Period 1 5.1 Modals for politeness DOPP B1/B1+

Modals for politeness

Modals for Politeness:

“Can, “Could” and “Would” are the modals that we will most often use in polite conversations. These modals are used to make polite requests and offers.

Usage:

  • Can is more direct but still polite.
  • Could is more polite and formal than “can.”
  • Would is the most polite and formal.

Examples:

  • Can: “Can you help me with this report?”
  • Could: “Could you please send me the latest sales figures?”
    • Would: “Would you like to join us for a meeting?”

Reading: Read the Text and answer the questions.

A Day in the Life of a Project Manager

Emma is a project manager at a tech company. Her typical day is filled with meetings, emails, and coordinating with different teams to ensure that projects are on track. One of her main responsibilities is to ensure clear and polite communication within her team and with clients.

Yesterday, Emma started her day with a meeting with her team. She needed to discuss the upcoming deadlines and assign tasks. She began the meeting by saying, “Could you all please make sure to update your progress on the project management tool by the end of the day?” Her team members nodded, understanding the importance of keeping everyone informed.

After the meeting, Emma received an email from a client who needed some changes in their project. The email read, “Would you be able to implement the changes we discussed last week by Friday?” Emma knew that her team was already busy, but she wanted to accommodate the client’s request. She replied, “We will do our best to meet your deadline. Could you please provide more details about the changes?”

Later in the day, Emma visited the IT department because there was an issue with her computer. She asked the technician, “Can you help me with my computer? It’s running very slowly.” The technician agreed to look into it and assured Emma that it would be fixed by the end of the day.

Emma also had a one-on-one meeting with Jack, a new team member. Jack was working on his first project and needed some guidance. Emma asked him, “Would you like me to review your work and give you some feedback?” Jack was grateful for the offer and replied, “Yes, I would appreciate that very much.”

In the afternoon, Emma needed to prepare a presentation for an upcoming conference. She wanted to make sure everything was perfect. She approached her assistant, Sarah, and said, “Could you please help me with the design of the slides? I want them to look professional.” Sarah agreed and started working on the slides immediately.

By the end of the day, Emma had managed to complete all her tasks, thanks to the cooperation and support of her team. She sent out a thank-you email to everyone, expressing her appreciation for their hard work and dedication.

Comprehension Questions:

  1. Multiple Choice:

   2. True or False:

   3. Short Answer:

  1. What did Emma discuss in her morning meeting with the team?
  2. How did Emma respond to the client’s request for changes?
  3. What assistance did Emma request from Sarah for the presentation?
  4. Why did Emma have a one-on-one meeting with Jack?

Listening: Listen to the following audio then answer the following questions:

  1. What did the daughter ask her mum for?
  2. What got the mother annoyed with her daughter?
  3. How did the daughter solve this problem?

 

 

Discussion: Discuss among your partners about the importance of polightness when speaking at the office and in a regular basis.

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