CHAPTER 9 ANNISA FAIZAH( ) RAHAJENG H. RARAS( ) ANA CLARISTI( ) DAMARINA( ) ASKING AND EXPLAINING

Asking for Explanations Direct Request The easiest way to get an explanation is to ask for one. Here you say that you would like something explained to you using the key phrases Please could you explain... Could/Can you tell me... ('Could' is a more polite form of 'can'.) These phrases are followed by a question word (Who, why, what, when, where, how) which tells the person being asked what kind of information is needed

Remember: That these requests are indirect questions. Even if the meaning is a question, the grammar is the grammar of a statement. For example: "Please explain how is that done." is wrong. The correct way to say this is: "Please explain how that is done." Using question words also gives us another method of asking for an explanation Why/How is it that...?

Indirect Requests for Explanations The English don't like asking people direct questions because this can lead to confrontations. Instead they often ask implicitly for explanations. This can be confusing for non-native speakers who do not even realize that they are being asked something. For example: "This problem seems a bit difficult." Actually means "Could you explain to me how to solve this problem" or "I don't understand how to do this." Actually means "Could you explain how to to this?"

Sometimes an English speaker will tell you something you know because he wants you to explain it. For example: "You're late.“ The person being spoken to probably knows that he is late, but will understand that the statement is really "Now explain to me why you are late"

Conventions Sometimes requests for explanations can sound like something else - you have to know what you are really being asked. For example: "Can I help you?“ Means either "Please explain what you want.“ or "Explain what you are doing here." "What do you think you are doing?“ Actually means "I am angry. Explain and excuse yourself."

Checking Information We use this to confirm what someone has told us, or to ask for further information For example: "Do you mean that our flight is cancelled?“ or "What do you mean, you have forgotten the tickets?“ or "Are you trying to tell me you can't come?"

Giving Explanations Explanations can be given for a number of reasons - to excuse yourself, to tell someone how to do something,or just to let someone know what is happening. English people always give their explanations in particular ways.

How to Do Things When explaining how to do things you might sometimes start with some encouragement. For example: "I don't see what I'm supposed to do.“ "Okay, it's not that hard. " You might like to break your explanation into steps "First, you put this here. Next... " You can also let your listener know whan you have finished. "And that's all you have to do. "

Excuses You have to explain what has gone wrong. You should start by accepting or denying blame. For example: "What happened to my car?". "Sorry, it is my fault. " You can signal that you are starting your explanation with 'You see..‘ "You see, my brakes are not very good... " And you can signal that you have finished with 'That's why..‘ "So that's why there's that big scratch. "

Formal Explanations These are used, for example in business letters. Here you actually say that you are about to explain. For example: "May I explain what has happened? Our order was delayed..“ "You must understand that the matter is complicated. There are many...“ "The reason that we are able to offer such a low price is that..."

Because Is used to answer questions starting with 'why'. For example: "Why did Sam leave the party so early?“ "Because he wasn't feeling well.“ "Why are you looking in your bag?“ "Because I want my car keys."

Finishing an Explanation You usually add a sentence to the end of a long explanation to let your listener know that you have finished. You have already seen some examples above. Others include: "So in the end.."(This is what happened) "All I can say is..“ (Often used after an excuse and apology) "To cut a long story short..“ (I'm about to finish) "Anyway..“ (I am going to summarize the situation)

Exercises Open this following links: online.org.uk/adv4/expl2a4.htm online.org.uk/adv4/expl2a4.htm online.org.uk/adv4/expl2a4n.htm online.org.uk/adv4/expl2a4n.htm online.org.uk/adv4/expl3a4.htm online.org.uk/adv4/expl3a4.htm online.org.uk/adv4/expl3a4n.htm online.org.uk/adv4/expl3a4n.htm

Reference Taken from: online.org.uk/adv4/expl1a4.htm online.org.uk/adv4/expl1a4.htm For another resource you can open this link: /2012/09/asking-giving-explanations.html /2012/09/asking-giving-explanations.html