Basic English Institute
A room in an office.
A man who is a good representative of the normal English business man is seated at his writing-table.
What is he ?
He is a good representative of the normal English business man.
Where is he seated ?
He is seated at his writing-table.
What man is seated there ?
A man who is a good representative of the normal English business man is seated there.
At the opposite side of the table a woman secretary is opening some letters.
What is she opening ?
She is opening some letters.
Where is she opening them ?
At the opposite side of the table she is opening them.
Business Man: I will be meeting some representatives of the Price Control Committee today,
Who will he be meeting ?
He will be meeting some representatives of the Price Control Committee.
When will he be meeting them ?
He will be meeting them today.
so I will be out most of the morning.
How will he be ?
He will be out.
When will he be out ?
He will be out most of the morning.
We are going to have a private meeting before the public meeting of the Committee tomorrow.
What are they going to have ?
They are going to have a private meeting.
When are they going to have a private meeting ?
They are going to have a private meeting before the public meeting of the Committee tomorrow.
That's the only way to get decisions made.
What do they get made ?
They get decisions made.
What is it ?
It is the only way.
What is it the only way to do ?
It's the only way to get decisions made.
I will have a look at the letters before I go.
What will he have a look at ?
He will have a look at the letters.
What does he do ?
He goes.
When will he have a look at them ?
He will have a look at them before he goes.
What is there ?
What does he ask ?
He asks what there is.
Secretary : There doesn't seem to be anything very important this morning.
What does there seem to be ?
There doesn't seem to be anything very important.
When doesn't there seem to be anything very important ?
There doesn't seem to be anything very important this morning.
This letter which I am reading now is a statement from Bell and Sons
about the parcels which got wet on the way here.
What is she reading ?
She is reading the letter.
When is she reading it ?
She is reading it now.
What is the letter ?
It is a statement from Bell and Sons about the parcels.
What got wet ?
The parcels got wet.
When did they get wet ?
They got wet on the way here.
What parcels is it a statement from Bell and Sons about ?
It is a statement from Bell and Sons about the parcels which got wet on the way here.
What letter is the statement ?
The letter which she is reading now is the statement.
Your letter giving the facts has been sent to the railway company,
What does it give ?
It gives the facts.
Where has it been sent ?
It has been sent to the railway company.
What letter has been sent to the railway company ?
Your letter giving the facts has been sent to the railway company.
but Bell and Sons say the insurance was against loss only and not against damage.
What was it against ?
It was against loss only and not against damage.
What do Bell and Sons say ?
They say that the insurance was against loss only and not against damage.
Business Man : It was unwise of them not to get a wider insurance.
How was it ?
It was unwise.
What insurance did they not get ?
They did not get a wider insurance.
What was it unwise of them not to do ?
It was unwise of them not to get a wider insurance.
If the goods are damaged before they get here, Bell and Sons are
responsible and we will get the money from them
How are the goods ?
They are damaged.
Where do they get ?
They get here.
When are they damaged ?
They are damaged before they get here.
How are Bell and Sons ?
They are responsible.
What will they get ?
They will get the money.
Who will they get the money from ?
They will get the money from them.
In what condition will they get the money from them ?
If the goods are damaged before they get here, they will get the money
from them.
We will get the money from them even if they are unable to get it from the railway company.
What are they unable to get ?
They are unable to get the money.
What are they unable to get it from ?
They are unable get it from the railway company.
Even in spite of what condition will they get the money from them ?
They will get the money from them even if they are unable to get it from the railway company.
Secretary: Yes, that's quite right, though they'll not be very pleased about it.
How is it ?
It is right.
How pleased will they not be ?
They'll not be very pleased.
What will they not be very pleased about ?
They'll not be very pleased about it.
In spite of what condition is it quite right ?
It's quite right though they'll be not very pleased about it.
Business Man: Has the receipt come from the London Instrument Company ?
What does he ask her ?
He asks her if the receipt has come from the London Instrument Company.
Secretary: I have it here.
What does she have ?
She has it.
Where does she have it ?
She has it there.
Business Man: Good.
What does he say ?
He says, "Good."
Put it with the other current receipts on the small table by the window in your room.
What does he ask her to do ?
He asks her to put it the other current receipts on the small table by the window in her room.
We will go through them together before the end of the month.
What will they go through ?
They will go through them.
How will they go through them ?
They will go through them together.
When will they go through them together.
They will do it before the end of the month.
What is that letter in your hand ?
He asks what that letter in her hand is.
Secretary: It is a letter from some builders in Manchester, making a request for our price list.
What is it ?
It is a letter from some builders in Manchester.
What does the letter make a request for
It makes a request for their price list.
What letter is it ?
It is a letter from some builders in Manchester, making a request for their price list.
The writer says that he has been unable to get one from our Manchester
representative.
What has he not been unable to get ?
He has been unable get one.
Who has he been unable to get one from ?
He has been unable to get one from their Manchester representative.
What does he say ?
He says that he has been unable to get one from their Manchester representative.
Business Man: The list for this year isn't ready, is it ?
What does he ask her ?
He asks her if the list for that year isn't ready.
Secretary: No.
What does she say ?
She says, "No."
Business Man: Send the old list if our representative gives his approval.
What does he ask her to do ?
He asks her to send the old list if their representative gives his approval.
It will be a guide for him.
What will it be ?
It will be a guide for him.
But make it clear that there have been some changes
What have there been ?
There have been some changes.
How do they make it ?
They make it clear.
What do they make clear ?
They make it clear that there have been some changes.
What does he ask her to do ?
He asks her to make it clear that there have been some changes.
and say that he will be sent the new list later.
What will he be sent ?
He will be sent the new list.
When will he be sent the new list ?
He will be sent the new list later.
What does he ask her to do ?
He asks her to say that he will be sent the new list later.
Secretary: There is a letter from the manager of the Star Paper Company
answering your question about their account.
What is there ?
There is a letter from the manager of the Star Paper Company.
What does the letter answer ?
It answers his question about their account.
What letter is there ?
There is a letter from the manager of the Star Paper Company
answering his question about their account.
He says that there has been no increase in the price of paper
What has there been ?
There has been no increase in the price of paper.
What does he say ?
He says that there has been no increase in the price of paper
but that the paper he sent us last time was a dearer sort.
What did he send them ?
He sent them the paper.
When did he send them the paper ?
He sent them the paper last time.
What paper was a dearer sort ?
The paper he sent them last time was a dearer sort.
What does he say ?
He says that the paper he sent them last time was a dearer sort.
It doesn't seem any better than what we normally get,
How doesn't it seem ?
It doesn't seem any better.
What do they get ?
They get paper.
How do they get it ?
They normally get it.
What doesn't it seem any better than ?
It doesn't seem any better than what they normally get,
but I see from the stamp on the box that it is different.
How is it ?
It is different.
What does she see ?
She sees that it is different.
From what does she see that it is different ?
She sees from the stamp on the box that it is different.
Business Man: Send them the money.
What does he ask her to do ?
He asks her to send them the money.
We'll not have an argument about it.
What won't they have ?
They won't have an argument.
What won't they have an argument about ?
They won't have an argument about it.
Is there anything about which a decision is necessary now ?
What does he ask her ?
He asks her if there is anything about which a decision is necessary now.
Secretary : This letter from Mr. Green is the most important.
What is the most important ?
This letter from Mr. Green is the most important.
He says that if you don't put up the price of the new cutter you'll make no profit.
What does he not put up ?
He does not put up the price of the new cutter.
What will he make ?
He'll make no profit.
In what condition will he make no profit ?
If he doesn't put up the price of the new cutter he'll make no profit.
What does Mr. green say ?
He says that if he doesn't put up the price of the new cutter he'll make no profit.
Business Man: I would have made the price higher at the start,
What would he have made higher ?
He would have made the price higher.
When would he have made the price higher ?
He would have made the price higher at the start.
but one of the young men in his office said it would be unwise because there was great competition.
How would it be ?
It would be unwise.
What was there ?
There was great competition.
Why would it be unwise ?
Because there was great competition.
What did one of the young men in his office say ?
He said it would be unwise because there was great competition.
Does Green give his reasons for his opinion ?
What does he ask her ?
He asks her if Green gives his reasons for his opinion.
Secretary: Yes
What does she say ?
She says, "Yes."
.
It is quite a long letter.
What letter is it ?
It is quite a long letter.
Business Man: Let me have it.
What does he ask her to do ?
He asks her to let him have it.
I haven't time to give attention to it now
What doesn't he have ?
He hasn't time.
What does he give ?
He gives attention.
What doesn't he give attention to ?
He doesn't give attention to it.
When doesn't he give attention to it.
He doesn't give attention to it now.
What time doesn't he have ?
He hasn't have time to give attention to it now.
but I'll have a look at it on my way to the meeting.
What will he have a look at ?
He'll have a look at it.
When will he have a look at it ?
He'll have a look at it on his way to the meeting.
The secretary gives him the letter.
What does she give him ?
She gives him the letter.
Will the copy of my letter to the Steel Floor Company
be ready when I get back ?
What does he ask her ?
He asks her if the copy will be ready when he gets back.
Secretary: It is almost done,
How is it done ?
It is almost done.
but there is one word which is unclear.
What is there ?
There is one word.
How is the word ?
It is unclear.
What word is there ?
There is one word which is unclear.
Business Man: Let me see it.
What does he ask her to do ?
He asks her to let him see it.
Secretary: I will go and get the letter.
What will she do ?
She will go.
What will she get ?
She will get the letter.
She goes through into another room
What does she go through into ?
She goes through into another room.
and comes back with the letter.
How does she come back ?
She comes back with the letter.
Here it is.
What does she say ?
She says, "Here it is."
What is this word at the end of the second page ?
What does she ask him ?
She asks, "What is this word at the end of the second page ?"
Business Man: Takes the letter and has a look.
What does he take ?
He takes the letter.
What does he do ?
He has a look.
It is ' approval '---"
What is it ?
It is approval.
The statement he made to you is untrue.
What did he make ?
He made the statement.
Who did he make the statement to ?
He made the statement to them.
How is the statement ?
It is untrue.
What statement is untrue ?
The statement he made to them is untrue.
The money was sent without my approval.
How was it sent ?
It was sent without his approval.
You are right.
What does he say ?
He says, "You are right."
It is not very clear.
How clear is it not ?
It is not very clear.
I was writing on my knee with a broken pencil.
How was he writing ?
He was writing on his knee with a broken pencil.
I will send the second copy to a business friend for his opinion.
What will he send ?
He will send the second copy.
Who will he send it ?
He will send it to a business friend.
What will he send it for ?
He will send it for his business friend's opinion.
A reader who has no knowledge of the facts will be able to see if his
statement is clear.
What does a reader have ?
The reader has no knowledge of the facts.
How is his statement ?
It is clear.
What will the reader see ?
The reader will be able to see if his statement is clear.
What reader will be able to see if his statement is clear.
A reader who has no knowledge of the facts will be able to see if his
statement is clear.
Put our stamp at the top of the page .
What does he ask her to do ?
He asks her to put their stamp at the top of the page.
Secretary: Yes, I'll do that.
What does she say ?
She says, "Yes, I'll do that."
She takes a paper off the table.
What does she take ?
She takes a paper.
What does she take it off ?
She takes it off the table.
This will be ready when it has been signed.
How will it be ?
It will be ready.
When will it be ready.
It will be ready when it has been signed.
Business Man: Good.
What does he say ?
He says, "good."
That's important.
What is it ?
It is important.
He takes the paper.
What does he take ?
He takes the paper.
Is this where l am to put my name ?
He asks if it is where he is to put his name.
Secretary: Yes, there and again at the end.
What does she say ?
She says, "Yes, there and again at the end."
Business Man: I see.
What does he say ?
He says, "I see."
He takes a pen out of his pocket.
What does he take ?
He takes a pen.
What does he take it out of ?
He takes it out of his pocket.
There's no ink in this pen.
What does he say ?
He says, "There's no ink in this pen."
Secretary: Here's the bottle.
What does she say ?
She says, "Here's the bottle."
She takes the pen,
What does she take ?
She takes the pen
… puts some ink in it,
What does she put ?
She puts some ink.
Where does she put it?
She puts it in the pen
… and gives it back to him.
What does she give back ?
She gives it back.
Who does she give it back to ?
She gives it back to him.
Business Man : writing his name
What does he write ?
He writes his name.
That's better.
What does he say ?
He says, "That's better."
He has a look at his watch.
What does he have a look at ?
He has a look at his watch.
It's getting late.
How it is getting ?
It's getting late.
Where are the records of the last Price Control meeting ?
What does he ask ?
He asks, "Where are the records of the last Price Control meeting ?"
I put them in the middle drawer of my table but they aren't there now.
What does he put ?
He put them.
Where does he put them ?
He put them in the middle drawer of his table.
Where aren't they ?
They aren't there.
When aren't they there ?
They aren't there now.
Have they been moved by the cleaner ?
What does he ask ?
He asks if they have been moved by the cleaner.
Secretary : You didn't put them in the middle drawer with the records of your other
meetings.
What didn't he put ?
He didn't put them.
Where didn't he put them ?
He didn't put them in the middle drawer.
What didn't he put them there with ?
He didn't put them there with the records of his other meetings.
You said you would keep them in a separate place,
What would he keep ?
He would keep them.
Where would he keep them ?
He would keep them in a separate place.
What did he say ?
He said he would keep them in a separate place.
… and I've an idea that I saw you put them in a box on the shelf by the door.
What did he put ?
He put them.
Where did he put them ?
He put them in a box on the shelf by the door.
What did she see him to do ?
She saw him to put them in a box on the shelf by the door.
What have she got ?
She has got an idea.
What idea has she got ?
She has got an India that she saw him to put them in a box on the shelf by the door.
The business man goes to the box and has a look.
Where does he go ?
He goes to the box.
What does he do ?
He has a look.
Business Man : You are quite right.
What does he say ?
He says, "You are quite right."
I am getting very dependent on your good memory.
How dependent is he getting ?
He is getting very dependent.
What is he getting dependent on ?
He is getting very dependent on her good memory.
I have had a bad one from my school-days.
What has he had ?
He has had a bad one.
When has he had a bad one from ?
He has had a bad one from his school-days.
In fact, my teacher said I was the worst learner in the school,
What leaner was he ?
He was the worst leaner in the school.
What did his teacher say ?
His teacher said that he was the worst leaner in the school.
How did the teacher say it.
In fact the teacher said it.
I might have done better if they had given me a secretary !
How might he have done ?
He might have done better.
What had they given him ?
They had given him a secretary.
In what condition might he have done better ?
He might have done better if they had given him a secretary.
The secretary gives a laugh.
What does she give ?
She gives a laugh.
I'll have to go now.
What will he have to do ?
He'll have to go.
When will he have to go ?
He'll have to go now.
Takes his overcoat off a hanger and puts it on.
What does he take ?
He takes his overcoat.
What does he take it off ?
He takes it off a hanger.
What does he put on ?
He puts it on.
If anyone comes this morning, say that I will be back later in the day.
What does he say ?
He says, "If anyone comes this morning, say that I will be back later in the day."
What plays are on ?
What does he ask ?
He asks what plays are on.
Is there anything bright with some good-looking girls in it, which would put a tired business man in a good humor ?
What does he say ?
He says, "Is there anything bright with some good-looking girls in it, which would put a tired business man in a good humor ?"
Secretary: "Women, Wine and Song ' is said to be a good play of that sort.
What is it said to be ?
It is said to be a good play of that sort.
Business Man : Then get me two seats for that tonight, will you ?
What does he ask her to do ?
He asks her to get him two seats for that tonight.
He goes out, shutting the door.
What does he do ?
He goes out.
What does he shut ?
He shuts the door.
How does he go out ?
He goes out, shutting the door.
Saburo Terada
Saitama Prefecture