This is the third and final lesson about non-digital office supplies that we use in the workplace and at school. You probably know some of the words already, but today let's take a look at some items that may be new to your vocabulary.
On your desktop you will see a folder marked "Irish Promotion."
Caption 32, The Company: Starting on a New Job
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This book is big. This is a red folder.
Caption 31, Parts of Speech: Introduction
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A folder is a folded piece of plastic or thin cardboard that you can store papers in. Like many office supplies, the folder has a digital counterpart, such as the virtual folders on your computer desktop.
I take notes in a notebook or on a notepad.
Caption 9, The Alphabet: The Letter N
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Do you know where you can see da Vinci's notebook?
Caption 20, Visit London: Top 10 London Attractions
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A notebook or notepad is a bit like a book with blank pages. Sometimes they are bound like a book, and sometimes they are bound with piece of spiral wire. Some laptop computers are called notebooks or notepads. So while Leonardo da Vinci would probably have been very impressed with a laptop, they hadn't yet been invented in the 15th century!
And in this cubby I have my interior design tools like my scale ruler and my measuring tape.
Captions 39-40, Creative Space: An Artist's Studio
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A cubby, also called a "cubbyhole," is a small shelf that may be part of a desk or part of a free-standing shelf. Cubbyholes are convenient for keeping items that you use a lot within easy reach.
A scale ruler is a kind of ruler that designers and architects often use. Unlike a flat ruler, the scale ruler is shaped on the end like a 3-pointed star and has 6 sides.
A measuring tape, also called a "tape measure," is for measuring things that are longer than a standard ruler. Measuring tapes roll up into a small case that you can carry in your pocket.
Let's get down to brass tacks.
Caption 20, Groucho Marx: You Bet Your Life
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A tack, or "thumbtack," is usually a round piece of metal with a pin attached that allows you to attach papers onto a bulletin board or a wall.
A bulletin board is a somewhat large board usually made out of cork for tacking papers onto. A tack with a plastic handle that makes it easier to pull out is called a push-pin.
Note that in the video caption above, the phrase "to get down to brass tacks" is an expression that means "to get down to the basic facts." It probably came from Cockney rhyming slang.
Further Learning
Review Part I and Part II of this office supplies series to see if you remember the different English names for the various items commonly found in an office. Then go to to Yabla English and watch the videos above to get a better overview of the words you just learned. If you're feeling really brave, read the Wikipedia article above and see if you can invent your own Cockney rhyming slang for something!
Every language has words that standardly go together in stock phrases, also called "collocations." These are word combinations that are preferred by native speakers, and though there are other words that you could use to express the same thing, those other words might sound awkward or odd. For instance, you would usually say "a strong cup of tea." A "powerful cup of tea" or a "robust cup of tea" may have a very similar meaning, they sound odd to the ears of a native speaker. On the positive side, such word pairings sound very "normal," but they could also be criticized as being clichés when they are overused.
Advice is usually offered or given:
What advice do you give to five-year-old girls who want to be president of the United States?
Captions 15-16, Entertainment Weekly - The Obamas Answer Kids' Adorable Questions - Part 1
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If I was to give them any advice, I think it would be just go for it.
Caption 22, Naish Kiteboarding TV - Snowkiting Ragnarok
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If the advice is heeded, then it is usually said to have been taken:
I don't know how well I took their advice.
Caption 65, Numberphile - Connect Four
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Homework, the extra studying that you do away from school, is usually done, though your parents or teacher might also ask you if you have finished your homework:
But you can't do that if you don't study and do your homework.
Caption 49, Entertainment Weekly - The Obamas Answer Kids' Adorable Questions - Part 1
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A risk, which describes doing something that is somehow dangerous, is something that is taken.
Our clients take big risks everyday.
Caption 25, Jump for Opportunity - Official Video
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I decided to take the risk and tell her.
Caption 44, The Apartment - The Date - Part 3
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You could dispatch or relay an email, but the standard expression is for an email to be sent:
Could you please send me an email?
Caption 51, Business English - Starting on a new job - Part 2
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And then finally, Eric sent me an email.
Caption 43, Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World - Electric Playground Interview - Part 3
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Further Learning
Go to this page and see some other examples of standard English word combinations. Try to generally pay attention to the way words are combined by native English speakers and try to learn these phrases, since many are particularly unique to the language, such as the English phrase "to make up your mind" about something. See if you can find some examples of that phrase on Yabla English.
Making a phone call in a language that is not your mother tongue can be quite nerve-racking! For this month's newsletter, we'll look some phrases that are commonly used in both formal and informal phone conversations.
People generally answer the phone “Hello?” on their private line, with “[Last name] residence” on a family home phone number, or more formally by using the word “speaking.”
Hi, this is the Irish Press, Daniel speaking.
Caption 44, Business English - Starting on a new job - Part 2
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When you make a call, you will first need to introduce yourself.
Hello, this is Daniel. -Hi Daniel, this is Julia from Phonez and More.
Caption 10, Business English - Difficulties with coworkers and contracts - Part 2
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Uh, hi, Jonathan. It's Julia Smith for the marketing department interview.
Caption 7, Business English - The job interview - Part 2
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You might then need to ask if the person you want to speak to is available. The informal version is “Is [name] there?”, but for formal calls it’s better to use the following:
May I please speak to Daniel in advertising sales?
Caption 9, Business English - Difficulties with coworkers and contracts - Part 2
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Sometimes you might want to state the purpose of your call right away, so that the person answering can re-direct your call to someone who can help you.
Hi, I'm calling about an apartment that I saw listed on Craig's List?
Caption 33, Jessica and Liz - how much and how many
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The formal way to conclude a phone conversation might involve thanking the person or setting up a next time to talk.
Have a good day and I'll talk to you soon. 'Bye. -Goodbye.
Caption 56, Business English - Difficulties with coworkers and contracts - Part 2
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Of course, between friends, even if they are cartoon characters, much more informal goodbyes are possible:
I'll talk to ya later, Mick. I gotta go.
Caption 32, A Mickey Mouse Cartoon - Goofy's Grandma
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Further Learning
Watch the business English videos linked above on Yabla English to hear the sentences in the full context of a formal conversation. This helpful webpage provides additional telephone conversations with both audio and a transcription available.
The continuous (or progressive) tense comprises two parts: the verb "to be" in the present, past, or future tense, combined with the present participle of the main verb. It is a common verbal form in the English language, actually more common than the simple tense in the spoken language.
Let's find an example on Yabla English of the present continuous tense:
Time is running out.
Caption 29, George Clooney - Video Diary from Sudan and Chad
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To form the above present continuous tense, the present tense of the verb "to be" ("is") is combined with the present participle of the verb "to run" (by adding "ing," or in this case "-ning") to the end of the verb. The present continuous tense expresses something that is presently incomplete or unfinished. In the above case, there is still time enough now, but soon there will not be.
And the past continuous tense:
I was laughing so hard.
Caption 42, Jim White - Interview
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To form the above past continuous tense, the past tense of the verb "to be" ("was") is combined with the present participle of the verb "to laugh." The past continuous tense expresses something that is incomplete or unfinished in the past. In the above case, laughing was occurring during a past event.
And lastly, the future continuous tense:
This is where you will be working from.
Caption 14, The Company - Starting on a New Job
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To form the above future continuous tense, the future tense of the verb "to be" ("will be") is combined with the present participle of the verb "to work." The future continuous tense expresses something is incomplete or unfinished that will happen in the future. In the above case, work will be performed at some point in the future.
Further Learning
Take a look at this list of basic verb forms, and search Yabla English for some of your favorite English present participle verbs (ending in -ing) and see these tenses used in a real-world context.
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