Lesson Three

SPEECH PATTERNS

1.

• The girl had a way of doing her hair in a strange fashion.
• He has a way of coughing before he speaks.
• The student has a way of turning his back to the class.

2.

• Do you mean to say it's too early to go home?
• Do you mean to say you're going fishing in such weather?
• Do you mean to say you're contributing your poem to our newspaper?

3.

• I have little money left if any at all.
• There isn't much food left if any (at all).
• The girl has few books on the shelf if any (at all).

47

4.

• I think it only fair to enter her name in the guest list.
• It is only decent to warn you that you will be bored.
• I think it only polite to thank him.

5.

• How long you've been about the letter!
• How quick you've been about winding him round your little finger!
• How slow you've been about recording the text!

6.

• Go home, it's late as it is.
• Stop talking, it's too noisy as it is.
• The room is in a mess as it is.

7.

• You can hardly imagine that I shall help you after what has happened.
• You can hardly hope that you'll pass the exam since you've done no work.
• You can hardly think that I am used to getting such presents.

8.

• He could hardly be regarded as distinguished artist.
• The news can hardly be regarded as gossip.
• She could hardly be regarded as my friend.

EXERCISES

I. Complete the following sentences:

1. We all like her because she has a nice way of ... . 2. The child was rather naughty, he had a way of ... . 3. There is much sense in what he says, but he has a way of ... . 4. Mary is the right person to arrange a party, she has a way of ... . 5. The weather is very dull. Do you mean to say ... ? 6. The lesson is over. Do you mean to ... ? 7. The performance

48

has already begun. Do you mean to ... ? 8. We translated the text yesterday. Do you mean to ... ? 9. There are few misprints in the text ... at all. 10. There are not many books in the book-case ... at all. 11. I don't see many advantages of living in the country ... at all. 12. You have very little time left ... at all. 13. She has made a good job of it, I think it only fair ... . 14. They always invite us to their parties, I think it only polite ... . 15. He is as good as his word, he thinks it only proper ... 1 16. Here is the text at last! How long you've been about ... ! 17. Listen! You've done only four potatoes. How slow you have been about ... ! 18. Mary has already got the stew ready. How quick she has been about .". ! 19. I'd like to stay at home as long as possible this time. I've been living at the hostel too long ... . 20. Don't touch the vase, there is a crack in it ... . 21. He cannot take part in the races, his nerves are on edge ... . 22. Why should we want to change anything, we are happy ... . 23. It's raining cats and dogs. You can hardly expect him ... . 24. Lucy is so touchy, you can hardly hope that ... . 25. Visitors to the exhibition can hardly ... . 26. Do you mean to say that the matter should be regarded as ... . 27. I was not expected to answer the question and I regarded the conversation as ... . 28. Take it easy. The joke could not be regarded as ... .

II. Paraphrase the following sentences using the speech patterns.

A. Model: She is in the habit of listening attentively to what she is told.

She has a way of listening attentively to what she is told.

1. The painter is accustomed to making sketches from nature. 2. The student was used to making notes of all the lectures. 3. While playing children have a custom of shouting loudly. 4. Musicians are in the habit of tuning their instruments before a concert. 5. Skiers have a custom of waxing their skies before a competition.

B. Model: Are you in earnest about camping out in such terrib.le weather?

Do you mean to say you would camp out in such terrible weather?

1. Are you going to scrape all the rust off the door handle? 2. Do you consider seriously contributing your poem to the local newspaper? 3. Are you in earnest about refusing the invitation? 4. Are you serious about fulfilling your plans in the nearest future? 5. Do you really want to make enquiries about the whole matter?

C. Моde1: In my opinion we should tell him the truth.

I think it only just to tell him the truth.

1. I suppose it will be only fair if we ask Mother to arrange the decorations. 2. I believe it is fair that all the members of the expedition should be warned against the danger. 3. The father was sure that it was proper for him to stay home from his office. 4. In my opinion we should stay and help them with the washing up. 5. I feel bound to warn you

49

that you will be bored to extinction.but if you will come I shall be uncommonly grateful.

D. Model: I didn't expect you to get the tickets so quickly.

How quick you've been about getting the tickets!

1. It took you ages to fetch my hat and gloves. 2. I didn't expect you to finish reading the book so quickly. 3. I'm glad you were able to deliver the letter so quickly. 4. I thought you would never finish examining the last student. 5. It's splendid that you've managed to inform all the students of the meeting in so short a period of time.

E. Model: The University already has many applicants.

The University has many applicants as it is.

1. There are far too many flowers in the vase without these carnations. 2. His life is already full of variety. 3. Under the circumstances I have my hands full. 4. I'm really at my wits' end because I have nobody to turn to for help.

F. Model: You are wrong to suppose that I'll let you stay home from school.

You can hardly imagine that I'll let you stay home from school.

1. You must be out of your mind to expect that Mr. Smith will go without anything to eat. 2. It's unreasonable of you to expect that I shall lend you money again. 3. It's not surprising that we refuse to give him a farewell dinner after what has happened. 4. There is no reason to suppose that John'd be happy to work in the garden for an hour "or so. 5. You are wrong if you hope that Lucy will be of any use in getting the dinner.

G. Model: The book is considered to be his best work.

The book is regarded as his best work.

1. The picture is considered to be his masterpiece. 2. He is said to be the best dentist in the town. 3. She is said to be a steady character. 4. The film is considered to be a new contribution to the mutual understanding between the two countries. 5. The work was not taken seriously at first but it turned out to be the biggest thing of its kind.

III. Make up sentences of your own on each pattern.

IV. Translate into English using the speech patterns:

1. У нее есть обыкновение судить о людях по их внешности. 2. У преподавателя была привычка все время держать мел в руках. 3. Вы хотите сказать, что он не достоин похвалы? 4. Вы хотите сказать, что он плохо справился с работой? 5. У него в этом городе мало друзей, если они вообще есть. 6. Это будет только честно, если мы напомним ей о ее обязанностях. 7. Справедливости ради надо признать, что он сдержал свое обещание и никогда не искал встреч с этой женщиной. 8. Как быстро вы сделали прическу! 9. Как долго вы не отвечали на мое письмо!

50

10. Торопитесь! У нас и так уже осталось мало времени, а мы еще не упаковали вещи. 11. Достаточно! В рагу и так уже много картошки. 12. Неужели вы думаете, что она останется дома в такую прекрасную погоду? 13. Уж не думаете ли вы, что я буду чистить картошку одна? 14. Учебник считается одним из лучших пособий для учителей. 15. Самодеятельный театр считался основным развлечением в этом поселке.

51