Unit 3 english as a world language

Words and word combination

advantage, n

the ~ of; to take an ~ over smb or smth

communicate, v

communication, n

means of ~

communicative, adj

to develop ~ skills

conversation, n

to maintain ~

dictionary, n

do, v

~ English; ~ one’s best; ~ a lot of reading

dominate, v

dominant, adj

expect, v

fluent, adj

be ~ in English; to speak ~ English

idiom, n

idiomatic, adj

improve, v

to ~ language/listening comprehension/conversation skills (Syn.: to make better)

interpret, v

interpretation, n

to trust ~; human or computerized ~ (Syn.: translation)

interpreter, n (Syn.: translator)

language, n

to learn ~s; the English ~; a West Germanic group of ~s; a widespread ~; a dominant ~; the global/world ~; an artificial ~; common ~; first or second ~; an official ~; (Syn.: tongue: as mother ~); to master a foreign ~; to get a better command of the ~; ~ heritage; the ~ structure; the Language Media Centre; to break the ~ barrier

learn, v

lingual, adj

mono~, bi~, multi~ (adj)

mistake, n (Syn.: error)

to make a ~

study, v

teach, v

vocabulary, n

Asking for Preference

Stating Preference

Stating Lack of Preference

Formal

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Which do you prefer/like,…?

What would you prefer, to … or to…?

Would you like to…?

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I prefer …

I’d prefer …

I tend to prefer/to be rather more interested in …

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I haven’t (got) any particular preference.

I can’t say I prefer …Well, I’m not at all that keen, actually …

I must say both sound equally good to me.

Neutral

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Would you like… ?

Which do you like better …

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I prefer/I’d prefer …

I like … best / better.

No, thank you. I’d rather not.

My favourite …

It depends.

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I like them both/all.

Oh, I don’t mind.

It’s all the same to me.

I leave it to you to decide.

I’ll go along with what you decide/suggest.

Informal

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Do you feel like…?

D’you fancy…?

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I like … better.

I’d rather/sooner…

Yes, sure. It’s better.

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It’s up to you (to decide).

Oh, I’m easy. I’ll do whatever you decide/suggest.

Model A:

doing English – doing French → I prefer doing English to doing French.

Model B:

football – rugby → I prefer football to rugby.

A

1) reading – listening;

2) working hard – being lazy;

3) getting letters – writing them;

4) playing football – seeing football on TV;

5) driving – being driven;

6) living in the city – living in the country.

B

1) poetry – prose;

2) language – literature;

3) cottages – blocks of flats;

4) Maugham’s novels – his comedies;

5) Shakespeare’s tragedies – his comedies;

6) drawings – paintings.