Page 239 - Basic English Usage
P. 239

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              Visits  and  invitations
              There  are  no  fixed  expressions  which  have  to  be  used  when  you  visit
              people.
              Invitations  often  begin:
                Would  you  like  to...  ?
              Possible  replies:
                Thank  you  very  much.  That  would  be  very  nice.
                Sorry.  I'm  afraid  |'m  not  free.
              It  is  normal  to  thank  people  for  hospitality  at  the  moment  of  leaving  their
              houses.
                Thank  you  very  much.  That  was  a  wonderful  evening.

              Sleep
              When  somebody  goes  to  bed,  people  often  say  Sleep  well.
              in  the  morning,  we  may  ask  Did  you  sleep  well?
              Did  you  have  a  good  night?  or  How  did  you  sleep?
          10   Giving  things

              We  do  not  have  an  expression  which  is  always  used  when  we  give
              things.  We  sometimes  say  Here  you  are,  especially  when  we  want  to
              make  it  clear  that  we  are  giving  something.
                ‘Have  you  got  a  map  of  London?’  ‘I  think  so.  Yes,  here  you  are.’
                ‘Thanks.
          11   Asking  for  things

              We  normally  ask  for  things  by  using  yes/no  questions.
                Could  you  lend  me  a  pen?  (NOT  Pleasetend-meapen-)
              For  details,  see  286.

          12   Thanks
              Common  ways  of  thanking  people  are:
                Thank  you  very  much.  —  Thank  you.
                Thanks.  (informal)   Thanks  a  /ot.  (informal)
              If  we  want  to  reply  to  thanks,  we  can  say:
                Not  atall.   You're  welcome.
                That's  (quite)  all  right.  —  That's  OK.  (informal)
              For  more  information  about  pfease  and  thank  you,  see  249.
              For  requests  (asking  for  things),  see  286.
              For  the  use  of  excuse  me,  pardon  and  sorry,  see  121.
              For  the  use  of  names  and  titles.  see  211.
              For  expressions  used  when  telephoning,  see  341.
              For  rules  for  letter-writing,  see  192.
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