Consider the examples below illustrating different ways of using overstatement. Think of more examples possible for some other functions of English.

Formulae of	Examples
expressing gratitude	1 thank you.
1 thank you (ever) so much /very much indeed! How can I ever thank you'
I’m obliged to you! I’m grateful!
I’m so much obliged to you! I’m so grateful! I can’t tell you how grateful I am.
You’re kind.
You’re too kind!
expressing sympathy	I am sorry I’m so sorry! I can’t tell you how sorry I am!
apologising	Sorry (but...) I’m extremely/ terribly lawfully / (ever so sorry (but I really don’t know)
refusing an invitation	I’m afraid, I can’t join you. I’m very much afraid, I can’t join you.
expressing emphatic agreement	That’s what I was going to say. That’s exactly /just what I was going to say.
requesting	I wonder if it is possible for me to leave right now. I wonder if it is at all possible for me to leave right now. No problem. No problem at all.

Exaggeration

Consider the examples below illustrating different ways of using superlatives and emotionally coloured words in set formulae. Think of more examples possible for some other functions of English.

 

Functions		Examples
replying to greeting		I’m well / OK, thank you. I’m fine, thank you.
expressing desire		I’d like a cup of coffee. I’m dying for a cup of coffee. I’d love it. I haven’t seen you for a long time.
emphatic greeting		I haven’t seen you for ages!
replying to thanks		I’m glad you like it.
requesting		I’m happy /delighted/ thrilled you like it. I don’t want to be a nuisance but could I ask you something? I hate to be a nuisance but could I ask you something?
expressing		How silly of me!
self-criticism		What a fool I’m!
warning		I’ll be very cross, if you go on whistling. Stop whistling or I’ll scream!

Task 13. Make the following sentences more polite (indirect). (Choose any 5 sentences).

1. Excuse me for disturbing you late.

2. I know no one here I could turn for advice.

3. Oh, come on in. I haven’t seen you of late.

4. Are you tired?

5. Could you spare me some time?

6. I’ll be brief, my story won’t take long.

7. What do you think about this sad and rather delicate matter?

8. Thank you for your piece of advice.

9. I like the way you treat people.

10. How sad! I am sorry.

11. You’re kind! Thank you.

12. Sorry to have taken your time.

 

Task 14. Write a letter of thanks to a host family you spent summer with / a book firm who sent you a present.

INTENSIFICATION

The rules of politeness accepted in the English-speaking world presuppose that in communication partners repeat­edly emphasise their (often formal) mutual concern in quite a number of everyday situations. It can be illustrated by the frequent use of different set phrases with sorry, please and thank you etc. Since those “etiquette formulae” have partially lost their initial meaning and are treated as mere formalities speakers need to make conventional phrases sound more sincere. Various techniques of exaggeration serve to create the effect of additional emotional impact.

Double exaggeration	Expanding and repeating
with degree adverbs and intensifiers	phrases with emotionally coloured words and superlatives

The tactics are quite common for the following functions: apologising, complimenting, praising, expressing emotions etc.

 

Double exaggeration

Some degree adverbs or superlative adjectives become intensifiers when they lose their direct meaning and their function is merely exaggeration. Consider the examples below illustrating different ways of further intensification. Think of more examples possible for some other functions of English.

Functions	Examples
apologising	Excuse me... I have to bother you at this early hour but...
I really hate to bother you at this early hour but...
praising	I like the new car.
I just love the new car. I really enjoyed your present.
Her latest novel is OK.
Her latest novel is truly a masterpiece!
complimenting	You’re good at organising things!
You’re absolutely brilliant at organising things!
expressing self-criticism	I’m a bad dancer.
I’m a terrible dancer, honestly.
expressing likes/ desires	I cannot do without my computer.
I simply cannot live without my computer.
I need/ miss him.
I ’d just die without him! I mean, literally.
expressing fear/worry	I was very ashamed when they found my diary.
I was absolutely mortified when they found my diary.

Expanding and repeating