(c) Refusing permission: 1. I am sorry; I cannot allow you to go out.
2. I’m afraid it is not possible.
3. I’m sorry; I am not supposed to permit you.
4. No, you can’t / may not.
5. You are not allowed to read newspaper now.
6. Permission can’t / won’t be granted.
Source:speakenglishspeakeng.blogspot.com Model 1: Seeking and granting permission – formal Divya : Good morning mam. May I take leave for three days?
Rita : Good morning. What! Leave for three days!
Divya : Mam, My mother has high fever. The doctor advised her to take complete
rest. I should take care of her. Please mam.
Rita : Okay. Take care of your mother.
Divya : Thank you, mam.
Model 2: Seeking and refusing permission – formal Ravi : Good morning, sir.
Principal : Good morning Rakesh.
Ravi : Sir, we are first year literature students. Can we go on an excursion to
Kodaikanal this weekend?
Principal : I’m sorry. I can’t give you permission. The College Council has decided
that only during your final year, the students can go on an excursion.
Ravi : Would you please request the Council to reconsider its decision?
Principal : I’m afraid, I won’t.
Ravi : That’s okay. We will go on an excursion in our final year. Thank you, sir.
Model 3: Seeking, refusing and giving permission – informal Tinku : Can I have an ice-cream please?
Anu : No, you can’t. You are advised to be on diet.
Tinku : Can I have a piece of cake?
Anu : That’s okay. But have a cake with no icing on it.
WORKSHEET You have forgotten your ID. Your Head of the Department asks you to write an apology letter. Draft an apology letter.
Write down five different expressions of gratitude and the following response (each 5).
Write down three different ways of seeking, giving and refusing permission (each 3).
3. DIALOGUE BUILDING A dialogue is a written piece of conversation. In other words, it is a written version of something which is essentially spoken. Therefore, it has features of both speech and writing in it. A dialogue should never turn into an artificial speech. The main purpose of a dialogue is to convey the thoughts clearly, crisply, cogently and naturally.
Dialogue writing is a skill that helps us in developing both our speech and writing. Since, dialogue is the most natural form of exchanging ideas, it may be looked upon as a preparation for a conversation.
Essential Features of Dialogues / Conversations: The essential features of dialogues and conversations are the same.
A dialogue should reflect the speaker listener’s point of view.
A dialogue must never be a monologue i.e. one person continue to speak endlessly.
In a dialogue, the speaker and the listener keep changing their roles.
(A speaker becomes a listener and a listener becomes a speaker). The shortest dialogue consists of two utterances by two different speakers.
Example A: May I know your name, please?
B : I’m Rajendran.
Each speaker has his / her turn at speaking and each participant’s contribution is interesting and relevant to the topic given for building up the dialogue. The dialogue may be formal or informal.
Main factors: The main factors that determine the formality or informality of a dialogue are: