Complaining and giving instruction

Complaining

Complaints are expressions of "displeasure or annoyance" in response to an action that is seen by the speaker as unfavorable.

Making a complaint

      I do wish you could….

      Excuse me, I’m afraid…

      I wish you wouldn’t mind…

      Would you mind (doing)….?

      Well, it is good for you to….

      (Honestly!) I’m fed up with …

      I wonder if you could help me…..

      I’m sorry to have to say this, but….

      (Well,) this is the most unsatisfactory.

      Wouldn’t it be a good idea to/ not to…?

      I’ve got a bit of a problem here, you see……

      Excuse me, there appears to be something wrong…

      Excuse me, there seems to be something wrong with…

Responding a complaint

      Positive response to complaints:

      Oh, I’m sorry about that.

      I can’t tell you how sorry I am

      I wish it never happened

      Oh dear, I’m really sorry

      I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize

      I just don’t know what to say

      I'm so sorry, but this will never occur / happen again.

      I'm sorry, we promise never to do the same mistake again.

      I'm really sorry; we'll do our utmost/best not to do the same mistake again.

      Negative response to complaints:

      Sorry there is nothing we can do about it.

      I'm afraid, there isn't much we can do about it.

      We are sorry but the food is just alright.

Delaying a complaint

      I suggest you leave it with us and we’ll see what can be done.

      I suggest you leave it with us and we’ll see what we can do.

      I’m afraid the manager/boss isn’t in at the moment. Could you call later?

      I’m afraid we can’t help you at the moment. Could you leave your contact phone number and address? We will contact you soon.

Rejecting a complaint

      Well, I’m afraid there is nothing we can do about it actually.

      Well, I’m afraid there isn’t much we can do about it.

Example for Expression of complaining

Zahra     : Oh, I must study hard tonight.

Mother    : Will you have any test tomorrow?

Zahra     : Yeah! Two tests! Math and chemistry!

Mother    : Really?

Zahra     : The teachers should have understood us, especially Mr. John, the chemistry teacher. He just insisted on giving the test tomorrow. You know, Mom, the materials for both the tests are difficult.

Mother    : Well, it is good for you to just stop complaining and start to study. Maybe Mr. John didn’t want to delay the test time because he had planned it long before. Another time, you should study every day, not just the day before the test.

Zahra     : You’re right, Mom.

Giving Instruction

Giving instruction is an expression for give or asks somebody to do something that we want.

     The tense used in giving instruction is simple present.

     Giving instruction is relevance with procedure text.

Giving instruction are:

1.  Command   

      Verb (+ O).
    e.g.: Watch out, come here, etc.

      Please + V (+ O).

                e.g.: Please clean your room.

      V (+ O) + Please.

               e.g.: Wash this towel, please.

2.  Prohibition

      Don’t + V (+ O).
    e.g.: Don’t close it!

      Don’t + V (+ O) + Please.
    e.g.: Don’t be noise, please.

      Would you mind not + V - ing (+ O).
    e.g.: Would you mind not reading my book.

Kinds of giving instruction:

      Verb 1, e.g.:

      Wash your hand.

      Sit down.

      Be + adjective, e.g.:

      Be your self.

      Be a good student.

      Be happy.

      Infinitive without to

      Close the door

      Open the window

      Turn off the computer

      No + V-ing, e.g.:

      No smoking!

      No swimming!

      No parking!

      No catching!

      No diving!

      Don’t + V-infinitive, e.g.:

      Don’t arm!

      Don’t disturb!

      Don’t touch!

      Don’t kill him.

      Don’t cry.

Responding of Instruction

            Positive response

      Yes, Sir.

      Yes, Mom

      Sure

      Ok

            Negative response

      No, we won’t

      No, I’m busy now

      No, I’m dizzy now

Asking for Instructions

      How do you (do this)?

      What is the best way to . . . ?

      How do I go about it?

      What do you suggest?

      How do you suggest I proceed?

      What is the first step?

Giving Instructions Sequencing

      First, (you) . . .

      Then, (you) . . .

      Next, (you) . . .

      Lastly, (you) . . .

Starting out

      Before you begin, (you should . . .)

      The first thing you do is . . . .

      I would start by . . .

      The best place to begin is . . .

      To begin with,

Continuing

      After that,

      The next step is to . . .

      The next thing you do is . . .

      Once you've done that, then . . .

      When you finish that, then . . .

Finishing

      The last step is . . .

      The last thing you do is . . .

      In the end,

      When you've finished,

      When you've completed all the steps

How to Make a Cup of Coffee

            First you need to buy some coffee and a coffee maker. Then you have to put the water into the bottom of the coffee maker. You needn't boil the water, cold water is fine. Next you have to put the coffee in the coffee compartment and screw the top of coffee maker on. After that you need to put the coffee pot onto the stove.  Then turn the stove on height and wait. You don't have to move the coffee pot. When the water boils and goes into the upper part of the pot you then have to remove the pot from the heat.

            Finally you pour some coffee into a cup, add sugar and milk and enjoy.