Файл: Advanced_English_Pronunciation_in_Use.pdf

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DI.8

I use this bit of wire as a TV aerial, and it works, STRANGEly eNOUGH B.

We can use actually at the beginning or end of a sentence to sound more polite, particularly if we are correcting what someone has said, giving a different opinion, or refusing a request or offer:

A: I thought the concert was a bit dull. B: ACtually 15:21,I quite enjoyed it. A: Do you want a coffee? B: I've got one, ACtually e.

The words apparently, presumably and supposedly show that we are not completely sure what we are saying is true, perhaps because someone else has told us (see also Unit 48):

ApPARently IICI,you can now fly from Bristol to Paris.

She j ust forgot, preSUmably B ?

Some attitude words and phrases are used to show that what we are saying is only an approximate statement: that we are referring only to the main features of something, or that we know that there are exceptions. These include 'basically, by and 'large, as a 'rule, 'generally, on the 'whole, es'sentially and in 'general (note that the main stressed syllable is marked with ' ) :

A : What will you d o after college ? B: BAsically 11\3,I want to d o some travelling. I only see my brother at Christmas, as a RULE 11.

3 a Peter's lost his job and I don't care, ...............................

b The business isn't doing well and .................

................. , it's beginning to worry me.

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Are the words and phrases in bold more likely to have a rising tone (put "'" in the box) or a fall-rising tone (.....""')?

EXAMPLE A: They'll post the tickets to us, presumably m : J ?

B:Supposedly , they've sent them already.

1 A: Basically c:.:J, you made the whole story up, didn't you?

B:No, it was true, essentially c:J.

2A : Apparently c:J,the car will be ready by tomorrow.

B:Yes, the garage is quite efficient, on the whole c:=:J.

3A : Theresa phoned this morning, apparently c:J. B : Actually c:J,it was her sister.

4A: Presumably Ei:':],you've been to Canada recently?

B:Not for many years, actually c::::J.

Now listen and check your answers. Then say each line aloud, using a rising or fall-rising tone on the words and phrases in bold as appropriate.

Follow up: Write three things that are nottrue about a relative or friend of yours. Now imagine that someone says these things about them. How might you correct them using actuallyeither at the beginning

or end of your correction? For example, 'Paul's 40 next year: 'Actually , he's 45: (If possible, you could do this activity with another student.)

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A:The flight's been cancelled.

B:GREAT 61).

A : The computer's crashed again.

B: WONderful &I.

We can also use an adjective with a rise-falling tone to express surprise at what has been said:

A:Jack's just bought a new car. It's pink.

B:PINK 1!!Sl

A:This cheese is frozen.

B:FROzen 1!!Sl

Adjectives like this can also be used with a rise-falling tone as part of longer phrases, often emphasised with adverbs such as absolutely, completely and totally:

A: They're stupid to close the school. B: A Bsolutely riDICulous .

A:Karl's given up his college course. B: l ie must be comPLEtely MAD .

A:Were the instructions any good? 8: 1 hey were TOtally incompreHENsible f2tSI .

Some are also used in exclamations after how:

HOW emBARrassing !

HOW COOL ! (= very good; informal)

Nouns and phrases without adjectives may also be used to express surprise, anger, etc., typically with a rise-falling tone. Sometimes these repeat a part of what was previously said:

You're JOking !

NONsense f2r: l!

A: They've got diamonds in them. B: DIAmonds !

Notice that the word really can have different meanings, depending on the tone used with it. For example, with a rise-falling tone it often expresses surprise, but with a rising tone it often expresses doubt:

A:It 0111\ cost Ille {" I O. B: RL\Lh· ! (= I'm surprised)

B:RF/\Lh J?(= I'm not sure I believe you)

·..·.;. ....·,..-.·'<.iSJ" '.·.

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Mhm. Right. I see

Keeping conversation going

.031 When we are taking part in a conversation, we often show the current speaker that we are following what they are saying, and that we want them to go on. A number of sounds, words and phrases are commonly used to do this, usually with a rising tone. These include mm, uhuh, mhm, okay, right, yeah, I see:

A:So how do I make a recording with this?

B:Well, you plug the microphone in this socket in the back fA: MHM It!Jand you

make sure that it's switched on and that the battery's working lA: RIGHT I t ! J .

Then you press the play button and the pause button at the same time lA: oKAY It!I and then check that the recording level is okay lA: uHUH It!J.You can change it using this dial here lA: I SEE e n And then when you're ready you just . . .

032When these are used with a falling tone, they often indicate that we think the speaker has finished or that we want to take a turn in the conversation ourselves (see also Unit 53):

B: . . . but make sure you don't move this switch.

A:RIGHT &1. What does it do?

B:It changes the voltage setting.

A: I SEE &1. And what would happen exactly?

D33 Some words and phrases are added to positive sentences in order to check that something has been understood or accepted as true, usually with a rising tone. These include alright, you know, okay, you see, right:

I'll be over later, alRIGHT ( ! j ?

H e was really odd, you KNOW ( ! j ?

They are often followed by the words and phrases in A, usually with a falling tone, indicating 'I have understood' or 'I agree':

A:I phoned Jerry straight away. He's a doctor, you SEE ( ! j ?

B:RIGHT &1.

A:So I thought he'd be able to help.

A:You're not to touch it, oKAY ( ! j ?

B : oKAY &1.

034To show interest and to encourage the speaker to continue, we can also use short questions such as Did you? Were they? Haven't we?, typically with a fall-rising tone:

A: Saw Helen in town today.

B: DID you & 2 1 ?

A : She said she's bought the flat IB : MHM (!jI though she won't be able to move in until next year.

B: WON'T she & 2 1 ?

A:No, some problem with the other people moving out. I B: RIGHT (!jI Apparently they're going to . . .

We can also use Really? with a fall-rising tone for a similar purpose (see also Unit 5 1 ):

A:Did you hear there's been another earthquake in Iran?

B:REAlly & 2 1 ?

A:Yeah, and another bad one, too.