Lesson 10 – Debate and discussion (about lying)

November 1, 2017
Summary
Justifying opinions in a debate

The topic of this lesson is lies. I had time to:

  • take part in a group discussion about white lies
  • learn phrases related to lying
  • practise using phrases to talk about hypothetical situations
  • focus on syllable stress and contractions.
  • Well, I didn’t want to hurt (her) feelings so I told a white lie.
  • I did some research on that company and found out that it has some problems with its trading ethics.
  • I like her. She’s a really straightforward and honest kind of person.
  • Why you are always telling fibs? I don’t think it’s your age. When you would tell the truth a bit more?
  • Well, it’s a question of morals and ethics.
  • If you know your friends cheating on an examination but you let them get away with it, it’s a really deceitful thing to do – it is a deceitful behavior rightly!
  • Tom is a bit of a dishonest person. He’s always doing dodgy business deals.
    (dodgy behavior = risky behavior)
  • I am trying not to blame my son in public to save his face. I want to save face as well.

Would : various uses

  1. the past form of “will”
    • will → would
  2. typical behavior in the past
    • On Sundays when I was a child our family members would all go to Chinese-style restaurant.
  3. refer to a refusal on past occasion
    • I did ask her very politely, but she wouldn’t tell me.
  4. polite requests – invitation, suggestions, congratulation etc…
    • We would like to invite you to …
    • I would like to suggest that we take a vote.
    • I would like to congratulate your promotion.
  5. before verbs of “say” and “think” to make a statement sound less definite
    • I would say we are better to catch the earlier train.
    • I would think we might stop for lunch soon.
  6. ellipsis – would love to , would like to
    • Do you want to go with us? ~ I’d love to. (=  Yes, I do.)

Would you …?

if our answer is YES:

  • Ya, for sure!
  • Oh, definitely (= without any doubt).   [Note: Yes/No]
  • I totally want to.
  • OK, in a second.

if our answer is NO:

  • No, definitely not.
  • Not a chance, sorry~
  • No way!
  • Forget about it.
  • You’re kidding.

if our answer is Maybe:

  • It depends
  • It’s tough to say
  • It’s possibly …
  • I might …

A: What do you think about (this situation then)?

B: Oh, I don’t know. You tell me.

A: Ok then, I think I’d  tell a white lie.  I’d probably say something like “I want to have some privately time and space recently”  or “Something has just happened, I need to leave you for a period of time”.

B: You’re kidding. No (girl) is ever going to believe that these days.

A: I don’t know. It depends (her age) , surely?

B:Why wouldn’t you just tell the truth?

A: No way. It’d be a nightmare. I can’t stand lady crying and I don’t want to hurt her feelings

B: Seriously, you’d rather make up some story than tell the truth?

A: If I were in that situation…then sure, every time.

B: Isn’t  a good time to tell her the truth? So both of you will have a better future.

A: I suppose so. How about you? What would you say?

B: I don’t know. It’s tough to say. I think you probably shouldn’t tell fibs though. Your behavior is deceitful!

A: Normally no, but in this case I might ….

I had an assessment in the lesson though, I enjoyed it because of the useful language that I could learn –

To talk about a hypothetical situation :

  • I would never lie…
  • I might/would probably tell fibs…
  • If I were…I’d…
  • If I were in that situation (scenario), I’d probably/definitely …

To compare and ranking situations :

  • I don’t think this situation is as bad as (this/that) one.
  • This one is worse than (this/that) one.
  • We should swap this one with that one.
  • This one should be higher up/lower down.
  • I (don’t) think it’s OK/morally wrong to (do sth) in this situation.
  • This one’s not that bad.
  • The consequences of this are (not) serious.

 

Well, if you were in the lesson, I guess you’d love it, definitely!

 

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