Unit 2: Humour

Vocabulary Related to the Unit

• Humor: Something said to cause laughter
• A Joke: A short story that causes laughter
• Humorous: Amusing, funny, and laughable
• An impression: An amusing imitation of a famous person
• To make fun of someone: Laugh at someone in a mocking way
• To kid: To make jokes or to joke with someone
• Silly: Funny in a stupid way
• Witty: Funny in an intelligent way

Positive emotions or feelings: Joy – gaiety – delight – cheerfulness – merriment – vivacity – calm – satisfaction–

 enthusiasm – optimism – jubilation.

Negative emotions or feelings: Anger – despair – depression – loneliness – sadness – frustration – worry – fear

 Idioms: positive feeling/mood:

• Lift one’s spirit
• Things are looking up
• Walk on air
• Someone’s spirit rises

Idioms: negative feeling/mood:

• To feel quite down
• Someone’s heart sinks into the depths of despair
• To be low

Functions: Expressing Lack of Understanding and Asking for Clarification

Show Lack of Understanding

• I beg your pardon.
• I beg your pardon, but I don’t quite understand.
• I’m not quite sure I know what you mean.
• I’m not quite sure I follow you.
• I don’t quite see what you mean.
• I’m not sure I got your point.
• Sorry, I didn’t quite hear what you said.
• Sorry, I didn’t get your point.
• I don’t quite see what you’re getting at.

Ask for Clarification

• What do you mean by…?
• Do you mean…?
• Could you say that again, please?
• Could you repeat it, please?
• Could you clarify that, please?
• Would you elaborate on that, please?
• Could you be more explicit?
• Could you explain what you mean by…?
• Could you give us an example?
• I wonder if you could say that in a different way.
• Could you put it differently, please?
• Could you be more specific, please?

Functions / Communication: Making Request
A request is asking someone politely either for something or to do something.

Making Request

• Can /could you + infinitive…
• Would you mind + gerund…
• Could I possibly…?
• I’d be grateful if you could…
• Can I request…?
• Have you got time to…?
• I have a request ……….
• I wonder if you can/could … Do you mind if …
• I need some help with…
• Do me a favor. Will you? ………
• lend me a hand with…
• If…, that would be a great help.

Accepting

• Yes, Feel free 
• of course, With pleasure
• Yes, sure.
• Sure.
• Yes, of course.
• Certainly yes.
• With pleasure.
• Sure, don’t worry.
• Sure, no problem.

Declining/Refusing

• I am awfully sorry
• No, You/I can’t
• Oh sorry, I can’t.
• I just can’t, I am sorry.
• I am afraid, but I can’t.
• Certainly not.

Examples:
– Speaker 1: Could you please help me with this exercise?
Speaker 2: Yes, of course.

– Speaker 3: Do you mind going with me to the market?
Speaker 4: No, I don’t mind (accepting request)

-Speaker 5: Would you mind giving your brother a lift downtown?
Speaker 6: Yes. (refusing request).

– Speaker 7: I wonder if you could possibly repair this engine?
Speaker 8: Sure, don’t worry

Grammar: Modal Verbs

This lesson is thoroughly discussed here: MODAL VERBS