Commercial English - Appointments

Appointments With reference to my letter of ... We refer to our letter of ... I am due to/ I am to ... I hope to/ I intend to ... It may have come to your attention that ... We are pleased to inform you that ... Should this not be convenient for you ... I would be pleased to ... I would be glad/ grateful for ... Would you kindly reply ... ? Please confirm whether/if ... Please inform me ... We look forward to hearing from you soon. With reference to your letter of 1 th !ay "" . #his is to confirm the appointment we made on ... I regret to inform you that your delivery will be delayed. I am afraid I will not be able to keep the appointment I made for $riday 1%th &une. 'ate( three possibilities( )s mentioned in my letter of nd *ctober. )s mentioned in my letter of *ctober . )s mentioned in my letter dated *ctober nd whether/if if( is a condition whether( leaves an alternative #his te+t was written by ,lrike Schroedter.

Talk to an English speaking guest

-ello. !y name is ... I.m 1/ and I come from !unich. 'o you understand me? 0 I.ve been learning 1nglish for 2 years. 3 -ow are you? / I like having guests. 2 !y brother and his family are going to visit me in summer. % I.d like to come to 1ngland. 4 !y friend is also interested in travelling to 1ngland. 5 6ould he stay overnight there? 1" See you.

Meeting people
17 8reetings Welcome to 9eip:ig. 8ood morning/afternoon/evening. 8. day. 8ood day. -ello. -i. 8oodbye. ;ye<bye. ;ye. See you. =6,7 6heers. Say goodbye to Peter from me. Say hello to Peter from me. Please give my love to Peter. I.d like you to meet Peter. !ay I introduce you to Peter? !ay I introduce Peter to you? 7 )sking Pardon? -ow do you do?

-ow are you? I.m fine> thanks. ?ot too bad. 07 Introducing I.d like you to meet Peter. !ay I introduce you to Peter? !ay I introduce Peter to you? 37 @arious =wishes> thanks> offers7 9ovely day today> isn.t it? 1+cuse me> ... What.s the matter? 8ood luckA 6ongratulations. !any happy returns of the day. -appy birthdayA ;less youA 8et well soonA 6ould you do me a favour? !ay I offer you a drink? )re you sure you wouldn.t like to come in? #hank you very muchA #hank you. !any thanks. #hanks a lot. < Bou.re welcome. Would you e+cuse me> please? It doesn.t matter.

On the phone
Who is this> please? #his is ... ... speaking. I.ll phone back later. I.ve got the wrong number. Please leave a message after the beep.

6an I take a message? 6an I speak to ...> please? &ust a moment> please. I.ll ring you at about ... #hank you for ringing. I must ring off now. I can.t get through. #he line.s busy. #here is no reply. #his is a bad connection. 6an I use my mobile?

Conversation
How to offer/refuse Would you like a 6oke? < Bes> I.d love to. Bes> please. ?o> thank you. Understanding I didn.t Cuite get that. 6an you repeat that> please? I didn.t understand you. How to ask/argue )re you saying that ...? 6an you e+plain that? Sorry to interrupt you> ... I actually wanted to say that ... Well> ... I don.t think so. I.m sure that ... #here.s nothing more to say. *bviously I don.t need to say that ... eneral ;esides ... It doesn.t matter. 'on.t mention it. I must apologi:e for being so late.

The menu - !oca"ular#

17 6ategories on menus )ppeti:ers =cold/hot7 ;everages ;ottled water and sodas =)17 ;runch =;reakfast D 9unch7 6offee and #ea 'esserts 1ggs -ors d.oeuvres -ot drinks 9iCueurs =)17 !ain course *melets =*melettes7 Pasta Pi::a Salads Sandwiches Sides =Side orders7 Soups Sparkling wine Starters Wine Wines by the glass =white> blush> red7 7 Special dishes/beverages beef brandy burger 6heddar chicken chicken chips =;17> $rench $ries =)17 chop cod

cognac crab crabs fish $ish and chips ham Irish Whiskey Eacket/baked potato lamb liver lobster mashed potatoes meatloaf mussels oysters perch pie plaice pork port prawn salmon seafruit shell fish Single !alt Scotch =Whisky7 steak trout turkey veal 07 ,seful phrases bill =;17 check =)17 service included small/large plate tip today.s special @)# /value<added ta+7

Asking the wa# - $uestions and answers

@ocabulary =pictures7 Useful phrases% 1+cuse me> could you tell me the way to the station> please? 1+cuse me> I.m looking for the town hall. -ow far is it from the church to the station? Is it far from the church to the station? It takes about 1" minutes by bus. It.s a 1"<minute walk. #he church is within walking distance. What.s the best way to the station? Where is the nearest bus stop? Where is the ne+t bus stop? Bou can.t miss it.

At the cinema
1 I like watching films. I prefer going to the cinema because it.s more interesting. 0 What.s on at the cinema? 3 -ow much is a ticket? / )re there any tickets for Saturday? 2 I.m interested in crime and adventure films. % 9ast week I watched FIndependence 'ayF. 4 !y favourite actor/actress is ...... 5 What about going to the cinema together? 1" #he film was e+citing> not boring.

At the cinema
1 I like watching films. I prefer going to the cinema because it.s more interesting. 0 What.s on at the cinema? 3 -ow much is a ticket? / )re there any tickets for Saturday? 2 I.m interested in crime and adventure films. % 9ast week I watched FIndependence 'ayF. 4 !y favourite actor/actress is ......

5 What about going to the cinema together? 1" #he film was e+citing> not boring.

At the hotel
17 #he guest -ave you got a single room for tonight? I.d like to stay in a double room. 'o all the rooms have air<conditioning? Is breakfast included? When do you serve breakfast? 6ould you give me a call at % tomorrow morning> please? I.d like to pay in cash/by credit card/by traveller.s cheCue =)1( check7. 7 #he receptionist -ello> can I help you? Would you like a room with a bath or a shower? -ow long would you like to stay at our hotel? -ow would you like to pay? Bour room in on the second floor on the right. Sorry> we.re fully booked for tonight. Sorry> we are full up. =)1G7 Is there anything else I can do for you?

Travelling
1 I.m going to 1ngland this summer. I.m going by bus. 0 I haven.t been there before. 3 I.d like to go near the south coast. / I have already been at the travel agency. 2 -ow much is the trip? % Is the beach near my holiday resort? 4 -ow could I get there? 5 I was in $rance last year. 1" I don.t speak $rench.

&n a supermarket
1 #here is a supermarket near here. What can I get there? 0 Bou can get there nearly everything? 3 Women.s clothes is on the second floor. / I prefer the blue blouse to the yellow blouse. 2 I haven.t seen such a big supermarket before. % -ow much are the tomatoes? 4 I.m coming back in the ne+t days. 5 I like shopping with a friend. 1" -ow can I get to the nearest station/bus stop from here?

M# ho""ies and interests

!y favourite hobby is playing snooker. I like listening to pop<music. )t weekends I sometimes go to a disco or to the cinema. I listen to bands like ... I.m interested in punk. While listening to hard<rock I can get everything off my chest. In summer I like to go swimming. In winter I go skiing. I like visiting friends and talking about this and that. !y friend and I do lots of Eigsaw pu::les. Playing football is fun. *ne of my hobbies is writing letters to my pen<friends. I do a paper route to earn a little money. Sometimes I read so much that I forget the housework. When the weather is bad> I read books or watch #@. I enEoy working on the computer. I got a new computer for my birthday. *nce a week I do some handball practice. I go training every evening. When it.s not so hot> I go rollerskating. I want to tell you something about my family. I.ve got two older brothers. !y mother works as a clerk in an office. When we are on holidays I like walking in the mountains. *n Saturdays I have to cook for the family.

I collect my cousin from the kindergarten. ?ow and then I do babysitting.

At the restaurant
17 #he waiter What can I do for you? 6an I help you? 6an I take your coat? -ave you booked a table? -ow many are you? Would you follow me> please? 6an I take your order> sir/madam? What would you like to start with? What would you like to drink? What would you like for dessert? -ow would you like your steak? =rare> medium> well done7 'o you want a salad with it? What kind of dressing? )nything to drink? 'o you want a dessert? #he burgers are very good. Sorry> the hamburgers are off. Is everything all right? 'id you enEoy your meal? )re you paying together? !ay I show you to a table? If you wait> there.ll be a table for you free in a minute. 'o you want vegetables with it? Why don.t you try the pi::a? It.ll take about " minutes. 7 #he guest ) table for two> please. !ay we sit at this table? #he menu> please. What.s on the menu? 'o you want fish? What.s Irish Stew like?

We.re not ready yet. #he steak for me> please. 6an you bring me the ketchup> please? ) salad> please. I.ll have the same. #hat.s all> thank you. 6an I have the bill =)1( check7> please? #his is on me. -ere you are. #he rest is for you. -ave you got wine by the glass? I.d prefer red wine. Please bring us another beer. 6ould I have chips =)1( $rench $ries7 instead of salad? What can you recommend? Please bring me the bill =)1( check7 with my coffee. I think you.ve made a mistake.

&nformal English voca"ular#

-ere you will find idioms and other useful phrases. #his table is not complete. If you know more words> phrases and sentences> send them by e<mail. )<! ?<H A Peggy is about to leave. We booked the tickets in advance. I love ;erlin. It.s alive and kicking. I went out in the sun. #hen> all of a sudden> it started to rain. #here are environmental problems all over the place. '

about to in advance alive and kicking all of a sudden all over the place

to go from bad to worse to bag sb. beat<up to do the best blabber to blag sb. bloody to be blue bouncer be broke to brush up on sb. buck butt bu:: ;u:: offA a close call to catch sb. to catch cold not to have a clue 6ome off itA as far as I.m concerned cop corner shop cram school on credit cut damned to dig in one.s heels to disrespect sb. to do one.s best to do someone good to do without down under

!y marks went from bad to worse last term. #om bagged this special offer at an online<shop. !ark is too beat<up to play tennis this evening. -e always does his best. 'on.t listen to him> he.s a blabber. *nce in a while young #im blags his father.s cigarettes. What a bloody dayA She.s been feeling blue all day. ) bouncer.s task is to keep out those who might cause trouble. I can.t go to the cinema with you> I.m broke. I have to brush up on my Spanish. Bou can buy a '@' player for less than 1"" bucks =dollars7. Bou.re a pain in the butt. Parachuting gives me a real bu::. ;u:: offA I have told you not to come to my place anymore. C I had a close call. ) stone almost hit meA Sorry> I didn.t Cuite catch your telephone number. I walked out in the rain> so I caught cold. I don.t have a clue about repairing the faucet. 6ome off itA #his isn.t the truth. )s far as I.m concerned> I.d like to watch the film. ) big crowd of cops gathered in front of the ;ank of 1ngland. !other really liked corner shops when she was a child. !any pupils have to go to a cram school in the afternoon. I.d not buy the new #@ on credit. !r ;rown made big cuts of I/"" million. ( I hate going through that damned rush hour. If you take or e+press an opinion and refuse to change it> you dig in your heels. Poor people shouldn.t be disrespected. -e does his best to fi+ the car. 9et.s go on a holiday. #he sun will do us good. If there.s no milk for the tea> it.ll do without. 'own under will be my ne+t destination. E

to be up to one.s ears every now and then every other to see eye to eye fair enough fiddle to keep the fingers crossed flutter folk for free freak out fridge to get a lot of stick to get cold feet to get fed up with sb. to get rid of sb. to get sb. to take sth. for granted greasy spoon groovy guy had better on the other hand to give a hand hard graft by heart hip to hold s.o..s horses to be hooked on sth. to Eump down sb..s throat knackered

Sorry> I can.t go out with you. I.m up to my ears in work. 1very now and then I play the piano. -e comes to me every other week. World ;ank and I!$ see eye to eye on )sia ) $air enoughA 9et.s go out for dinner tonight. 1specially fiddles are necessary to play folk music. I have to see the doctor for a checkup. < I.ll keep my fingers crossed for you. #he old lady loves a flutter on the slot machine. We all are fond of the Irish folk. I was lucky. I got this 6' for free. Jon freaked out when he heard that Peter had broken his car. ;utter must be kept in the fridge. In his new Eob &ack gets a lot of stick. -e wanted to speak to the boss> but he didn.t. -e got cold feet. #hey get fed up with their neighbour.s parties. We have to get rid of that old car. &ason> did you finally get your e+ercise? I took it for granted the meeting was on #uesday. I.d rather starve instead of eating at a greasy spoon. #his cocktail tastes groovy. &ennifer fell in love with the guy from the supermarket. H Bou.d better go now. Sue likes pop music> on the other hand she doesn.t like discos. 6an you give me a hand with the cupboard? ;uilding our house has been a hard graft. !y brother has to learn the poem by heart. !olly always knows what.s hip. -old your horses>F I said when &ohn began to leave the room. ;ill is hooked on car racing. * #he boss Eumped down my throat because I was late for work. + What has happened? Bou look so knackered.

to keep an eye on sth./sb. little by little to look forward to sb. to make ends meet to make friends easily to make oneself at home to make the most to make up one.s mind up mash What.s the matter? to be mean to meet sb. halfway to mess around to mess up

Will you keep an eye on my baby? , )ndrew had an accident while playing ice<hockey. 9ittle by little he begins to walk. I look forward to my holidays in Jome. M She.s been out of work for years. -ow can she make ends meet with four children? 6hris makes friends easily. 6ome in> please. !ake yourself at home. 9et.s make the most of the last day of our holidays. 'id you make your mind up to buy a new computer? I love 8randma.s homemade mash. Bou look sad. What.s the matter with you? 8randfather is mean with money. I don.t like his ideas> but I can imagine that we should meet halfway. #he clown messed around to make the children laugh. Sandy has really messed up this time.

&nformal English voca"ular#

-ere you will find idioms and other useful phrases. #his table is not complete. If you know more words> phrases and sentences> send them by e<mail. )<! ?<H

from now on $rom now on I.m going to drive more carefully. old fart ;ob isn.t an entertainer> he is an old fart. pint F) pint for me> please.F to be pissed off 9eave me alone> I.m pissed offA plonk Plonk often causes a bad headache. to come to the point 'on.t talk for hours. 6ome to the point. to pop in I won.t be back early. I.ll pop in at !a+.s. !y mother doesn.t let me go out. 6an you put in a word for me> to put in a word for sb. please? pretty much #hey earn pretty much money together.

out of the Cuestion Cuid red tape right as rain to sack sb. scruffy to see about sharpish to be in someone.s shoes to shut up can.t stand in the sticks to stick sth./sb. stroppy stuff #ake it easy. telly thick #hink nothing of it. to be on time to take one.s time tipple to loose track to take turns Watch your step. to wear many hats when push comes to shove to feel under the weather no wonder a word in your ear Words fail me. to eat one.s words

We can.t come to the party. #his is out of the Cuestion. $ ) Cuid is a pound in ;ritish currency. . #oo much red tape takes everything longer. Bour baby is right as rain. / $red was sacked because he had lost his driving licence. -er apartment is very scruffy. 9et.s have a party on Saturday. I.ll see about the drinks. )fter a Cuarrel !ike left sharpish. I don.t want to be in Peter.s shoes. Shut up or disappear before I get furious. I can.t stand the rain. 'uring their holiday the ;akers lived in the sticks. $ar away from towns. I can.t stick more of this. &immy is a stroppy child. Where is all that stuff I bought at *+fam.s yesterday? T #ake it easy. Bou.re a couch potato. )ll you can do is sit in front of the telly. )re you thick? #his is the right number. #hink nothing of it. Please be on time. #ake your time. )fter walking through the cold rain everyone enEoyed a tipple. 'o you know where $red lives? < I.ve lost track of him. !y sister and )nne take turns babysitting. 0 Bou.d better watch your step if you don.t want trouble with your boss. Bou.ve got to wear many hats if you want to run your own hotel. When push comes to shove you.d rather accept the Eob. I think> I.ll stay at home tonight. I.m feeling a little under the weather. ?o wonder he is ill. -e went out in shorts in winter. 6ould I have word in your ear? 'id you hear about Sue and Pat? < Words fail me. I.m sorry. I.ll eat my words.

in other words In other words> you can.t answer the Cuestion. to have words with sb. I had words with the headteacher of my son.s school Would you like to spend your holidays in the ?orth? ?o < I.d would rather rather fly to !e+ico. to wow sb. -is appearance at the party wowed me. 1 to :ing through sth. #he arrow :inged through the trees as fast as lightning.

&nformal English voca"ular# - -rover"s

-ere you will find proverbs in alphabetical order. #his table is not complete. If you know more proverbs> send them by e<mail. ) bad workman always blames his tools. ) bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. ) friend in need is a friend indeed. ) miss is as good as a mile. ) new broom sweeps clean. ) rolling stone gathers no moss. ) stitch in time saves nine. )bsence makes the heart grow fonder. )ctions speak louder than words. )ll good things come to an end. )ll that glitters is not gold. )ll.s well that ends well. )ny #im> 'ick or -arry. )s you make your bed> so you must lie. ;arking up the wrong tree ;arking dogs never bite. to beat about/around the bush ;eauty is only skin deep. ;eauty is in the eye of the beholder. ;efore you can say &ack Jobinson. ;eggars cannot be choosers. ;etter late than never. ;etter safe than sorry. ;roken crockery brings you luck. 6harity begins at home. 6lose but no cigar.

'o lunch or be lunch. 'on.t cross a bridge till you come to it. 'on.t count your chicken before they are hatched. 'on.t mock the afflicted. 'ripping hollows out rock. 1asy come easy go. 1nough is as good as a feast. 1very &ack will find his &ill. $air e+change is no robbery. $ew sandwiches short of a picnic. $irst come> first served. $or Pete.s sake. $ortune favours fools. 8ood things come to those who wait. -e deserved the break. -e is a chip of the old block. -e had reckoned without his host. -e who makes no mistakes> makes nothing. -onesty is the best policy. I wouldn.t live in that dump if you paid meA If wishes were horses> beggars would ride. In for a penny> in for a pound. It is foolish to fear that which you cannot avoid. It is never too late to mend. It is too late to shut the barn door after the horse has bolted. It never rains but it pours. It takes two to tango. It.s raining cats and dogs. &ustice was never done but someone complained. Kill birds with one stone. Knowledge is power. 9ies have short legs. 9ies don.t travel far. 9ike father like son. 9isteners hear no good of themselves. !any hands make light work. !ind your own business. !isery loves company. !istakes are often the best teachers. !oney isn.t everything. !onkey see monkey do.

!ore haste less speed. ?ecessity is the mother of invention. ?ever put off until tomorrow what you can do today. ?o news is good news. ?o pains < no gains. ?ot all who own a lyre are lyre<players. *nce bitten twice shy. *ne good turn deserves another. *ne man.s meat is another man.s poison. *ne swallow doesn.t make a summer. *pportunity makes thieves. *ut of sight> out of mind. *ut of the heat> into the frying pan. Payback is a bitch. People who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Practice makes perfect. Pride comes before the fall. Promises are made to be kept. Jats desert the sinking ship. Slow and steady wins the race. Speech is silver silence is gold. Still waters run deep. Strike while the iron is hot. #ake care of the pennies> and the pounds will look after themselves. #he last straw that breaks the camels back. #he early bird catches the worm. #he end Eustifies the means. #he pot calling the kettle black. #he proof of the pudding is in the eating. #here.s no fool like an old fool. #hat.s old hat. #it for tat. #o blow one.s own trumpet #o drop a brick #o carry coals to ?ewcastle. #oo many cooks spoil the broth. #o pull someone.s leg #o put the pedal to the metal #o ride shotgun What the eye does not see the heart cannot grieve over. When the cat.s away the mice will play. Where there is a will there is a way.

Bou can easily fall into your own trap. Bou can.t change the habits of a lifetime. Bou can.t make an omelette without breaking eggs. Bou can.t study on a full stomach. Bou can.t teach an old dog new tricks. What goes around comes around. When two people Cuarrel> a third reEoices.

'odie - host town in California .eading Comprehension

;odie < a ghost town in 6alifornia ;odie was named after Waterman S. ;ody =also known as William S. ;odey7> who discovered gold here in 14/5. #he town of ;odie became famous with the decline of mining along the western slope of the Sierra ?evada. ProspectorsL crossing the eastern slope in 14/5 to search for gold> discovered what was to be the 6omstock 9ode at @irginia 6ity and started a wild rush to the surrounding high desert country.

;y 14%5> ;odie boastedM a population of about 1">""" and was second to none for wickedness> badmen> and Fthe worst climate out of doors.F *ne little girl> whose family was taking her to the remote and infamous town> wrote in her diary( F8oodbye 8od> I.m going to ;odie.F #his phrase came to be known throughout the west. Bou can see the Standard !ine and !ill on the west slope of ;odie ;luff. ;ecause the old mill buildings and surrounding area are e+tremely unsafe> they are closed to the public. #oday more than "">""" people a year visit this genuine 6alifornia gold<mining ghost town> where more than 1%" buildings are protected in a state of Farrested decayF on more than 1>""" remote acres.

;odie State -istoric Park is open year round. It opens at 4 am every day but closing time changes seasonally =mid summer closing is at % pm> mid<winter at 3 pm7. -owever> because of the high elevation =4>0%/ feet7> it is accessible only by over<snow eCuipment during the winter months. !any four wheel drive vehicles get stuck each year in powdery snow that is deeper than it first appears. Spring thaws bring mud> and wheeled vehicles are not advised. Snowmobiles must stay on designated roads within the park. Winter weather is often unpredictable. Sub<:ero temperatures> strong winds and white<outN conditions are not uncommon.

services> camping> lodging> food vending or stores. #here is one bathroom> one museum open during the summer where books on ;odie and a few other items are available for sale. #he park is northeast of Bosemite> 10 miles east of -ighway 05/ on ;odie Joad> seven miles south of ;ridgeport. #e+t used with the permission of 'esert,S).6om 17 'odie /tate Historic -ark is open from 2 am to 3 pm ever# da#4 true false 7 -ets are not allowed in the park4 true false 07 More than 5667666 people visit the park ever# #ear4 true false 37 A"out 867666 people lived in 'odie around 82394 true false /7 :ou can visit the mine in 'odie4 true false 27 &t is eas# to reach 'odie in winter4 true false %7 There is a camping site in 'odie4 true false