Politeness and American Conversational English Page 3

EFL Japan
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EFL Listening and Speaking
Politeness and American Conversational Usage

Function: Requesting

Stimu-Con Usage Games: It's Not Only WHAT You Say But HOW You Say It!
Game

Conversational Focus
Johnny is telling Sam not to forget to shut the door after he leaves the room ...

Communication Function
CharacterA / CharacterB
Making a request/Agreeing

Suggestion Key
Character A / Character B

1. Close the door, please. / Okay.
2. (Please) close the door (after you). / Okay.
3. (Please) close the door on your way out. / Sure.
4. Can you (please) close the door? / Okay.
5. Will you (please) shut the door? / Yes.
6. Could you (please) shut the door? / All right.
7. Would you (please) shut the door? / Of course.
8. (Please) remember to shut the door. / Okay.
9. (Please) don't forget to shut the door. / Don't worry, I won't.
10. (Please) don't forget to close the door. / Hey, no problem.

What would you say?

Stimu-Con Usage Games: It's Not Only WHAT You Say But HOW You Say It!
Game

Conversational Focus
Haruo hasn't returned Natsuko's eraser that he borrowed a while ago, and she wants it back ...

Communication Function
CharacterA / CharacterB
Requesting someone to return something borrowed (in this case, an eraser) / Agreeing

Suggestion Key
Character A / Character B

1. I'd like my eraser back. / Oops, here it is.
2. Can I have my eraser back? / Of course.
3. Could I have my eraser back? / Of course; sorry to have kept it so long.
4. Are you finished with my eraser? / Yes, here it is.
5. You forgot to give me my eraser back. / Oh, I'm sorry. Here it is.
6. (Can you give me back) my eraser, please? / Sure, here you are.
7. Would you (kindly) give me back my eraser? / Oh, I still have it ...? Here you go.

What would you say?

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