- You are fond of art, arent you?
- Yes, I am. I am not very good at painting but I try to go to every art
exhibition. Besides, Ive read a lot about Russian painters.
- Do you collect books on painting?
- I wouldnt say so. Ive several books on art, but in general I borrow
books from our libraries. Are you fond of art?
- Yes, I am. Besides, I like music, or to be more exact classical music.
- Who is your favourite composer?
- I like Chaikovsky, Rakhmaninov, Mussorgsky
- I appreciate your taste. Modest Mussorgsky depicted the most tragic
events of Russian history in his operas. Take his opera Boris Godunov
- Dont you think that Mussorgsky and Andrey Tarkovsky have very much
in common?
- Thats exactly what I mean. Their talents match.
* * *
- What are you reading? Whats the title of the book?
- Its A Farewell to Arms by Hemingway.
- What do you think of it?
- As a matter of fact Hemingway is one of my favourite writers. I have read all of his novels and stories in Russian. Now I am reading the book in the original.
- Any language problems?
- Sometimes Ive got to look up some words in the dictionary. Thats all.
frankly speaking Ernest Hemingway is not among my favourite writers. I prefer
detective stories.
- Tastes differ.
Talking politics
- When I was looking through the paper the other day, I came across a very interesting article dealing with the development of cultural relations between this country and Great Britain.
- Id like to read it too. Where was it published?
- Let me think I believe it was in The Independentof June 3,
Ill give you a copy of it.
- Do please.
* * *
- What does the article deal with?
- Its devoted to the latest achievements in science and technology.
* * *
- Anything new about the negotiations in todays papers?
- Nothing much. No agreement has been reached so far.
* * *
- Does the newspaper comment on the coming election in the USA?
- It carries an article which says that the Democratic/the Republican
candidate addressed a big rally in
* * *
- As is reported from over ten thousand transport workers went on
strike in last week.
Invitation
- Are you doing anything special on Saturday night?
- No, I dont think so. Why?
- Well Im having a little party and Id like you to come.
- Thank you. That would be very nice. What time?
- Half past seven.
- Fine. Ill see you then.
2
CONVERSATIONAL FORMULAS
Expressing and finding out intellectual and emotional attitudes.
- expressing ones opinion:
-I think
-I feel that
-As far as Im concerned.
- asking for someones opinion:
-Do you think that?
-What do you feel/think about?
-Are you sure that
- giving reasons:
-I think is right because
- Thats why I feel that
- and so I think that
- asking for reasons:
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-Why?
-Why do you think that?
-What makes you feel that?
- defending ones opinion:
-Yes, but what I really mean is
-What I am trying to say is
-On the contrary, I
-What you said is really an argument for my point of view.
I feel
- agreeing / supporting other peoples opinions:
-Thats what I feel, too.
-I think so, too.
-Exactly.
-I (fully) agree with you.
-X put it very well.
-I feel that X is right.
-X raised some good points.
-O.K.
- disagreeing / contradicting other peoples opinions:
-I dont agree.
-I dont think so.
-Thats not
-You cant say that.
-Thats no proof.
-Thats not the point / question / problem
-But surely
-Oh, no
- stating whether something is right or wrong
-True.
-Thats right.
-Thats it exactly.
-Wrong.
-That isnt right.
-Absolutely not.
- expressing certainty and uncertainty, probability and possibility
-Yes, that`s right.
-Im absolutely certain that
-Im sure that
-There is definitely
-There may be
-Perhaps
-might
-Im not at all sure if
- could be
-I dont think that
- is not very likely.
-That could /may /might happen.
- is not possible.
- making comparisons
- is not as as
- are as as
- is a much more important than
- are less important than
-There are far fewer /not as many arguments for
as against
-You cant compare with
-You have to compare with
- expressing interest or indifference
-Im interested in
-Id like to know more about
-Id like to do something on
- sounds interesting.
- doesnt interest me.
-I dont care.
-What a boring topic.
- expressing likes and dislikes
-I love /I like
-is great /very good /fun /fantastic.
-I enjoy
-What I like best is
-I hate /dislike
-What I dont like about is
- stating preferences
-Id rather
-I prefer to
-Id much rather than
- expressing intentions
-Im going to
-In 10 years time Ill
-When Im twenty Ill
-I want to
-I intend to
- expressing doubts
-I cant say if
-I have my doubts about it.
-Do you think that ? I doubt it.
-Its very doubtful whether
-You havent convinced me yet.
-You may have a point there, but Im still not sure
- expressing personal insights
-I learnt that
-I became clear that / obvious that
-I realized that
-I found out about
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