offer of help

1. Thank you very much for your offer, but …..
2. No, please don’t bother.
3. No, I can manage. Thank you.
4. No, don’t worry (about ….)
5. I’m very grateful to you for your offer……

At the Reception

R : Good morning sir. Can I help you?

C : ‘Morning’. Can I see the manager?

R : I’m sorry, he’s in a conference at the moment.

C : Oh, well, never mind.

R : Would you like me to make an appointment for you tomorrow?

C : Oh, yes please. For 10 a.m.

R : Just a minute…… I’m sorry he has another meeting at 10. Will 3 in the afternoon be all right for you?

C : No, thank you. I’ll meet him at his residence tonight. It’s something urgent.

R : Would you like me to tell him anything?

C : Thanks. You could tell him that Mr.Bhatia was here.

R : I’ll tell him.

C : Thank you.

At the travel agency

T : Good afternoon, madam. What can I do for you?

B : Could you give me some details about your package tours?

T : Certainly. Would you like to see our brochures? Here they are. (hands her the brochures)

B : Thank you. (After going through the brochures) Well, this 12-day European tour seems to be an interesting one.

T : We could book your tickets if you like.

B : Oh yes. But not for me alone. I want three tickets to be booked.

T : Sure, we can do it. Please fill in these forms.

B : Thank you. (Returns the forms after some time)

T : Would you like us to send the tickets to you by post or would you like to collect them personally?

B : Can I take them on Friday next?

T : Sure, we’ll keep them ready for you.

B : Thank you.

T : It’s our pleasure, ma’m.

Between passengers in a train

A : It’s very cold tonight.

B : Indeed. Shall I shut the window?

A : That’d be nice. ( B Shuts the window)

B : Why don’t you wear a sweater?

A : Oh, I forgot to bring mine. I didn’t really expect it to be so cold.

B : I can give you one if you don’t mind. I have one more in my suitcase.

A : That is very kind of you. ( B gives his sweater)

B : How about a hot cup of tea?

A : No, thank you.

SEEKING PERMISSION

Seeking Permission

1. Could I ….., please?
2. Can I ….., please?
3. Is it alright if …….?
4. Do (would) you mind if ……?
5. Would it be possible to …….?
6. Have you any objection to my …..ing?
7. I wonder if I could ……

Giving Permission

1. Yes, of course.
2. Certainly./ Go ahead.
3. By all means.
4. You can / may if you want/like
5. You have my permission.
6. I can’t see any objections.

Refusing Permission

1. Sorry, it’s not possible.
2. I’m afraid it is not possible.
3. I’m sorry, I cannot let you…..
4. I’m sorry, I don’t have the authority to let you ….
5. No. you may not.
6. You’re not allowed to…..
7. I’m refusing.
8. Permission will not be granted.

On the train

A: Excuse me. Would you mind my opening that window?

B: Not at all. Please go ahead.

A: Thank you. It’s very hot here.

B: True. Can I take some water from your pitcher?

A: Certainly. Can I have that magazine for a while?

B: I’m sorry, I haven’t finished reading it. I’ll give it to you as soon as I’ve finished.

A: Thank you.

Between friends

A : Hi, Ashok! Mind my keeping this here?

B : Not at all.

A : I’ll come back around eleven. Alright?

B : Fine. I may not be here then. But sunil will be.

A : Fine. Shall I keep it in that corner?

B : Oh, yes. It’s safer there.

At the meeting

A : Excuse me. If you don’t mind, I’d like to make a suggestion.

B : Please go ahead.

A : It woud be a good idea if we considered the latest developments in the field while examining the project proposal.

B : The latest developments? Could you give more details?

A : There were recent reports about a new method for the manufacture of one of the items we plan to produce. If I have the permission of the chair, I’d like to read out a brief report.

B : Please proceed. We’re all tnterested.

Asking for Advice

1. Asking for Advice

1. Do you think I should ……..?

2. What would you advise (me to do)?

3. What would your advice be?

4. What would you do if you were me in my position?

5. I would appreciate your advice.

6. Could I ask for your advice on/about ……?

7. I was wondering/ I’d like to know what your reaction(s) would be?

B. Advising someone to do something

1. I think you should ….

2. If I were you, I’d ……

3. Why don’t you ……?

4. It may not be a bad idea ……..

5. The way I see it, you should ……

6. My advice would be to ….

7. I’d recommend …….

3. Advising someone not to do something

1. I don’t think you should/ought to ….
2. If I were you, I wouldn’t ……
3. You’d better not ….
4. Take my advice and …….
5. It’s upto you, but I wouldn’t …….
6. The way I see it you shouldn’t ……
7. I wouldn’t recommend ……
8. If I were in your position, I wouldn’t ……..

Between friends

C: I wan really shocked to hear about the whole thing.

A: We still don’t know how and when the thief entered the store. There seems to be no clue to anything.

B. Well, let’s think of our next step on this.

A: That’s what is worrying me. Do you think we should inform the police about the theft? Or is it all right if we hire a private detective agency to go into this?

C: I think we should inform the police in any case. We may hire a private detective agency if you think that’ll really help us in recovering the stolen goods.

B: I too think it’s not a bad idea to hire a detective agency. We’ll have to spend a few additional chips, but that’ll certainly bring results.

At the shop

A: Good morning, sir. Can I help you?

B: I would like to buy a refrigerator.

A: Please come and have a look at them. We have a variety of them in different sizes and colours.

B: (looks at them) Well, I want to buy one of 165 litres. Which will you recommend?

A: Well, it depends. A velkin fridge which has a built-in voltage stabilizer will cost you nearly Rs.4000/- whereas an Ascolt refrigerator which has a built-in voltage stabilizer and a separate door for the freezer will cost you nearly Rs.5000/- If you’re looking for a cheaper one, you may go on in for Wally which costs just Rs.3,200/- Of course, if you ask me. I’ll recommend the Velkin.

B: Alright. I think I’ll go by your recommendation.

Expressing Gratitude

A.Expressing Gratitude

1. Thanks.

2. Thanks a lot.

3. Thank you very much.

4. I’m really grateful to you for ……

5. I’m really obliged to you for …

6. I should like to express my gratitude/appreciation for ……

B. Responding to thanks

1. Not at all.

2. It was a pleasure.

3. Please don’t mention it.

4. That’s alright.

5. Glad to be of some help.

6. Delighted I was able to help.

7. You’re (most) welcome.

At the booking counter

C: Two tickets to Agra, please.

O: First class or second class?

C: Second class. How much is the fare?

O: Forty six rupees.

C: (Gives a Rs. 50 note)

O: Here are your tickets.

C: Thank you. What time does the train leave?

O: At 11.20

C: Thank you. (Moves away)

O: Excuse me. Just a movement, please.

C: Yes, what is it?

O: Here’s the balance. You didn’t take it.

C: Oh, I forgot. So nice of you. Thank you so much.

O: Not at all.

Between neighbors

A: Good morning. May I come in?

B: Please come in.

A: I’m Varadarajan, your next-door neighbour. I’m an officer in the State Bank of India.

B: Very glad to meet you. I’m Balachandran. Please sit down.

A: Last night my wife told me that new tenants have moved in here. So I thought I’d look you up in the morning.

B: So kind of you. I’m not a tenant though. I bought this house.

A: Really? That’s wonderful. I’m so glad we are getting good neighbours. Is there anything I can do for you?

B: Yes. Could you tell me where I can buy milk in the morning?

A: Please don’t worry about that. I’ll send my milkman here. Is there anything else?

B: Not immediately. Thank you so much for the help.

A: It is my pleasure. Please do no hesitate to tell us if you need anything.

B: Sure. So kind of you.

A: Not at all. See you later.

B: See you.

ASKING ABOUT REMEMBERING

1. Asking whether someone remembers

1. Remember……?
2. Do you remember ….?
3. You remember …….., don’t you?
4. I was wondering if u remember …….
5. Do you by any chance remember …..?

2. Saying you remember

1. Yes, I remember …
2. Of course, I remember …..
3. I remember quite clearly …
4. I’ll never forget ……
5. As far as I can remember ….
6. If my memory serves me right, …..
7. If I’m not mistaken, ……

3. Saying you do not remember

1. I’m afraid I’ve forgotten ……
2. I’m afraid I’ve completely forgotten …….
3. I don’t remember ……
4. It’s slipped my mind.
5. I must admit that I don’t remember
6. …….. escapes me for the moment.

Between friends

A: Hello, Vinu. Where are you off to? With suitcase and all?

B: I’m going to Chennai for a week.

A: Chennai! But yesterday you didn’t say anything about going to Chennai.

B: The trip was decided only last night. Remember the time we were together in Chennai?

A: Of course, I remember. How can I forger the nice evenings we spent on Marina beach?

B: It was really an enjoyable trip. You haven’t forgotten that small adventure we had near the museum, have you?

A: I’ll never forget that.

B: Now I must be going.

A: Have a nice time.

B: Thank you. Bye.

A: Bye.

At the Doctor’s

P: Good evening, doctor.

D: Good evening. Please come in.

P: I wonder whether you remember me. I had come here a couple of weeks back.

D: I’m afraid I don’t remember exactly.

P: I was sent by your cousin, Mr. Manohar.

D: Oh, yes. someone had told you that you had cataract in one eye. And I had asked you to use some eye-drops and come back after a fortnight. Right?

P: yes, doctor. So now you remember everything. Thank you.

D: You see, a doctor remembers diseases more than persons. Have you been using that eye-drop?

P: Yes. doctor. Regularly for the past fifteen days.

D: Good. Now let me examine your eyes.