L A N G U A G E G U I D E

:: EXAMPLES IN CONTEXT

Taking the Babies to the Doctor

Wife – This is where you make a turn.

Husband – Where?
Wife – Here.
Husband – To the left or to the right?
Wife – To the right, as I’m showing.
Husband – Honey, you are in the back seat with the babies and I’m driving.
Wife – Sorry. Drop me here. Park the car and I’m going inside to talk to them.
Husband – To the babies?
Wife – No, to the doctors. Take my purse, the baby’s bag, and the car seats and put them in the trunk.
Husband – Are you going to leave your purse in the trunk?
Wife – No, take my purse and baby’s bag and put the car seats in the trunk.

R E V I E W

EXPLAINING HOW TO DO THINGS

:: USE AND STRUCTURE

Take a look at some resources one uses when explaining procedures.

Verbs
Imperatives → Verb form used to give commands, but it may also be used in requests.
Modal Verbs → Used to present options, mandatory steps, and advisable steps.
Modal Expressions → Be supposed to / Be able to / Be willing to

Expressions
Sequencing steps → First, / Second, / Then / After that, / The next thing you do... / Finally...
Reminders → Remember to... / Don’t forget to... / It is important to... / It is necessary to...
Asking for clarification → What do you mean? / Come again? / I don’t get it. / Can you repeat that?

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R E V I E W

Let’s see how these structures work in context.

If you want to make a music record, first,

have your songs ready. Second, you should
get some money to pay for the producer and
the recording studio. Then, schedule a few
hours with the studio. Remember that each
instrument is recorded separately. You may
make a single recording with the whole band
together but that will make corrections are lot
harder. Finally, be patient and pay attention to
detail during the mixing and post production.

Here are the elements we have in this piece of explanation:

Imperatives: ...have your songs ready / ...schedule a few hours with the studio. /...be patient...
Modals: ...you should get some money... / You may make a single recording...
Reminders: Remember that each instrument…
Expressions that show sequence: First / Second / Then / Finally

Now, take a look at a dialogue with some other elements.

Rajit – Anya, how can I send an email to the phone company?

Anya – OK, grandpa. First, place your hands on the keyboard and enter the company’s website.
Rajit – All right.
Anya – If you have their email, you can skip this part and use you email provider. So, after you
type in the message, you click on the send button.
Rajit – I don’t get it. Which button? Can you repeat that?
Anya – Sure, grandpa. There is a button with “send” written on it.

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