DEALING WITH PEOPLE

UNIT
CFG5 ADMINISTRACIÓN Y FINANZAS - ASISTENCIA A LA
DIRECCIÓN
S
POLITENESS

MODAL VERBS

GRAMMAR PRACTICE

VOCABULARY

PHRASAL VERBS
POLITENESS
What is politeness?
It refers to the appropriate way to address different people depending on
their status.

The higher someone is in the chain of command (your superiors), the

more polite your speech must be. On the other hand, when addressing a
subordinate it is not necessary to be so polite.
Remember that the concept of politeness does not only refer to
language, but also to attitude.
Names and titles
When talking to a superior, remember to use their last name and the appropriate title:

Mr. Mrs. Miss Ms.

(mister) (misses) (miss) (mizz)
Married or
Married or Unmarried
Married woman unmarried
unmarried man woman
woman

Remember that, in English speaking countries, women take their husbands last name when they
get married.
Directness and politeness

+ direct - polite

- direct + polite
Modal expressions
Some modal expressions will make speech less direct

Might I ask if you are related to Mrs Bowdon? (rather formal and more polite/less direct than “May I ask…?”)

Would you follow me, please, sir? (more polite/less direct than “Will you follow me…?”)

Would you mind moving your car, please?

A: Could you take a look at my laptop? It’s taking so long to start up.

B: Well I’ll certainly take a look. Is there a possibility that it might have a virus?

A: Well, the anti-virus is supposed to be up to date.

Please and thank you
Please makes requests and commands more polite

Can appear at the end, the beginning or the middle of a sentence

Could you say that again, please?

Please, could you do that again?

Could you please say that again?

MODAL VERBS
Not main verbs

Don’t change form

Don’t take auxiliaries

Act as auxiliaries

Need a main verb to work (base form)

Don’t have a meaning on their own

Ability

Obligation and necessity

Advice

Permission

Probability
Ability

Can: present

Could: past

Be able to: any tense (inflecting)

I can make delicious cakes

I could make delicious cakes

I will be able to make delicious cakes

Obligation and necessity
Must: strong (external) obligation

Have to: soft (internal) obligation

Mustn’t: prohibition

Don’t have to: lack of necessity

I must hand my tasks in time

You have to take the bus at 7:35 or you’ll be late

You mustn’t smoke inside the building

You don’t have to take your laptop with you

Advice

Should: neutral

Ought to: formal

You should work harder

You ought to work harder

Permission
Can
-formal
Could
Permission in the present
May

Might +formal

Be allowed to: to talk about permission

Can I help you?

Could I help you?

May I help you?

Might I help you?

I am not allowed to go into that room

Probability
Must: certainty

Can +likely
Could

May

Might -likely
Can’t: impossibility
Everyone is here but Jim. He must be coming now

It’s cloudy, it can start raining anytime soon

There are some clouds in the sky, it could rain today

He may give me a lift, but I’m not sure

He might give me a lift, but he probably won’t

Jim said he wasn’t coming. It can’t be him at the door

GRAMMAR PRACTICE
VOCABULARY
PRHASAL VERBS