Asking
for Information
By
Kenneth Beare,
About.com Guide
There are a number of
formulas used when asking for information in English. Here are some of the most
common:
·
Could you tell me...?
·
Do you know...?
·
Do you happen to
know...?
·
I'd like to know...
·
Could you find out...?
·
I'm interested in...
·
I'm looking for..
These two forms are used for asking for information on the
telephone:
·
I'm calling to find
out...
·
I'm calling about...
After you study these constructions, take the asking for information quiz
to check your understanding.
More English Functions
Construction
|
Formula
|
Question Word
|
Example Finish
|
|
Could you tell me
|
when
|
the next train leaves?
|
|
Do you know
|
how much
|
that vase costs?
|
|
Do you happen to know
|
where
|
Tom lives?
|
|
I'd like to know
|
what
|
you think about the new project.
|
|
Could you tell me
|
when
|
the next train leaves?
|
|
Could you find out
|
when
|
she is going to arrive?
|
|
Formula
|
Gerund (-ing)
|
Example Finish
|
|
I'm interested in
|
buying
|
a boat
|
|
Formula
|
Noun
|
Example Finish
|
|
I'm looking for
|
information on
|
holidays in Spain.
|
|
Formula used only on the telphone
|
Question Word
|
Example Finish
|
|
I'm calling to find out...
|
if
|
flight AZ098 will leave on time today.
|
|
Formula used only on the telphone
|
Noun
|
Example Finish
|
|
I'm calling about...
|
the offer
|
published in today's newspaper.
|
By
Kenneth Beare,
About.com Guide
There are a number of
formulas used when contrasting ideas in English. Here are some of the most
common:
·
We'd love to stay for
dinner, but we have got to get going.
·
They decided to stay
in the area, in spite of their problems with the local residents.
·
Despite the
difficulties of a long journey, Peter decided to visit India.
·
Getting a good job is
hard work, however, most people eventually find one with patience.
·
There were a number of
people who came, although the hotels were not equipped to handle them all.
After you study these constructions, take the contrasting ideas quiz
to check your understanding.
Construction
|
Formula
|
Example
|
Explanation
|
|
main statement, but contrasting statement
|
I'd really like to come to the film, but I have to study
tonight.
|
Use a comma or semi colon (;) with 'but'. 'But' is the most
common way to show contrasting ideas.
|
|
main statement, in spite of contrasting statement OR in
spite of contrasting statement, main statement
|
They continued on their journey, in spite of the pouring rain.
|
Use 'in spite of' plus a noun, noun phrase or gerund
|
|
main statement, despite contrasting statement OR Despite
contrasting statement, main statement
|
They continued on their journey, despite the pouring rain.
|
Use 'despite' plus a noun, noun phrase or gerund
|
|
main statement, although contrasting statement OR Although
contrasting statement, main statement
|
We wanted to buy a sports car, although we knew that fast cars
can be
|
Sometimes, things happen that we would like explained and we
must demand explanations. For example, if you have just bought a new computer
and there is a problem, but the shop assistant says that the guaranty does not
cover the problem. There are a number of formulas used when demanding
explanations in English. Here are some of the most common:
·
Can you tell me why...
·
I don't understand
why...
·
Can you explain why..
·
Why is it that...
·
How come...
·
Does this mean...
·
Do you really expect
me to believe...
After you study these constructions, take the demanding explanations quiz
to check your understanding.
Construction
|
Formula
|
Verb Form
|
|
Can you tell me why it has taken you so long to respond?
|
Use 'Can you tell me why' a full clause in
the positive statement form (S V O). Notice that this is an indirect question
and requires a question mark (?).
|
|
I don't understand why it has taken you so long to respond.
|
Use 'I don't understand why' a full clause
in the positive statement form (S V O). Notice that this is a statement and
does NOT require a question mark (?)
|
|
Can you explain why it has taken you so long to respond?
|
Use 'Can you explain why' a full clause in
the positive statement form (S V O). Notice that this is an indirect question
and requires a question mark (?).
|
|
Why is it that it has taken you so long to respond?
|
Use 'Why is it that' a full clause in the
positive statement form (S V O). Notice that this is an indirect question and
requires a question mark (?).
|
|
How come it has taken you so long to respond?
|
Use 'How come' a full clause in the positive
statement form (S V O). Notice that this is an indirect question and requires
a question mark (?).
|
|
Does this mean (that) it has taken you so long to respond?
|
Use 'Does this mean (that)' a full clause in
the positive statement form (S V O). Notice that this is an indirect question
and requires a question mark (?).
|
|
Do you (really) expect me to belive (that) you weren't able to finish on time?
|
Use 'Do you (really) expect me to belive
(that)' a full clause in the positive statement form (S V O). Notice that
this is an indirect question and requires a question mark (?).
|
By Kenneth Beare, About.com
Guide
Alex: This election is
going to be close!
Helen: I think you're right. The Republicans and the Democrats are fighting for every vote.
Helen: I think you're right. The Republicans and the Democrats are fighting for every vote.
Alex: Did you watch the
conventions?
Helen: Yes, I watched a little bit. The party platforms are extremely different.
Helen: Yes, I watched a little bit. The party platforms are extremely different.
Alex: Yes, they are!
Watching them on TV, it was hard to believe they come from the same country!
Helen: Oh, it wasn't that bad.
Helen: Oh, it wasn't that bad.
Alex: Hmmm, anyway the
delegates certainly clapped hard for their nominees.
Helen: But it was the same stump speech over and over again. In both parties!
Helen: But it was the same stump speech over and over again. In both parties!
Alex: That's what
politicians do best. Talk ... the problem is whether they actually do very
much.
Helen: Oh, you're a pessimist!
Helen: Oh, you're a pessimist!
Alex: I wouldn't say that.
It's just that I'm sick and tired of all the attack ads.
Helen: I see your point. It would be nice to know what they want to govern the country, rather than why they think the other guy isn't any good.
Helen: I see your point. It would be nice to know what they want to govern the country, rather than why they think the other guy isn't any good.
Alex: They treat us like
idiots! I hate sound bites. Short simple statements that don't really give me
much information. Treat me like I have a brain.
Helen: Some say we get what we deserve. Voter turnout is so low, perhaps we don't deserve any better.
Helen: Some say we get what we deserve. Voter turnout is so low, perhaps we don't deserve any better.
Alex: But that's why people
don't come out to vote. They don't feel represented even if they do vote.
Helen: I think we need a third party in this country.
Helen: I think we need a third party in this country.
Alex: I couldn't agree with
you more!
Helen: Perhaps a third party would stop the partisanship.
Helen: Perhaps a third party would stop the partisanship.
Alex: Another thing that I
don't think is fair is the electoral system.
Helen: No kidding! Just think, a state like California has 54 electoral votes. One vote majority in the popular vote and ALL of those 54 votes go to ONE candidate!
Helen: No kidding! Just think, a state like California has 54 electoral votes. One vote majority in the popular vote and ALL of those 54 votes go to ONE candidate!
Alex: It just isn't fair.
Helen: Of course, there are reasons for that.
Helen: Of course, there are reasons for that.
Alex: Hmmm. I guess ...
Helen: Are you a registered voter?
Helen: Are you a registered voter?
Alex: Of course! I'm a
registered voter and I go to the voting booth to vote. I want that vote to
represent my voice.
Helen: OK, OK, no need to give a speech.
Helen: OK, OK, no need to give a speech.
Alex: Ha ha, I just think
it's my duty as a citizen to vote.
Helen: Yes, I agree with you. If you can vote, vote!
Helen: Yes, I agree with you. If you can vote, vote!
Key Vocabulary
to elect
political party
Republican
Democrat
third party
candidate
presidential nominee
primary election
delegate
to attend
party convention
to nominate
party platform
stump speech
attack ads
sound bite
voter turnout
registered voter
voting booth
Electoral College
electoral vote
popular vote
duty
political party
Republican
Democrat
third party
candidate
presidential nominee
primary election
delegate
to attend
party convention
to nominate
party platform
stump speech
attack ads
sound bite
voter turnout
registered voter
voting booth
Electoral College
electoral vote
popular vote
duty
By
Kenneth Beare,
About.com Guide
There are a number of
formulas used when Giving Warnings in English. Here are some of the most
common:
·
Don't push so hard on
that toy, or you might / will break it!
·
Watch out! Be careful!
·
Work hard otherwise
you'll fail your exam.
After you study these constructions, take the giving warnings quiz
to check your understanding.
More English Functions
Construction
|
Formula
|
Verb Form
|
|
Don't..., or you might / will...
|
Use the imperative followed by might or will
in a statement
|
|
Watch out! Be Careful
|
Use the imperative
|
|
Work hard, otherwise you'll...
|
Use the imperative otherwise you will /
might plus the base form of the verb to show consequenses
|
By
Kenneth Beare,
About.com Guide
There are a number of
formulas used when Giving Advice in English. Here are some of the most common:
·
I don't think you
should work so hard.
·
You ought to work
less.
·
You ought not to work
so hard.
·
If I were you, I'd
work less.
·
If I were in your
position, I'd work less.
·
If I were in your
shoes, I'd work less.
·
You had better work
less.
·
You shouldn't work so
hard.
·
Whatever you do, don't
work so hard.
After you study these constructions, take the giving advice quiz
to check your understanding.
More English Functions
Construction
|
Formula
|
Verb Form
|
|
I don't think you should work so hard.
|
Use 'I don't think you should' the base form
of the verb in a statement.
|
|
You ought to work less.
|
Use 'You ought to' the base form of the verb
in a statement.
|
|
You ought not to work so hard.
|
Use 'You ought not to' the base form of the
verb in a statement.
|
|
If I were you,
If I were in your position, If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't work so hard. |
Use 'If I were' 'you' OR 'in your position'
OR 'your shoes' 'I wouldn't' OR 'I would' base form of the verb in a
statement (A form of the conditional 2).
|
|
You had better work less.
|
Use 'You had better' (you'd better) the base
form of the verb in a statement.
|
|
You shouldn't OR You should work less.
|
Use 'You should' OR 'You shouldn't' the base
form of the verb in a statement.
|
|
Whatever you do, don't work so hard.
|
Use 'Whatever you do' the impera
|
By
Kenneth Beare,
About.com Guide
There are a number of
formulas used when complaining in English. It's important to remember that a
direct complaint or criticism in English can sound rude or aggressive. It's
best to mention a problem in an indirect manner. Here are some of the most
common:
·
I'm sorry to have to
say this but...
·
I'm sorry to bother
you, but...
·
Maybe you forgot to...
·
I think you might have
forgotten to...
·
Excuse me if I'm out
of line, but...
·
There may have been a
misunderstanding about...
·
Don't get me wrong,
but I think we should...
After you study these constructions, take the making complaints quiz
to check your understanding.
More English Functions
Construction
|
Formula
|
Example Finish
|
|
I'm sorry to have to say this but
|
I think we need to take another approach.
|
|
I'm sorry to bother you, but
|
I think you need to refine this layout.
|
|
Maybe you forgot to
|
include his name and number.
|
|
I think you might have forgotten to
|
finish the report on time.
|
|
Excuse me if I'm out of line, but
|
your work has not been adequate lately.
|
|
There may have been a misunderstanding about
|
what I expected from you.
|
|
Don't get me wrong, but I think we should
|
concentrate on the Smith account for the moment.
|
By
Kenneth Beare,
About.com Guide
There are a number of
formulas used when making suggestions in English. Here are some of the most
common:
·
Why don't you / we go
to the movies tonight?
·
You / we could visit
New York while you're / we're there.
·
Let's go to the travel
agent's this afternoon to book our ticket.
·
What about asking your
brother for help?
·
How about going to
Hawaii for your vacation?
·
I suggest you / we
take all the factors into consideration before we decide.
After you study these constructions, take the making suggestions quiz
to check your understanding.
Construction
|
Formula
|
Verb Form
|
|
Why don't you / we go to a movie?
|
Use the base form of the verb in a question
|
|
We / You could go to a movie.
|
Use the base form of the verb in a statement
|
|
Let's go to a movie.
|
Use the base form of the verb with 'let's'
|
|
What about going to a movie?
|
Use the '-ing' form of the verb in a question
|
|
How about going to a movie?
|
Use the '-ing' form of the verb in a question
|
|
I suggest you / we go to a movie.
|
Use suggest object verb in the base form in a statement.
|
By
Kenneth Beare,
About.com Guide
There are a number of
formulas used when offering help in English. Here are some of the most common:
·
May I help you?
·
Can I help you?
·
Are you looking for
something?
·
Would you like some
help?
·
Do you need some help?
·
What can I do for you
today?
After you study these constructions, take the offering help quiz
to check your understanding.
More English Functions
Construction
|
Formula
|
Verb Form
|
|
May I help you?
|
Use 'May I' or 'Can I' the base form of the
verb in a statement.
|
|
Are you looking for something?
|
Use 'Are you looking for' something OR
anything in particular OR specific object
|
|
Would you like some help?
|
Use 'Would you like' some help OR some
advice OR a recommendation
|
|
Do you need some help?
|
Use 'Do you need' some help OR some advice
OR a recommendation
|
|
What can I do for you today?
|
Use 'What can I do for' you, her, him, etc.
today OR this morning, this afternoon, this evening
|
By
Kenneth Beare,
About.com Guide
This reading
comprehension focuses on Presidential elections. It's followed by key
vocabulary relating to the US elections system and a follow-up quiz to test
understanding.
Presidential Elections
This year Americans elect on a new president on November 4th.
It's an important event that happens once every four years. Currently, the
president is always elected from one of the two main parties in the United
States: the Republicans and the Democrats. There are other presidential
candidates. However, it is unlikely that any of these "third party"
candidates will win. It certainly hasn't happened in the last one hundred
years.
In order to become the presidential nominee of a party, the
candidate must win the primary election. Primary elections are held throughout
each state in the United States in the first half of any election year. Then,
the delegates attend their party convention in order to nominate their chosen
candidate. Usually, as in this election, it's clear who will be the nominee.
However, in the past parties have been divided and choosing a nominee has been
a difficult process.
Once the nominees have been selected, they campaign throughout
the country. A number of debates are usually held in order to better understand
the candidates' points of view. These points of view often reflect their
party's platform. A party platform is best described as the general beliefs and
policies a party holds. Candidates cross the country by plane, bus, train or by
car giving speeches. These speeches are often called 'stump speeches'. In the
19th century candidates would stand on tree stumps to deliver their speeches.
These stump speeches repeat the candidates basic views and aspirations for the
country. They are repeated many hundred of times by each candidate.
Many people believe that campaigns in the United States have
become too negative. Each night you can see many attack ads on the television.
These short ads contain sound bites which often distort the truth, or something
the other candidate has said or done. Another recent problem has been voter
turnout. There is often less than 60% turnout for national elections. Some people
don't register to vote, and some registered voters don't show up at the voting
booths. This angers many citizens who feel that voting is the most important
responsibility of any citizen. Others point out that not voting is expressing
an opinion that the system is broken.
the United States maintains an extremely old, and some say
inefficient, voting system. This system is called the Electoral College. Each
state is assigned electoral votes based on the number of senators and
representatives that state has in Congress. Each state has two Senators. The
number of representatives is determined by the states population but is never
less then 1. The electoral votes are decided by the popular vote in each state.
One candidate wins all of the electoral votes in a state. In other words,
Oregon has 8 electoral votes. If 1 million people vote for the Republican
candidate and one million and ten people vote for the Democratic candidate ALL
8 electoral votes go to the democratic candidate. Many people feel that this
system should be abandoned.
Key Vocabulary
to elect
political party
Republican
Democrat
third party
candidate
presidential nominee
primary election
delegate
to attend
party convention
to nominate
debate
party platform
stump speech
attack ads
sound bite
to distort the truth
voter turnout
registered voter
voting booth
Electoral College
Congress
senator
representative
electoral vote
popular vote
political party
Republican
Democrat
third party
candidate
presidential nominee
primary election
delegate
to attend
party convention
to nominate
debate
party platform
stump speech
attack ads
sound bite
to distort the truth
voter turnout
registered voter
voting booth
Electoral College
Congress
senator
representative
electoral vote
popular vote
Stop Dropping Your G's; Enunciation Matters
By
Susan Ward,
About.com Guide
See More About:
English Lessons on Line Daily English Improve Spoken English Everyday English English Vocabulary Grammar
Speech Skill: Clarity
Welcome to the Speak for Success communication course. This
speech lesson, like all the speech lessons in the course, follows a format that
explains the speech problem and presents several speech exercises so you can
work on the problem. Each speech lesson closes with a homework assignment
designed to provide further practice eliminating or correcting the speech
problem that you’re working with that particular week. To get the most out of
this course, you need to follow the program, working on only one lesson each
week and completing all the exercises and homework assignments.
Ready? Of course you are! The speech problem of sloppy
enunciation is the topic for this week.
The Speech Problem
For listeners, one of the most irritating speech habits is a
speaker that doesn’t enunciate clearly. When you don’t bother to pronounce each
syllable of each word properly and words get slurred together, you sound
uneducated. Worse, your listener has a hard time hearing you – especially if
there’s other noise around you or when you’re speaking on the phone.
Dropping “g”s is one of the most common examples of poor
enunciation. Say this list of words out loud:
·
Going
·
Walking
·
Jogging
·
Thinking
·
Striking
·
Selling
Did you say “go-ing” or did you say “go-in”? If you said “go-in”
(or “walk-in”, “jog-gin”, etc.), you’re a G-dropper.
Be warned; this was not a fair test. Pronouncing words in
isolation is very different than what we normally do when we speak.
Say these sentences out loud:
·
I’m going to have to
rethink that bid.
·
Waiting to hear back
from the bank is very nerve-wracking and stressful.
·
Before starting my
business, I looked at a lot of different business opportunities.
·
There’s more to
learning than just reading, writing and arithmetic.
Did you drop any Gs? Did you enunciate each syllable of each
word?
Speech Exercise: The Mirror Face Test
A mirror is a great aid when you’re working on your enunciation.
I call this the face test. When you’re enunciating properly, your mouth,
tongue, lips and jaw move.
Stand in front of a mirror and watch yourself while you say,
“I’m going to have to rethink that bid”. See how your lips purse and retract
when you say “go-ing”? See how your lips jut out to pronouce the “b” in “bid”?
This one sentence is a real face workout.
Say the rest of the sentences out loud, watching yourself speak
in the mirror. Now say them all again, slowing down your rate of speech and
exaggerating the facial movements.
This week, you should have a mirror session of five minutes
every day. You’ll immediately notice that this practice will carry over into
your “normal” speaking life, causing you to be more conscious of the way you
speak and speak more clearly.
Speech Exercise: Enlist a Speech Monitor
Because it’s so hard to perform naturally when we’re focusing on
speaking well, the best way to determine whether or not we’re enunciating
properly when we speak and stop slurring and mumbling is to enlist a speech
monitor.
It’s a lot easier for someone else to pick up on our sloppy
speech habits than to hear ourselves. For convenience, choose someone that
lives with you (spouse, child, or roommate), explain that you’re working on
your enunciation, and ask him or her to tell you whenever you drop a G or don’t
speak clearly. Keep track of how often your speech monitor tells you you’ve
committed this speech offense.
What you should see, as you continue to practice speaking
clearly, is the number of times your speech monitor hears you speaking sloppily
decrease.
Ready for the pressure situation? Ask someone who works with you
regularly to be a speech monitor.
The Benefits of Enunciation
As your enunciation improves, your listeners will:
·
Form a better
impression of you as you speak, thinking of you as an educated, knowledgeable
person, more worthy of trust.
·
Be better able to
focus on the message you’re communicating, rather than being distracted by the
way you’re expressing yourself.
Speech Lesson 1 Homework Assignment
To get the most out of this course, as I said, it’s important
that you do the exercises. Your speech won’t improve unless you work at it
regularly.
This week, you have two tasks;
1. set aside five minutes a day where you can
work with a mirror in a quiet place and practice the enunciation exercises
above;
2. enlist at least one speech monitor to help you
catch your speech errors.
Next week, you’ll tackle the speech problem of
fillers.
Speech Skills
And Terminology
Speech Term Definitions & Speech Lessons
By
Susan Ward,
About.com Guide
See More About:
English Lessons on Line Presentation Skills Tips English Conversations Improve Spoken English English Vocabulary Grammar
(This list of speech
skills and terminology is part of the Speak For Success Course, a series of six
speech lessons designed to help you shape up your speech. Visit the starting page of the Speak for Success course
to find out more.)
For your convenience, this list of speech skills and terminology
includes reference to the Speak For Success Speech Lesson each skill or term is
a part of, as well as definitions.
Clarity – speaking clearly so
as to be understood. Clarity is composed of several different related speech
skills: (covered in Speak for Success Speech Lesson
1, Speech Lesson 2 and Speech Lesson 5).
Projection
– speaking loudly enough so that every member of the audience can hear what is
said.
Enunciation
– fully pronouncing each syllable of each word with the proper emphasis
(covered in Speak for Success Speech Lesson
1).
Pronunciation
– correctly pronouncing each word.
Expression
– speaking with vocal variety and vitality so that the audience remains
interested (covered in Speak for Success Speech Lesson
3).
Pace – speaking at a rate
that is comfortable for the audience to hear and comprehend (covered in Speak for Success Speech Lesson
4).
Fillers – Using meaningless
words or sounds that distract the audience (covered in Speak for Success Speech Lesson
2).
Slang – Informal language
that is specific to a particular group (covered in Speak for Success Speech Lesson
5).
Buzzwords
– Words or phrases that sound important but have become meaningless through
endless repetition (covered in Speak for Success Speech Lesson
5).
Acronyms
– Sets of initials used as shorthand to refer to particular phrases (such as
C.E.O. for Chief Executive Officer) (covered in Speak for Success Speech Lesson
5).
Active Listening – Participating in the act of communication by paying attention
and letting the speaker know that you’re paying attention (covered in Speak for Success Speech Lesson
6).
Stance – Presenting and
maintaining an appropriate posture to facilitate communication (covered in Speak for Success Speech Lesson
6).
Eye-contact – Just what you think it is. When speaking to an audience of
more than one, it’s important to make eye contact with as many individual
members of the audience as possible ((covered in Speak for Success Speech Lesson
6).
By
Kenneth Beare,
About.com Guide
Sometimes you need to
state a preference when someone makes a suggestion, offers something or asks
your opinion about what to do. Often people are asking for your opinion and you
can state your preference freely, other times, people have made an offer and
you need to state a preference politely if you do not want to do what has been
suggested, or would rather do something else.
·
Would you like to see
a film tonight?
I'd rather go dancing. How does that sound?
I'd rather go dancing. How does that sound?
·
Why don't we have some
chinese food?
Well, I'd prefer eating Italian. What do you think?
Well, I'd prefer eating Italian. What do you think?
·
What do you think we
should do?
If it were up to me, I'd go out for dinner.
If it were up to me, I'd go out for dinner.
·
What are we going to
do today? The weather is awful!
I think we should go to a museum.
I think we should go to a museum.
Why don't we go to a museum
Let's go to a museum.
How about going to a museum
Construction
|
Formula
|
Verb Form
|
|
I'd rather...
|
Use the base form the verb without 'to' with 'rather'
|
|
I'd prefer...
|
Use the '-ing' form following the verb 'prefer'
|
|
If it were up to me, I'd...
|
Use the second conditional form followed by the base form of
the verb without 'to'
|
|
I think we should...
|
Use the base form the verb without 'to' following the modal
form 'should'
|
|
Why don't we...?
|
Use the base form of the verb in a question
|
|
Let's go ...
|
Use the base form of the verb with 'let's'
|
|
How about...?
|
Use the '-ing' form of the verb after a preposition - here
'about'
|
By
Kenneth Beare,
About.com Guide
There are a number of
ways to give imprecise information in English. Here are some of the most
common:
·
There are about
600 people working in this company.
·
There are approximately
600 people working in this company.
·
There are a large
number of students interested in taking his course.
·
Management predicts up
to 50% growth for the coming year.
·
It's kind of a
bottle opener which can also be used to peel vegetables.
·
It's the type of
place you can go to relax for a week or so.
·
They're the sort of
people that like going bowling on Saturday evenings.
·
It's
difficult to say, but I'd guess that it's used for cleaning house.
·
I'm
not really sure, but I think
they enjoy hiking in the mountains.
After you study these constructions, take the being imprecise or vague quiz
to check your understanding.
More English Functions
Construction
|
Formula
|
Form
|
|
There are about 600 people working in this company.
|
Use 'about' + a numbered expression.
|
|
There are approximately 600 people working in this
company.
|
Use 'approximately' + a numbered expression.
|
|
There are a large number of students interested in
taking his course.
|
Use 'a large number of' + a noun.
|
|
Management predicts up to 50% growth for the coming
year.
|
Use 'up to' + a noun.
|
|
It's kind of a bottle opener which can also be used to
peel vegetables.
|
Use 'kind of' + a noun.
|
|
It's the type of place you can go to relax for a week or
so.
|
Use 'type of' + a noun. Use 'or so' at the end of a sentence
to express the meaning 'approximately'.
|
|
They're the sort of people that like going bowling on
Saturday evenings.
|
Use 'sort of' + a noun.
|
|
It's difficult to say, but I'd guess that it's used for cleaning house.
|
Use the phrase + 'It's difficult to say, but I'd guess' an
independent clause.
|
By
Kenneth Beare,
About.com Guide
There are a number of
ways to guess in English. Here are some of the most common:
·
I'd
say he's about ready to
quite his job.
·
It might need
some oil.
·
He could be in
the garden.
·
It looks like a
miniature motor.
·
Perhaps he needs some time off work.
·
Maybe they want to come and visit this summer.
·
It's
difficult to say, but I'd guess that it's used for cleaning house.
·
I'm
not really sure, but I think
they enjoy hiking in the mountains.
After you study these constructions, take the guessing quiz to
check your understanding.
More English Functions
Construction
|
Formula
|
Form
|
|
I'd say
he's about ready to quite his job.
|
Use 'I'd say' an independent clause.
|
|
It might need some oil.
|
Use 'might' the base form of the verb.
|
|
He could be in the garden.
|
Use 'could' the base form of the verb.
|
|
It looks like a miniature motor.
|
Use the verb 'look like' a noun.
|
|
Perhaps
he needs some time off work.
|
Begin the sentence with 'perhaps'.
|
|
Maybe they want to come
and visit this summer.
|
Begin the sentence with 'maybe'.
|
|
It's difficult to say, but I'd guess that it's used for cleaning house.
|
Use the phrase 'It's difficult to say, but I'd guess' an
independent clause.
|
|
I'm not really sure, but I think they enjoy hiking in the mountains.
|
Use the phrase 'I'm not really sure, but I think' an
independent clause
|
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น