E-Concussion

Polite Expressions

Excuse me
You say excuse me when you want to go past somebody. You also say excuse me to somebody you do not know when you want to attract their attention:
 Excuse me, could you tell me the way to the station?
 Excuse me, is anyone sitting here?

Sorry
You say sorry when you need to apologize for something small:
 Sorry I’m late.

I beg your pardon is a formal expression:
 I beg your pardon! I must have picked up the wrong bag by mistake.

Sorry or I’m sorry is used frequently in British English:
 I’m sorry, but do you think you could move your car? (I apologize in advance for any inconvenience.)

In American English Pardon me and Excuse me are used for apologies:
 Excuse me/ Pardon me, I didn’t see you there.

In British English you say Pardon? Or Sorry? And in American English Pardon me? Or Excuse me? When you did not hear or understand what somebody said and want them to repeat it:
 Pardon, could you say that again?

It is not polite to say What? If you have not heard or understood something.

I’m afraid…
 You use the phrase I’m afraid…there’s been an accident.
 Nina’s not here at the moment, I’m afraid. Can I take a message?
 “Do you have any decaffeinated coffee?” “I’m afraid not.”
 “Has the last bus gone?” “I’m afraid so.”

I wonder if…
You use expressions which show hesitancy when you are asking somebody to do something or asking for a favour”
 Could you just help me move this box, please?
 I wonder if I could have a copy of that letter.
 Would you mind if I left a few minutes early today?
 Do you think I could borrow your car this evening?

Please…
You say please when you ask for something. In British English it introduces or ends a request, but in American English it always ends request:
 Please could I have the menu?
 Could I have the menu, please?

You also use Please when you ask somebody to do something:
 Could you post this letter for me, please?
 Please could you post this letter for me?

Thank you…
When somebody gives you something, or when you buy something or receive information, you are expected to say Thank You or Thanks. Some people may be offended if you say nothing.

It is not usual to say anything in response to Thank you in British English, although some people may say That’s all right, That’s okay or Don’t mention it. In American English You’re welcome is common.

You say Thank you or Yes, please when you want to accept something:
 “How about another cup of coffee?”
“Thank you. / Thanks. / Yes, please.
You say No, thank you or No, thanks when you want to refuse something:
 Would you like some more cake?
No, thank you. / No, thanks.


Cheers…
Cheers is often used in informal British English to mean Thank you:
Cheers is often used in informal British English to mean Thank you:
 “Here is that ₤5 I owe you.” ”Oh, cheers.”

You also say Cheers before you have a drink when you are with other people.




Practice:
Pairs, practice the conversation and then use your own words for the underlined parts.

A: Hi, I am Kim. I live next door.
B: Sure, Kim. I’ve seen you around. What can I do for you?
A: Well, would you mind turning the music down? It’s pretty loud.
B: Oh, sorry about that. You know, there is one thing you can do for me, too. Would you please get your dog to stop barking at night?
A: Uh, sure. But I have another request myself. Would you mind not parking your car in front of my house?
B: Ok, I won’t do that anymore.
A: Well…I am so glad we finally met.
B: Yeah. Me, too!

Below were some vocabularies we mentioned:

tolerace 寬容

tsktsk /tisktisk/
int. (interjection 感歎詞) n. v.
(表示不贊成、同情、不耐煩等)嘖嘖

fierce 兇猛的;殘酷的;好鬥的

oppressive; depressed 壓抑的

drop n. vt. vi.

She dropped some lemon juice into her tea.
她在茶裡滴了幾滴檸檬汁。

staircase 樓梯間

I hear someone coming down the staircase.

frighten
vt. 使害怕
The ghost story frightened the child.

The abbreviation game's vocabularies:
1. GDP Gross Domestic Product 國內生產毛額
2. HR Human Resource 人力資源
3. GPS Global Position System 全球衛星定位系統
4. MBA Master of Business Administration 企管碩士
5. EMBA Executive Master of Business Administration 高階管理碩士學位班
6. REITS Real Estate Investment Trust Security 不動產證券化
7. EQ Emotional Quotient 情緒商數
8. AQ Adversity Quotient 逆境商數
9. IQ Intelligence Quotient 智商
10. ETC Electronic Toll Collection 電子收費
11. WTC World Trade Center 世貿中心
12. NBA National Basketbal Association 全美籃球協會
13. FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation 聯邦調查局
14. CSI Crime Scene Investigation 犯罪現場調查
15. HBO Home Box Office 家庭票房電影院

Below were the priciple's sharing in our group:

Carey's life principle is " If you want to change your life, you have to change your focus(生活重心), your habbit will change everything."
And about her work principle is try her best to do things better. If she can did something for 70, she will try to did it for 100.

Joseph's principle is to work just like to play. Because of he is interested in every field that he doesn't know, and also like to challenge, so he is quite enjoy his work.

Leo's principle is "Apportunities are only for the person who were ready."
When he was a student, he studied English very hard, though his friend laughed at him, he didn't care about that, so that he got a great language ability. This is his attachment value. Now he is in charge of contact with foreign customers in his company. When you are ready, opportunities will come to you always.

Sharon's priciple is always look on the bright side. No matter facing how difficulties, always look on the bright side will make you feel better, and not just complaining. Everythings gonna be all right.

Thank you all for your sharing, hope it could be your principle and useful to you all.

Joyce and Sharon