English for Business Course

Autumn 2011

First year students





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
Assessment
Final grade = 60 % grade for the seminar + 40 % grade
from 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 increase
your test score
Not taking the test implies failing the English course.
Time and Tense in English
past, present, future
simple vs continuous/ perfect forms
Continuous aspect action in progress
Perfect aspect action that happens before another
action or a specified moment
auxiliary verbs
regular vs irregular verbs
Present Tense Simple
Form:
Aff: Sj + Vb (inf.) // Sj + Vb-s third person
Neg: Sj + do/does + NOT + Vb (inf )
Interr: Do/Does + Sj + Vb (Inf )
USE:
a general, habitual, repeated action
with adverbials such as : always, ever, never, seldom,
often, usually, generally, as a rule, sometimes, every
day/year/month, etc
Translate:
In fiecare dimineata directorul executiv isi serveste
cafeaua repede, de la 7 la 7 si zece, in biroul lui, in
picioare, 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.
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 official
programme (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.
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.
a temporary action, usually in contrast with a
permanent, habitual action
e.g. We usually do business with German companies but
this season we are doing business with French
business 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.

Verbs that cannot be used in the
continuous aspect
- verbs of perception : to see, to hear, to feel, to smell, to
taste
I can see very well in the distance.
I can hear someone calling for help outside.
My velvet cushion fells soft.
These roses smell so nice.
Her soup tastes horrible.
NB they can be used in the continuous aspect when
they 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 my
driver's licence exam.
I'm smelling the new wine.
We are tasting the new birthday cake.
verbs that express relations and measurements: to
contain, to comprise, to be part of, to measure, to
weigh
e.g. This report comprises 3 chapters.
verbs that express mental processes, emotions and
psychological states: to think, to believe, to love, to
hate, to like, to dislike, to ponder, etc.
e.g. I believe we can design a very competitive product by
the end of the quarter.
ing forms
verbs ending in e drop final -e: to come coming
short (one syllable) verbs ending in consonant and
whose vowel is short double 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;
two-syllable verbs ending in consonant, whose
second syllable is stressed and the vowel in that
syllable 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; never
doubled in American English: to travel travelling
(B E); traveling (AE)
Translate
In fiecare zi secretara ajunge la birou inaintea sefului si
ii pregateste agenda pentru intilniri.
Nu-ti vine niciodata sa demisionezi?
Cind avem oaspeti dintr-o tara musulmana, nu le oferim
niciodata sarmale.
- Alo! Sunt Corina Popa. Pot sa vorbesc cu domnul John
Roth?
- Buna ziua. Ma tem ca nu e disponibil momentan. Se
intilneste cu doamna Sue Li, care doar ce a venit de la
sediul central al companiei din Berlin.
Ce faci acolo? Ma asculti sau vorbesti la telefon?
Lucrez la filiala din Paris dar saptamina aceasta lucrez
in 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.
Ce faci in weekend?
- Ma pregatesc pentru testul de la matematica.
Avionul de Iasi pleaca la 5 dupa amiaza.