第21課 A QUESTION OF GRAMMAR

字號(hào):

Yesterday we saw how important telephone skills are in business. When Gary said: “You hold on, ah.”, he began with the word “you”, which makes him sound bossy and impolite. A much better way is: “Please hold the line for a moment”。
    From her office, Jane can see cardboard boxes piled up in Reception……
    Jane: (calling) Oh, Gary! Do you know why there's a delivery still in Reception?
    Gary: (calling back) Reception - ah?
    Jane: Yes. In reception. Do you know whether we ordered any new IT equipment?
    Gary: IT - ah?
    Jane: Look at all those boxes - what are they all for?
    Gary: What for - ah?
    Jane comes to see for herself……
    Jane: Of course! My new computer! Where do you think we should put it for now, Gary?……
    Gary doesn't reply……
    Jane: Gary?
    Later that morning. Jaya arrives ……
    Jaya: Morning, Gary! ……We can't leave everything here. Where did Jane tell you to put it?
    Gary: Jane? …… Ai……yah, sometime when she talk I catch no ball!
    Jaya: What on earth does that mean? - Oh, never mind - let's unpack it.
    Gary: (to himself) Big one how to open?
    Gary starts unpacking the boxes……
    Gary: This one do what?
    Jaya: That goes with the printer.
    Gary: This cable go where? …… Black one where to put?……
    Narrator: Did you notice any difference between the way Gary asks questions and the way that Jane and Jaya do?
    Replay……
    Jane: Look at all those boxes! What are they all for?
    Gary: This one do what?
    Narrator: Gary ends his question with the question-word “what”, but this should be the first thing we hear in a question. Listen……
    Replay……
    Gary: This one do what?
    Narrator: Jaya, what should Gary say here?
    Jaya: What does this do?…… or …… What's this for?
    Narrator: Gary's had a sound education and is studying hard, but his grammar lets him down badly. Sometimes he doesn't even recognise a well-formed question.
    Replay……
    Jane: Where do you think we should put it for now, Gary?……Gary?
    Narrator: As part of HotDotCom's Speak Good English drive, we've all been helping Gary improve his grammar and we're beginning to see a difference.
    Sometime later……
    Gary: Wah! So fast! Jane she very lucky one! Same one - how to get?
    Jaya: Ask me one question in good English, Gary, and I might get you a new computer, too!
    Gary: Oh……okay.
    How…… how do I get a computer like Jane's?
    Jaya: Brilliant! You're making progress, Gary!