Lesson 5. Making, accepting and declining offers

Warm up

Read the email below sent between two friends. What would you do in this situation?

Active vocabulary

1) how to make offer	I wonder if you’d like… Shall I make you… Any chance of you coming out … Would a …help? Can I get you …? Do you need a …? Will you have some? You must try them.
2) how to accept offer	Sounds like a nice idea. I’d love to. Thanks. That’s kind. Thanks. A … would be great. Thank you. Yes, that’s kind of you.
3) how to politely decline offer	No, actually. There’s no need. But thanks anyway. I wish I could, but… No, I’m afraid I can’t. I wish I could! But I’d better not. Well, I’d rather… Well, actually, I’d prefer …. No really. It’s quite all right. Thank you.

Listening

I. Listen to six short conversations. For each one, decide what the offer is, and whether it is accepted (\/) or declined (X).

	offer	\/ / X
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)

II. Now listen again. This time complete the spaces with the words used.

1. Jamie: We’re going to the Irish pub.

Susan: Sounds like a nice idea. _________________________, thanks.

2. Oh, um. ________________________ another copy? It won't take a moment.

Er, no, actually_________________________________. I've got a copy at the office.

3 Oh, you can't make it - that's a pity! No, ________________________. I'm away

at a wedding.

4 Well, would a drink help? _____________________________ a brandy perhaps?

Oh, I wish I could have one! But___________________________. It's fine, thanks.

5 Oh, ________________________ a taxi? I'd rather walk. But yes, _________________.

A taxi would be great.

6 Oh, that's such a shame! Oh, go on, Tim.

No, really ____________________________. Thank you.

Speaking

Look at the following situations. Decide if you would be more likely to accept or decline them (and if so, why). Then role-play them with your partner.

a) a client has taken you to meet colleagues of his at a reception. At the end, he offers you a lift back home. You think he has had too much to drink.

b) you are at an international conference. After the opening reception dinner, one of your clients suggests going to a nightclub. Tomorrow you are giving the opening plenary at the conference.

Writing

For each of the following offers, write an email to accept, and another to decline.

a) you have received an email inviting you to open an exhibition in town next month. It clashes with your daughter's school Parents' Evening. You really do not like the artist's work, but you do not want to let them down, and feel it could be a useful business opportunity.

b) you have been asked to give a talk at a conference early next year in Frankfurt to promote your products or services. The previous week you will be in Hong Kong, and the week after you will be in Cairo. You know that one of your competitors will have a large stand at the conference.

Unit II. DEALING WITH PEOPLE

Learn how to ask for something, make and react to suggestions, give and receive praise, cope with your colleagues’ bad habits, deal with consultants, make a compromise.

Lesson 1.Asking for something

Warm up

I. What do you often ask the following people for?

• a boss

• a bank manager

• a customer

• a colleague

• supplier

II. Talk about the last time you asked these people for these things. Did anything unusual happen?

Active Vocabulary