1.7. Unit Seven. Conversation “ Can Mr. Kent see me now?..”

Phase A. Conversation

It’s ten past nine in Julia’s office. A young man is waiting to see Mr Kent, the office manager.

(Typing)

Young Man: Can Mr Kent see me now?

Secretary: Well, he’s very busy. Can you wait a bit longer?

Young Man: But I came ten minutes ago! I’ve been waiting for ten minutes!

Secretary: I know you have. But what can I do about it?

Young Man: What can you do about it? You can tell Mr Kent I’m here!

Secretary: But I told him ten minutes ago, when you first came.

Young Man: Well please, tell him again!

Secretary: All right.

(sighs) (Knocks on door)

Mr Kent: Come in. Yes?

Secretary: There’s a young man to see you, Mr Kent. He’s outside.

Mr Kent: Oh? How long has he been here?

Secretary: Since nine o’clock.

Mr Kent: What? You mean he’s been here for ten minutes?

Secretary: Yes, that’s right, for ten minutes.

Mr Kent: Why didn’t you tell me? You know that I always like to see people right away!

Secretary: But I did tell you! I told you ten minutes ago! He’s a salesman.

Mr Kent: Oh, a salesman! Well, I can’t see a salesman now. I’m too busy! You know that!

Phase B. Pronunciation

Notice the weak form of “have” in this sentence. The young man said it. Repeat, please.

Young Man: I’ve // I’ve // I’ve been waiting //

And notice the weak form of the word “for”. Repeat again.

Young Man: f’r // f’r ten minutes // f’r ten minutes // I’ve been waiting f’r ten minutes. //

With “He”, “She” and “It”, of course, we say “s” and this is the weak form of “has”. Repeat again.

Secretary: He’s // He’s been // He’s been waiting // He’s been waiting f’r ten minutes.//

Now notice the small difference in pronunciation when “have” or “has” is in a question with “How long”. Repeat again.

Mr Kent: ‘s // How long ‘s // How long ‘s he been there? // ‘ve // How long ‘v they // How long ‘v they been there? //

Phase C. Fluency Practice.

DRILL 1

Listen to what secretary says here!

Young Man: I’ve been waiting for ten minutes.

Secretary: I know you have, but what can I do about it?

Repeat that, please.

Secretary: I know you have // but what c’n // c’n // c’n I do // but what c’n I do

about it? // I know you have, but what c’n I do about it? //

Now give more answers like that. Are you ready?

Young Man:One. I’ve been standing here for ten minutes!

Secretary: I know you have, but what can I do about it?

Kent: Two. That man’s been trying to sell me something for years!

Secretary: I know he has, but what can I do about it?

Tom: Three. Those students behind you have been laughing and joking ever since this lesson began!

Secretary: I know they have, but what can I do about it?

Secretary: Four. This machine has been giving me the trouble and has been typing badly for weeks.

Kent: I know it has, but what can I do about it?

Young Man: Five. Your secretary! She’s been laughing at me behind my back ever since I came in!

Kent: I know she has, but what can I do about it?

DRILL 2

After the secretary spoke to the young man, she went in and spoke to Mr Kent. Listen again to what Mr Kent asked.

Secretary: There’s a young man to see you, Mr Kent. He’s outside.

Mr Kent: Oh? How long has he been there?

Repeat that, please.

Mr Kent: Oh? // How long // How long h’s // h’s // How long h’s he been there? //

Now you ask the same sort of questions. Are you ready?

Secretary: One. There’s a detective outside. He wants to see you.

Kent: Oh? How long h’s he been there?

Secretary: Two. There’re two policemen in the office. They want to talk to you.

Kent: Oh? How long h’ve they been there?

Secretary: Three. You wife’s waiting to see you. She’s outside.

Kent: Oh? How long h’s she been there?

Young Man:Four. I’m a salesman! I’m waiting out here and I want to see you!

Kent: Oh? How long h’ve you been there?

Secretary: Five. There’s a dead cat under my desk.

Kent: Oh? How long h’s it been there?

Good. And did you notice the weak form of “to have”. Say it again, please.

Kent: h’v // How long h’ve they been there? // How long h’ve you been there? //

DRILL 3

Notice the use of “since” and the use of “f’r” here.

Mr Kent: The young man... How long has he been here?

Secretary: Since nine o’clock.

Mr Kent: What? You mean he’s been here for ten minutes?

Now you must use “since” or “f’r” with the word we give you; like this. Listen.

ten o’clock – Since ten o’clock

half an hour – For half an hour

And now you do it. Are you ready?

ten o’clock – Since ten o’clock

half an hour – For half an hour

three hours – For three hours

three days – For three days

three o’clock – Since three o’clock

a few minutes – For a few minutes

1970 – Since 1970

DRILL 4

Now listen to this, and repeat what Mr. Kent says... what Mr. Kent says.

Secretary: Mr. Kent. There are two policemen in the office.

Mr. Kent: Oh? How long have they been there?

Secretary: Well... er... they came at eight o’clock.

Mr. Kent: What? You mean they’ve been here since eight?

And repeat what Mr. Kent says.

Secretary: Mr. Kent. Your wife’s in the office.

Mr. Kent: Oh? How long has she been there? //

Secretary: Oh... an hour.

Mr. Kent: What? You mean she’s been there for an hour? //

Now suppose you’re Mr. Kent. Carry on conversation just like that.

One.

Secretary: Mr. Kent. There are two policemen in the office.

Mr. Kent: Oh? How long have they been there?

Secretary: Well, they came at eight.

Mr. Kent: What? You mean they’ve been there since eight?

Two.

Secretary: Mr. Kent. Your wife is in the office.

Mr. Kent: Oh? How long has she been there?

Secretary: Oh... an hour.

Mr. Kent: What? You mean she’s been there for an hour?

Three.

Secretary: Mr. Kent. Er... there’s a detective in the office.

Mr. Kent: Oh? How long has he been there?

Secretary: Oh... a few hours.

Mr. Kent: What? You mean he’s been there for a few hours?

Four.

Secretary: Mr. Kent... there are two reporters in the office.

Mr. Kent: Oh? How long have they been there?

Secretary: They came yesterday.

Mr. Kent: What? You mean they’ve been there since yesterday?

Five.

Secretary: Mr. Kent... I think I should tell you that... well... er... there’s a suitcase full of money in the office.

Mr. Kent: Oh? How long has it been there?

Secretary: Well... a strange man put it there on Monday.

Mr. Kent: What? You mean it’s been there since Monday?

DRILL 5

Now do this drill very quickly, like this.

The money’s been here since Monday.

The money’s been here since Monday.

those policemen

Those policemen’ve been here since Monday.

two hours

Those policemen’ve been here for two hours.

that young man

That young man’s been here for two hours.

And now you do it.

The money’s been here since Monday.

The money’s been here since Monday.

those policemen

Those policemen’ve been here since Monday.

two hours

Those policemen’ve been here for two hours.

that young man

That young man’s been here for two hours.

I

I’ve been here for two hours.

three months

I’ve been here for three months.

Saturday

I’ve been here since Saturday.

she

She’s been here since Saturday.

a few days

She’s been here for a few days.

Phase D. Repetition

Now repeat what the secretary says... what the secretary says.

(Typing)

Young Man: Can Mr. Kent see me now?

Secretary: Well, he’s very busy.// Can you wait a bit longer?//

Young Man: But I came ten minutes ago! I’ve been waiting for ten minutes!

Secretary: I know you have // but what c’n I do about it?//

Young Man: What can you do about it? You can tell Mr. Kent I’m here!

Secretary: But I told him ten minutes ago,// when you first came.//

Young Man: Well please, tell him again!

Secretary: All right.//

(sighs) (Knocks on door)

Mr. Kent: Come in. Yes?

Secretary: There’s a young man to see you, Mr. Kent.// He’s outside.//

Mr. Kent: Oh? How long has he been here?

Secretary: Since nine o’clock.//

Mr. Kent: What? You mean he’s been here for ten minutes?

Secretary: Yes, that’s right.// For ten minutes.//

Mr. Kent: Why didn’t you tell me? You know that I always like to see people right away!

Secretary: But I did tell you!// I told you ten minutes ago.// He’s a salesman.//

Mr. Kent: Oh, a salesman! Well, I can’t see a salesman now. I’m too busy! You know that!

And that is the end of this unit. Thank you.