137 admit He admitted that he had been driving dangerously

‘It’s true – I was driving dangerously.’

promise She promised that she wouldn’t be late.

‘I won’t be late – I promise.’

reply They replied that they would come if they could.

‘We’ll come if we can.’

confirm The experts confirmed that there had been a volcanic eruption the night before.

‘Yes, there was a volcanic eruption last night – I can confirm that.’

◗ Note: We must use a noun or a pronoun after the verb tell:

He told his father he had won a prize for English.

‘I’ve won a prize for English.’

I told you not to wait for me.

Don’t wait for me.’

Function file

Unit 1

Function Expressions

Describing festivals This annual festival combines cultural celebrations with a stream of colourful events.

Expressing preferences My favourite festival is Qurain Cultural Festival.

Expressing ability / inability I can't drive.

He managed to start the engine.

Agreeing / Disagreeing I totally agree with the idea.

I'll have to disagree with this statement.

Expressing opinions I believe that festivals are the best way of bringing people together.

Sharing personal experience Last year, I ...

Then, I expect to ...

Agreeing / Disagreeing (WB) (R) I couldn’t agree more.

I'm afraid I'll have to disagree with the statement.

Apologising (WB) I'm sorry, but I can't make it.

I'm sorry I'm going to be late.

Describing personal experience (WB) .

We started our trek after breakfast.

I was very glad when we reached our lodge.

Unit 2

Function Expressions

Describing customs It's a five-course meal – we start at 6 o'clock in the evening and often don't finish until the early hours of the next morning.

Describing family celebrations There was plenty of food, and we got lots of people to play music or sing a song.

Expressing opinions (R) I find it very important to have family celebrations on important occasions.

Giving reasons I think it is crucial because celebrations help us keep strong family ties.

Describing past experience By the time I went to bed yesterday, I had been to school, done my homework, watched TV and sent an e-mail to my friend.

Function file

139

Inviting I'm writing to invite you to ...

We / I hope you can be here with us.

The celebration is at our house.

We / I look forward to seeing you.

Making polite requests Please try to arrive by ...

Please let me know if you can come.

Sequencing information Their story begins ...

Next, let's look at ...

And what about today?

Finally, I'd like to end with...

First of all, how long ...? / … and where do / did they come from?

Giving / Asking for information I’d like to tell you something about ...

What do we know about ...?

Expressing preferences (WB) (R) My favourite family celebration is...

Accepting / Rejecting an invitation (WB) Thanks, I'd love to.

Oh I am sorry. I am already engaged in another activity.

Giving information (WB) (R) I am going to tell you something about the nomadic people who live in Ireland.

Unit 3

Function Expressions

Discussing meeting places People in my area often meet in shopping malls and diwaniyas.

Expressing possibilities If there had been an Internet café in the plaza, we would have found it.

Giving reasons (R) I think coffee has been very popular because people served it whenever they had visitors.

Expressing likes and dislikes I’ve liked my grandfather’s diwaniya since I was a child.

I don’t like coffee very much.

Making plans We could have a coffee and a catch-up, and then maybe we could go window shopping together.

Making suggestions I was wondering if you’d like to meet for a coffee.

What about Thursday?

How about the plaza?

Rejecting a suggestion and giving a reason I’m sorry, I can’t make it on Friday – I’m shopping with my mother.

Agreeing to a suggestion That’d be great.

Good idea.

That’s okay (for me).

That’s fine.

Expressing preferences (WB) (R) I prefer drinking tea to drinking coffee.

Making plans (WB) (R) How about we meet tomorrow at lunchtime?

Is 4 o’clock at the mall fine with you?

Describing a scene (WB) Starting from the far right, we see a small hill ...

There are people sitting on the beach ...

Persuading (WB) This place in Postcard 1 is definitely the place you need for a relaxing holiday.

Comparing and contrasting (WB) In Postcard 1, you can see ...

On the other hand, Postcard 2 pictures ...

Unit 4

Function Expressions

Describing characteristics One of the main characteristics of a good listener is grasping the main idea of the message and not taking account of every single word.

Expressing opinions (R) I deem lack of interest to be the most important barrier to effective communication.

Giving reasons (R) The reason I chose this option is because ...

Comparing and contrasting (R) I can either visit our neighbours or talk to them on the phone.

Although it was raining, they went on a picnic.

Stating advantages and disadvantages Text messages are a fast means of communication.

On the other hand, text messages might not enable you to express your idea in detail when you need to.

Giving instructions Press the On / Off button to turn the camera on.

If you're in a dark room, make sure you are using the flash.

Planning (R) I'm going to write a letter of application to this university in order to study Biochemistry.

Giving information (R) In response to your advertisement ...

I wish to offer ...

I am enclosing ...

In case additional information is required ...

Explaining choices My main reason for choosing this course is ...

The main motive ...

I am choosing this course ...

Expressing gratitude Thank you in advance for your attention ...

Thank you for the opportunity ...

Function file

141