BACK FROM CAMBRIDGE (SMT 3)

BACK FROM CAMBRIDGE

1.       ORDER, DIRECT AND INDIRECT

a.       Order

Based on Oxford Dictionary:

Order is an authoritative command or instruction:

he was not going to take orders from a mere administrator

[with infinitive] :the skipper gave the order to abandon ship

a verbal or written request for something to be made , supplied, or served:

the firm has won an order for six tankers

a thing made , supplied, or served as a result of an order:

he would deliver special orders for the Sunday dinner

a written direction of a court or judge:

she was admitted to hospital under a guardianship order

a written direction to pay money or deliver property.

b.      Direct Orders

How can you ask someone to do something for you in English without sounding rude? Here are some of the ways that you can give orders and instructions.

1.       Use the imperative form

We use the imperative form to give orders, warnings and advice:

Be quiet!
Take care!
Listen to me carefully!

Because it can sound rude to give direct orders (especially if you are talking to an adult), we "soften" the imperative form with "let's" or "please":

Let's go now.
Please listen to what I'm saying.

2.       Use a modal verb to turn the order into a request

We use modals to change the mood of a sentence. For example, "You should help her" is more polite than "Help her!"

Other modal verbs you can use to make requests are:

Could: Could you borrow me some book?
Can: Can you come here please?
Will: Will you shut the door please?
Would: Would you wait in the classroom until the teacher is come?

3.      Use an introductory phrase to soften the order

Instead of using an imperative, you can use a phrase instead. Here are some common ways of phrasing an order, in order of the most indirect to the most direct:

Would you mind possibly… (+ ing) (Most indirect)
Would you mind possibly moving your car? It's parked right in front of mine.

I was hoping you could … (+ infinitive without to)
I was hoping you could spare me a few minutes this morning.

Do you think you could … (+ infinitive without to)
Do you think you could do this photocopying for me?

If you have a couple of minutes spare…
If you have a couple of minutes spare, the office needs tidying up.

I'd like you to…
I'd like you to file this correspondence for me.

I want you to…
I want you to finish this by tomorrow.

4.      Use sequencing words

You can use sequencing words to make instructions clear.

Firstly, make sure the appliance is disconnected.
Secondly, open the back with a screwdriver.
Then, carefully pull out the two black cables….

Conversation:

Mother : Let’s pack your trekking bag!
Son : Yes, let’s.
Mother : Don’t forget your trekking shoes, will you?
Son : No, I won’t.
Mother : Don’t talk to strangers!

Son : No, I won’t.
Mother : Send grandma a postcard, won’t you?
Son : Yes, I’ll.
(Son is about to leave)
Mother : Wait a minute! Take some home-made sweets. You must share it
with your friends!
Son : Yes, ma. Bye!

c.       Indirect Orders

Speak to someone to ask him to tell another to do something.

Is used to:

1.      Tell someone to do something

Please tell Crissy to clean up her room.
Could you tell Bob to call me?
Tell him not to do that.

2.       Tell someone some information

Can you tell them (that) the party starts at nine?
Please tell Mr. Hopkins (that) I will be late.

3.       Ask someone to do something

Please ask Teresa to give me a call.
Could you ask Russell to be here at five?

4.       Ask someone for some information (Yes or No)

Ask Paula if she is coming to the party.
Could you ask them if they did the homework?
Please ask her whether she finished the assignment.

5.       Ask someone for some information (Open ended)

Ask Randy what he is doing.
Please ask her when she will be here.
Would you ask him what he wants?
Will you ask them how much it costs?

Conversation:

Theressa : My son in Cambridge has written to me asking me to go over there next Monday.
Michelle: What for?
Theressa : It seems he has to attend a training programme at Manhattan. Do I need to go?
Michelle: Yes, I think you ought to go. His family needs some elderly person to be with them.
Theressa : In that case let me tell my husband to book a ticket for me to Manhattan.
Michelle: It’s better if he books today itself.
Theressa : Yes, that’s a good idea.

2.       PAST ACTIVITIES

The simple past tense is used to talk about actions that happened at a specific time in the past. You state when it happened using a time adverb.

You form the simple past of a verb by adding -ed onto the end of a regular verb but, irregular verb forms have to be learned.

To be Statements +	To be Statements -	Questions ?
I was.	I wasn't.	Was I?
He was.	He wasn't.	Was he?
She was.	She wasn't.	Was she?
It was.	It wasn't.	Was it?
You were.	You weren't.	Were you?
We were.	We weren't.	Were we?
They were.	They weren't.	Were they?

Regular Verb  Statements +	Regular Verb Statements -	Questions ?	Short answer +	Short answer -
I worked.	I didn't work.	Did I work?	Yes, I did.	No, I didn't.
He worked.	He didn't work.	Did he work?	Yes, he did.	No, he didn't.
She worked.	She didn't work.	Did she work?	Yes, she did.	No, she didn't.
It worked.	It didn't work.	Did it work?	Yes, it did.	No, it didn't.
You worked.	You didn't work.	Did you work?	Yes you did.	No, you didn't.
We worked.	We didn't work.	Did we work?	Yes we did.	No, we didn't.
They worked.	They didn't work.	Did they work?	Yes they did.	No, they didn't.

 Simple Past Timeline

For example:

"Last year I took my exams."

"I got graduated in 1992."

It can be used to describe events that happened over a period of time in the past but not now.

For example:

"I studied in Cambridge for two years."

The simple past tense is also used to talk about habitual or repeated actions that took place in the past.

For example:

"When I was a child we always went to the seaside on holidays."

Example for the use of Simple Past Tense:

The story of the Cambridge University

The story of the Cambridge University begins in 1209 when several hundred students and scholars arrived in the little town of Cambridge after having walked 60 miles from Oxford. These students were all churchmen and had been studying in Oxford at that city's well-known schools. It was a hard life at Oxford for there was constant trouble, even fighting, between the townsfolk and the students. Then one day a student accidentally killed a man of the town. The Mayor arrested three other students who were innocent, and by order of King John (who was quarrelling with the Church and knew that the death of three student clergymen would displease it) they were put to death by heaving. In protest, many students moved elsewhere, some coming to Cambridge. And so the new University began. It was the Cambridge University. Of course there were no Colleges in those early days and student life was very different from what it is now. Students were of all ages and came from anywhere and everywhere. Those from the same part of the country tended to group themselves together and these groups, called "Nations", often fought one another. The students were armed. Some even banded together to rob the people of the countryside. Gradually the idea of the College developed, and in 1284 Peterhouse, the oldest College in Cambridge, was founded. Life in College was strict. Students were forbidden to play games, to sing (except sacred music), to hunt or fish or even to dance. Books were very scarce and all the lessons were in the Latin language which students were supposed to speak even among themselves.

Conversation:

Mark asks Tony about his experiences in Bangkok during the Vietnam War.

Tony   : I didn’t go to Vietnam. I was in the air force.

Mark  : Right.

Tony   : They had a few bases in Vietnam but they had like six or seven air bases here. They  had a few army bases here too but the majority was air bases here.

Mark  : Oh so you were here?

Tony: Yeah, Southeast Asia…yeah…so it was all considered war zone. We got a year here.

Mark  : What year was that?

Tony   : Sixty-seven. Sixty-eight..That was in the golden years.

Mark  : Why why golden?

Tony   : Because I guess golden because of my youth…and golden because it was just at the beginning of the influx of western culture…

Mark  : Ok.

Tony   : …heavily…..

Mark  : So Bangkok was really different?

Tony   : It was really different. It was still a pretty big city and they had buildings that were eight nine stories high at least.

3.       OFFERS OF HELP

There are a number of formulas used when offering help in English. Here are some of the most common:

·         May 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?

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

1.       Offer and accept help

Informal
Bob is exasperated as his scooter would not start. Billy offers to help him.
Bob : (Kicking his scooter) Oh, what a day!
I’ve been kicking for five minutes. This scooter wouldn’t start. Oh God, I’m tired.

Billy : Hi Bob! Having trouble with the scooter?
May I help you?
Bob : How very kind of you, Billy!
Please try your hand.
Billy : (Starts it easily) Look, how easy it is to start.
You’re impatient Bob.
You haven’t put the keys properly.
Bob : Thanks Billy.

2.       Offer and Refuse help with reason

Association Secretary : I need someone to give a vote of thanks in the function today. Everyone is backing out.
Member : Perhaps I could do it sir.
A S : Thank you for your offer. But I’m afraid you have a bad cough. That might come in the way of your
performance.
Member : Of course, Sir. But I’ll manage.
A S : Thank you for your spirit. But let’s not take a risk.
You’ll need your voice for next week’s culturals.