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English for Business CourseAutumn 2011

First year students

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Course Outline The Function of Expressing Time. The Tenses of the

Indicative

The Function of Compromising. The Conditional

Mood. Effective Communication. The function of expressing

ability, possibility, prohibition, volition, obligation,suggestion: Modal Verbs

Avoiding the expression of agency. The Passive Voice.Direct and Indirect Speech.

Revision

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Assessment

Final grade = 60 % grade for the seminar + 40 % gradefrom course test

Seminar grade: 50% participation + 50 % test

Seminar test: 14-27 November 2011

Lecture test (multiple choice) - 12-18 December 2011

NB: The test cannot be retaken during the same

semester, nor can you ask for a re-evaluation to increaseyour test score

Not taking the test implies failing the English course.

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Time and Tense in English

past, present, future

simple vs continuous/ perfect forms

Continuous aspectaction in progress Perfect aspect action that happens before another

action or a specified moment

auxiliary verbs

regular vs irregular verbs

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Translate:

In fiecare dimineata directorul executiv isi servestecafeaua repede, de la 7 la 7 si zece, in biroul lui, inpicioare, si apoi isi citeste corespondenta.

Mie nu imi spune nimeni niciodata nimic.

Uneori lucrezi si duminica, nu-i asa?

Calatoresc in Africa din doua in doua luni.

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It is used to express:

a general truth

e.g. When inflation rises, prices rise as well.

a future action that takes place according to an officialprogramme (it cannot be changed)

e.g My plane leaves at 6.45.

The Vice-President of the United States visits our country

at the end of the month.

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Present Tense Continuous

Form:

Aff: Sj + to be + Vb-ing

Neg: Sj + to be + NOT + Vb-ing

Interr: To be + Sj + NOT + Vb-ing

Use:

an action that is in progress at the time of speaking

e.g. We are writing now.

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a temporary action, usually in contrast with apermanent, habitual action

e.g. We usuallydobusiness with German companies but

this seasonwe are doingbusiness with Frenchbusiness partners.

repeated, annoying action

e.g My neighbours are always beating the drums when I

want to sleep. a future action that takes place according to a personal

plan (it can be changed)

I'm travelling to Amsterdam this weekend.

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NB they can be used in the continuous aspect whenthey have a different meaning

The secretary is seeing the guest to the entrance gate(to see to = to accompany).

The Court is hearing our case now.

I'm feeling great now that I know that I have passed mydriver's licence exam.

I'm smelling the new wine.We are tasting the new birthday cake.

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verbs that express relations and measurements: tocontain, to comprise, to be part of, to measure, to

weigh

e.g. This report comprises 3 chapters.

verbs that express mental processes, emotions andpsychological states: to think, to believe, to love, tohate, to like, to dislike, to ponder, etc.

e.g. I believe we can design a very competitive product bythe end of the quarter.

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ing forms

verbs ending in e drop final -e: to come coming

short (one syllable) verbs ending in consonant andwhose vowel is shortdouble the consonant:

e.g. to win winning, to run running, to cut cutting, to swim - swimming

!! to feed feeding; to feel feeling, to beat beating;

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two-syllable verbs ending in consonant, whosesecond syllable is stressed and the vowel in thatsyllable is short double the final consonant

e.g. to begin - beginning, to complain - complaining;to refer referring

! to open opening

! final l always doubled in British English; neverdoubled in American English: to travel travelling(B E); traveling (AE)

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Ce faci acolo? Ma asculti sau vorbesti la telefon?

Lucrez la filiala din Paris dar saptamina aceasta lucrezin Viena pentru ca managerul local a murit subit, acum

2 zile, si firma nu a reusit inca sa angajeze pe altcineva. Furnizorul acesta livreaza intotdeauna cu intirziere. Ar

trebui sa gasim altul.

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Ce faci in weekend?

- Ma pregatesc pentru testul de la matematica.

Avionul de Iasi pleaca la 5 dupa amiaza.