22 - The smoker
Language for making polite requests
Anna is off to meet Mr Ingle, the warehouse manager, to discuss stock management. But she finds him doing something dangerous and illegal! She needs to ask him to stop it politely. Find out how she makes this request.
Intermediate · 161130 · 2016-11-30
Anna is off to meet Mr. Ingle, the warehouse manager, to discuss stock management. But she finds him doing something dangerous and illegal! She needs to ask him to stop it politely. Find out how she makes this request. Language for making polite requests This episode focuses on politely asking a member of your team not to do something.
1. Would you mind not doing that please?
BBC UK: Would you mind not doing that please?
2. I'm afraid it's against company policy.
BBC UK: I'm afraid it's against company policy.
3. I'm afraid it’s not permitted.
BBC UK: I'm afraid it’s not permitted.
4. Sorry to have to ask you this but...
BBC UK: Sorry to have to ask you this but…
1. Narrator
Hello, welcome back to Tip Top Trading where Anna is going downstairs to speak to warehouse manager, Mr. Ingle. You’re looking a bit nervous...
BBC UK: Hello, welcome back to Tip Top Trading where Anna is going downstairs to speak to warehouse manager, Mr Ingle. You’re looking a bit nervous…
2. Anna
I am. Denise says if I speak to him in the wrong way, he might bite my head off!
BBC UK: I am. Denise says if I speak to him in the wrong way, he might bite my head off!
3. Narrator
Relax Anna. It’s just an expression to mean he might be a bit aggressive.
BBC UK: Relax Anna. It’s just an expression to mean he might be a bit aggressive.
4. Anna
Oh!
BBC UK: Oh!
5. Narrator
You’ll be fine, just use the right polite phrases... oh, and smile!
BBC UK: You’ll be fine, just use the right polite phrases… oh, and smile!
6. Anna
Okay, I will. Oh look here I am... (Warehouse door opens)
BBC UK: OK, I will. Oh look here I am… (Warehouse door opens)
7. Anna
Mr. Ingle, are you there? I’d be most grateful if you could give me some... oh, what’s that smell... and smoke... Mr. Ingle!
BBC UK: Mr Ingle, are you there? I’d be most grateful if you could give me some… oh, what’s that smell… and smoke… Mr Ingle!
8. Mr. Ingle
Oh, oh (coughs)
BBC UK: Oh, oh (coughs)
9. Anna
Mr. Ingle. You’re smoking!
BBC UK: Mr Ingle. You’re smoking!
10. Mr. Ingle
Well... it’s my lunch break... so I’m allowed to smoke a cigarette, aren’t I?
BBC UK: Well… it’s my lunch break… so I’m allowed to smoke a cigarette, aren’t I?
11. Anna
Really? Are you sure?
BBC UK: Really? Are you sure?
12. Narrator
No, he’s not Anna! Smoking inside a public building is illegal - it’s against the law. It’s dangerous too - you’ve got to do something about this.
BBC UK: No, he’s not Anna! Smoking inside a public building is illegal – it’s against the law. It’s dangerous too - you’ve got to do something about this.
13. Anna
Oh right. Mmm, er, Mr. Ingle, you mustn’t smoke... it’s wrong.
BBC UK: Oh right. Mmm, er, Mr Ingle, you mustn’t smoke… it’s wrong.
14. Mr. Ingle
Says who?
BBC UK: Says who?
15. Anna
Uh, Me?
BBC UK: Err, Me?
16. Narrator
Anna. You’ll have to do better than that. Be polite, but be firm too. Try saying, ‘would you mind not doing that please?’
BBC UK: Anna. You’ll have to do better than that. Be polite, but be firm too. Try saying, ‘would you mind not doing that please?’
17. Anna
I’ll try. Mr. Ingle, would you mind not doing that please?
BBC UK: I’ll try. Mr Ingle, would you mind not doing that please?
18. Mr. Ingle
Why’s that then?
BBC UK: Why’s that then?
19. Narrator
He’s not being very nice is he? You need to give your reasons. Say, ‘I’m afraid it’s against company policy’. Go on you can do it.
BBC UK: He’s not being very nice is he? You need to give your reasons. Say, ‘I’m afraid it’s against company policy’. Go on you can do it.
20. Anna
Mr. Ingle... I’m afraid it’s against company policy. And... it is actually against the law to smoke here... and... it’s not a nice smell, is it?
BBC UK: Mr Ingle… I’m afraid it’s against company policy. And… it is actually against the law to smoke here… and… it’s not a nice smell, is it?
21. Mr. Ingle
Well, smells okay to me.
BBC UK: Well, smells OK to me.
22. Anna
Well, I’m sorry to have to ask you this but you need to put it out.
BBC UK: Well, I’m sorry to have to ask you this but you need to put it out.
23. Mr. Ingle
Put what out - the cat?!
BBC UK: Put what out – the cat?!
24. Anna
No. You need to extinguish your cigarette... please.
BBC UK: No. You need to extinguish your cigarette… please.
25. Mr. Ingle
Says who?
BBC UK: Says who?
26. Anna
Well, I’m sure your team wouldn’t like to see you breaking the law and besides, it could cause a fire. That would be awful.
BBC UK: Well, I’m sure your team wouldn’t like to see you breaking the law and besides, it could cause a fire. That would be awful.
27. Mr. Ingle
Yeah, I suppose it would.
BBC UK: Yeah, I suppose it would.
28. Anna
I could get you some nicotine gum if you like?
BBC UK: I could get you some nicotine gum if you like?
29. Mr. Ingle
No, it’s okay. I’ll stub it out... as you asked so nicely.
BBC UK: No, it’s OK. I’ll stub it out… as you asked so nicely.
30. Anna
Thank you Mr. Ingle. We’ll keep it a secret this time, but please don’t do it again. I’m afraid it’s just not permitted on company premises.
BBC UK: Thank you Mr Ingle. We’ll keep it a secret this time, but please don’t do it again. I’m afraid it’s just not permitted on company premises.
31. Mr. Ingle
Yeah, whatever!
BBC UK: Yeah, whatever!
32. Anna
Oh and Mr. Ingle, I still really like your overalls. Bye!
BBC UK: Oh and Mr Ingle, I still really like your overalls. Bye!
33. Narrator
Nice one Anna. You dealt with Mr. Ingle really well. You kept your cool and explained the reasons why he shouldn’t smoke. Let’s hope he doesn’t do it again Anna.
BBC UK: Nice one Anna. You dealt with Mr Ingle really well. You kept your cool and explained the reasons why he shouldn’t smoke. Let’s hope he doesn’t do it again Anna.
34. Anna
I hope not. I hate the smell of cigarette smoke. But I never got to ask him about stock management.
BBC UK: I hope not. I hate the smell of cigarette smoke. But I never got to ask him about stock management.
35. Narrator
Well, maybe it’s best to leave it for another time? Anna’s had a tricky day so far dealing with Mr. Ingle but she was firm and fair in the language she used. Here’s a reminder of the phrases she used: Would you mind not doing that please? I’m afraid it’s against company policy. I’m afraid it’s not permitted. Sorry to have to ask you this but...
BBC UK: Well, maybe it’s best to leave it for another time? Anna’s had a tricky day so far dealing with Mr Ingle but she was firm and fair in the language she used. Here’s a reminder of the phrases she used: Would you mind not doing that please? I’m afraid it’s against company policy. I’m afraid it’s not permitted. Sorry to have to ask you this but…
36. Paul
Ah Anna, there you are.... (sniffing) Have you been smoking?
BBC UK: Ah Anna, there you are…. (sniffing) Have you been smoking?
37. Anna
No!
BBC UK: No!
38. Paul
You smell of cigarette smoke. Look, I know you’re under pressure - but smoking in the building is not permitted.
BBC UK: You smell of cigarette smoke. Look, I know you’re under pressure – but smoking in the building is not permitted.
39. Paul
We take this very seriously. You had better step in to my office and we’ll talk about this.
BBC UK: We take this very seriously. You had better step in to my office and we’ll talk about this.
40. Narrator
Oh dear! Anna’s in trouble for no reason. Let’s hope she explains the mix-up, but that means telling Paul about Mr. Ingle smoking. This is going to be difficult. Until next time, bye!
BBC UK: Oh dear! Anna’s in trouble for no reason. Let’s hope she explains the mix-up, but that means telling Paul about Mr Ingle smoking. This is going to be difficult. Until next time, bye!
Question
What other word does Anna use to mean 'put out your cigarette'?
Answer
To extinguish.