Polite expressions
Here are some polite expressions you can use when you ask something from
someone, ask someone to do something, ask permissions and give advice.

May I …?
Do you think it’s OK if …?
Sorry to disturb you, but …
Excuse me, please.
May I interrupt, please?
I wonder if you could …
Do you mind if …?

• May I help you .... • All right, Sir/Ma’am.
• Would you mind ....
• Could you please ....
• Shall I .... • That will be ....
• Would you please .... • Thank you very much for ....

Activity 1

Listen and complete the dialogues. Then practise it with your friend. The
listening script is in the appendix.
Dialogue 1
Neneng : Excuse me, ma’am.
Ms Ira : Yes, Neneng. What’s the matter?
Neneng : May I borrow……..… your dictionary? I need to look up a new
word….
Ms Ira : Sure. Here……. you are.
Neneng : Thank… ….you Ms Ira. I’ll return it as soon as possible.
Ms Ira : You’re …welcome.

Activity 2
Noya : Excuse me, sir. may… I interrupt,please …? I have a question.
Mr Hardi : Certainly, Noya.
Noya : I wonder if you could… explain the
respiratory system again.
Mr Hardi : OK. I’ll explain it after the lesson… time. Is it all right?
Noya : OK, sir. thank… you.

Activity 3
Complete the dialogues below with the suitable expressions.
Example:
Yeni : Jono, do you know how to change the film in this camera?
Jono : I’m sorry, I don’t.
Yeni : It’s OK.

Exercises
1. Budi : I think you forget to turn off the computer.
Siti : ……………………………….
Budi : That’s OK.
2. Satria : Can you show me how to update an anti virus?
Narti : Sorry, I don’t know how either.
Satria : ……………………………….
3. Damanik : I’m sorry. I can’t show you how to send an e-mail now.
Sally : ……………………………….
4. Diana : You’re going too fast. I can’t catch what you said.
Siti : ………………………………..
Diana : ………………………………..
5. Terry : Hidayat, can you show me how to set the TV channels?
Hidayat : ……………………. I can’t. I have to take an English course now.
Terry : ………………………….........




Clerk : Front desk. May I help you?
Keiko : Yes. This is Room 2234. May I have some extra towels please?
Clerk : Sure. I’ll send some up right away.
Keiko : Oh, and could I borrow an iron?
Clerk : Certainly. I’ll send one up with the towels.
Keiko : Great! Oh, I’d like a wake-up call tomorrow morning, please.
Clerk : Certainly. What time would you like us to call you?
Keiko : Umm... 7 a.m. would be fine.
Clerk : Sure.
Keiko : Thanks a lot.
Clerk : You’re welcome.

The expressions below are polite expressions to show gratitude and respond to it.

Thanking Responding to thanks
Thanking

Thanks
Thanks for….
Thank you very/ so much.
Thanks a million

Responding to thanks

You’re welcome.
My pleasure.
Any time.
No trouble at all.
Not at all.
I really appreciate it.


Complete the following dialogues with the right expressions from the box.
Then, practice them with your classmates.

Do you mind if I open the window?
Do you think it’s okay if I go home early today?
If I were you I wouldn’t do that.
Sorry to disturb you, but I need to ask you something.

Dialogue 1
Echa : … Where’s the nearest post office?
Policeman : It’s over there, on the left.
Echa : Thank you, sir.
Dialogue 2
Iksan : …
Man : No, please do.
Iksan : Thank you. It’s very hot here.

Dialogue 3

Dira : Excuse me. …
Woman : Pardon?
Dira : This road is very busy. It’s too dangerous to cross it here.
There’s a zebra cross near the bus stop.
Woman : Thank you.

Dialogue 4

Jono : Excuse me, sir. …
Mr Rustam : Why?
Jono : My father is in hospital and I want to visit him.
Mr Rustam : OK. Give him my best regards.
Jono : All right, sir. Thank you.

Complete the dialogues using the suitable expressions. Look at the example.
Example:
Daniel : Will you show me how to open an email account?
Sarah : Sure.
Daniel : Thanks a lot.
Sarah : Don’t mention it.

Dialogue 1
Bambang : Edi, how do you send a short message?
Edi : It’s very easy. Just go to the main menu, and then select
“Message”. After that select “Write New”/“Write Message” and then
write your message. When you’ve finished writing your message,
press “Send” or “OK” or “Yes”. And then go to phonebook and
select the number you want to send it to.
Bambang : Wow, that’s easy. Thanks.
Edi : …………………………………

Dialogue 2
Albar : I’m sorry. What did you say?
Kania : I said you should retype the code first.
Albar : Oh, OK. …………….
Kania : Any time.

Dialogue 3
Santi : I’m sorry. I didn’t catch what you said.
Susan : Oh, I’ll repeat.
Santi : Thanks.
Susan : ………………………………..

Dialogue 4
Dedi : What was that again?
Dona : You missed the fourth step.
Dedi : Really? Thanks, I didn’t know.
Dona : ………………………………...
Dialogue 5
Yuli : Could you repeat the last step?
Novi : OK.
Yuli : ………………………………..
Novi : Don’t mention it.

Complete the dialogues below with the suitable expressions.
Example:
Yeni : Jono, do you know how to change the film in this camera?
Jono : I’m sorry, I don’t.
Yeni : It’s OK.

Exercises
1. Budi : I think you forget to turn off the computer.
Siti : ……………………………….
Budi : That’s OK.
2. Satria : Can you show me how to update an anti virus?
Narti : Sorry, I don’t know how either.
Satria : ……………………………….
3. Damanik : I’m sorry. I can’t show you how to send an e-mail now.
Sally : ……………………………….
4. Diana : You’re going too fast. I can’t catch what you said.
Siti : ………………………………..
Diana : ………………………………..
5. Terry : Hidayat, can you show me how to set the TV channels?
Hidayat : ……………………. I can’t. I have to take an English course now.
Terry : ………………………….........


Listen to your teacher reading the dialogue between Mona and Sophie. They
try to be polite to each another.

Mona and Shopie are in Mona’s bedroom. Shopie is a new student and now becomes Mona’s good friend. Shopie is in Mona’s home now.

Mona : Well, this is my bedroom.
Sophie : Oh … er, it’s very nice.
Mona : No, it’s not! It’s terrible! But I like it any way. Hey, I’ve got a new
CD. It’s the Corrs.
Sophie : Do you like the group?
Mona : Well, I enjoy their songs but it’s not my favourite. I prefer West Life
to the Corrs. Now would you like to listen to ‘I Have a Dream’ by
West Life?
Sophie : Oh, yeah. It’s really very nice. It’s a beautiful song. Well, Mona, may
I go to your bathroom, please?
Mona : Sure. Make yourself at home.
Shopie : Thanks a lot.

Questions
1. Does Mona like her bedroom actually?
2. How does Sophie like Mona’s bedroom?
3. Does Mona like the Corrs better than West Life?
4. Mona said, “Would you like to listen to ….” rather than just said, “Listen to
….” She did this because she wanted:
a. to be polite to her new friend
b. not to be friendly
c. to be rude to her friend.
5. How does Sophie like ‘I Have a Dream.’ How do you know that?

When Shopie asked for the permission to use Mona’s bathroom, she did it
very politely.

6. Write how she asked for the permission: ………………………………………
The following are some expressions to show politeness:
• Please
• May I …? or Could I …?
• Could I have …?
• Would you like …?
• I’d like …
• I’d rather not …, I’m afraid I can’t …, or I’d like to, but …


Section One, Presentation, Activity 1
Dialogue 1
Neneng : Excuse me, ma’am.
Ms Ira : Yes, Neneng. What’s the matter?
Neneng : May I borrow your dictionary? I need to look up a new word.
Ms Ira : Sure. Here you are.
Neneng : Thank you Ms Ira. I’ll return it as soon as possible.
Ms Ira : You’re welcome.
Dialogue 2
Noya : Excuse me, sir. May I interrupt, please? I have a question.
Mr Hardi : Certainly, Noya.
Noya : I wonder if you could explain the respiratory system again.
Mr Hardi : OK. I’ll explain it after the break time. Is it all right?
Noya : OK, sir. Thank you.


Responding to Good News and Expressing Opinions
Activity 1
The following dialogue involves a student telling good news and the one
receiving it. Study the typical expressions to tell good news and to respond to it.
Manneke : Hi, Jane. I’ve been looking for you.
Jane : Hi. What’s up?
Manneke : I have good news for you. Your article on the tourism in Manado
won the national competition.
Jane : Really? It’s what I want to hear. Where can I find the information
about it?
Manneke : I read the announcement in front of the teacher’s office.
Jane : I want to see it. Thanks for the information.
Manneke : No problem. Congratulations, Jane.
Jane : Thank you.

In the dialogue, you find that Jane is happy with the good news. Jane responds to
the good news by saying ‘Really? It’s what I want to hear’. Study the expressions to respond to good news in formal and informal situations.

In a formal situation

In a formal situation, people respond to good news by saying that they feel happy with the news. Some expressions are:

I’m glad to hear that.
I’m happy with the news.
I can feel that you’re happy.
In an informal situation, people

respond to good news in more various ways. They usually express their
amazement on the news, express great happiness, or even express that
they are confused. Some examples of the expressions are:

Really?
Wow!
Amazing.
Wonderful.
That’s great.

In our life we often have to express opinions about something.
Listen to your teacher. Repeat after him/her.
• I like/love cycling.
• I quite like swimming.
• I (really) enjoy reading.
• I’m very keen on football.
• I’m really fond of apples.

Activity 4
In our life we often have to express opinions about something.
Listen to your teacher. Repeat after him/her.
• I like/love cycling.
• I quite like swimming.
• I (really) enjoy reading.
• I’m very keen on football.
Activity 6
Study the dialogues below.
Answer the questions that follow.

Dialogue 1

Enos and Nida are on the way to the library
wanting to see what is on the English Corner.
Enos : Do you like our school library?
Nida : Yes, I do. I like the English Corner in particular. What about you?
Enos : The English Corner is not bad. I don’t like some writings on
because they have a lot of mistakes. But I really like the information on some English learning materials from the Internet. So I usually
go to some of the websites to get some more materials for learning English. I love them very much.
Nida : Great. Well, I also like some children’s stories from the Internet.The librarians are good too and they are very helpful.

Questions:

1. What are Enos and Nida talking about?
2. What makes them go to the library?
3. Does Enos like the English Corner in the library or not? What did he say?
4. What does Nida like very much?
5. Underline the expressions that show ‘likes’ and ‘dislikes’.

Activity 5
Sometimes we also have to express opinions contrary to the above examples.
Listen to your teacher. Repeat after him/her.
• (I’m afraid) I don’t like bananas.
• I really hate lamb.
• I’m not very keen on swim Tina want?
2. What do you know about the girls’ school library?
3. What makes Tina love the library?
4. Write the expressions that tell ‘likes’ and ‘dislikes’.

Activity 7
When we are given two or more choices, we sometimes have to express opinions
showing a choice.
Listen to your teacher. Repeat after him/her.
• I like apples more than bananas.
• I like jogging better than cycling.
• I prefer tea to coffee.
• Reading is more enjoyable than watching movies.

Activity 8
Listen to your teacher reading a dialogue between school friends, Tomi and
Dea.
Tomi : Do you like rock music, Dea?
Dea : No, I don’t like it very much. It’s very noisy. Do you?
Tomi : Well, yes, I do. I’m a real fan of the Linkin’ Park.
I love their music. It’s nice pop rock.
Dea : Really? Is the group still popular?
Tomi : Yes. I think so. What kind of music do you like now?
Dea : I love pop songs, especially English songs. They help me learn
English a lot.
Tomi : Who’s your favourite group?
Dea : I’m really fond of West Life although they are not popular any more.
Questions:
1. Does Tomi like rock music?
2. What about Dea?
3. Do the scorpions play rock music or jazz?
4. Who loves West Life?
5. Is West Life still popular now?

Activity 1
Complete the following dialogues by using the expressions below. You can use
the expressions more than once.
I’m glad to hear that.
That’s great.
I’ve got good news.
I cannot believe that...
Thank God.

1. Maria : ___________. We’ll have a trip to Bandung and Jakarta.
Adi : That’ll be great. We can visit Tangkuban Perahu and Tugu
Monumen Nasional.
2. Mr Jarwo : Finally, this project succeeds.
Mr Brata :_______ Thank you.
3. Putri : _____ my brother has History of Indonesia, a book I’m looking for.
Fredy : _________. We can finish our project on Indonesian history.
4. Ida : _________ finally I’ll have a vacation in Bali.
Asep : _________.
5. Laila : ______________. Ferias will get married next month.
Angelina :_________ she’ll get married.