Saying sorry

There's an old saying in English: ‘Manners maketh man'. It means that having good manners, or being polite to other people, will make you a successful and admirable person.
Well, in this programme we look at one important way of being polite – how to say sorry for something you've done wrong. As you'll hear, there are different ways of saying sorry in everyday situations, but the patterns are easy to learn and easy to use!

Listen to the programme

Politeness,etiquette and manners

One of the most common words people around the world use to describe British people is 'polite'. In this edition of Weekender, Jackie explores politeness, etiquette and manners. Are the British becoming less polite? What is good etiquette?

Click here to listen to a programme about politeness in Britain.

Time to speak

Click here to find a sample sheet of the first part of the oral exam.
Click here to find a sample sheet of the second part of the oral exam.

Cell/Cellular phone

Listen to Professor Crystal talking about the words Cell and cellular

Mobile phones

Is having a mobile phone important? Could you live without your mobile?
Answer these questions and then listen to some people answering the same questions.



Mobile phones

Today Doug and Jackie talk about mobile phones. Is having a mobile phone important? Could you live without your mobile?

London congestion charge

Read and listen about London's congestion charge scheme

More reading
Summary: Motorists in London will have to pay for the pleasure of driving through the capital from today. The new congestion charge hopes to encourage more people to use public transport, thereby reducing traffic and pollution in the city.

Useful language: Requests, invitations and suggestions.

Invitations and suggestions

Would you like + infinitive?
Do you fancy + ing?
How about + ing?
Shall we + verb?
Let's + verb
Why don't we + verb?

Accepting
That would be nice.
That would be great.
Good idea!
Great idea!
I'd love to!
Fine.
Yes, ok.
That's a good idea

Refusing

I'm (really) sorry, but I can't, I'm + ing....
I'm afraid I can't. I have to ...
I'd love to, but I....
I don't really like ....
I'm afraid I'm a bit busy.
How about.... instead?
I'd rather not
I'd rather + verb

Make short dialogues with invitations and suggestions.
Accept some and refuse others.
Example: A Do you fancy going out for dinner?
B Yes, that would be nice.
A Where shall we go?
Practise with the following.

• going our for dinner
• stay in this evening
• go to a pub
• go to see a film
• go to a football match
• go to the beach for the weekend.

In pair discuss what to do this weekend.

Now, click here to use some of the expressions you have learnt.

Making suggestions quizz