General English:6-Elementary
1 Grammar Reported questions - past tense
Reported questions – past tense
Statements can be reported in either the past or present tense.
I want to know the latest sales figures. I want to know the latest sales figures.
Cody says he wants to know the latest sales figures. Cody says he wants to know the latest sales figures.
Cody said he wants to know the latest sales figures. Cody said he wants to know the latest sales figures.
Questions, however, are usually reported in the past tense. Notice, in the reported question, that the word order changes back to subject + verb. The verb in the reported question can be in the present tense or the past tense.
How's the team doing? How is the team doing?
Cody asked how the team is doing. Cody asked how the team is doing.
When are we going to get a new computer system? When are we going to get a new computer system?
John asked when we were going to get a new computer system.
John asked when we were going to get a new computer system.
Remember, when you report what someone asked, you may have to change the pronouns and verb to correctly report the statement.
Where are you meeting? Where are you meeting?
Cody asked where we are meeting. Cody asked where we are meeting.
Here are some more examples of direct questions and reported questions.
Who are the visitors? Who are the visitors?
Cody asked who the visitors are.
Cody asked who the visitors are.
Why are the visitors coming? Why are the visitors coming?
Cody asked why the visitors are coming. Cody asked why the visitors are coming.
Sentence:
Jane asked where we are meeting.
Kelly asked why he is leaving.
Jamie asked why the visitors are here.
Colin asked who the new manage is.
kari asked when the visitors arrive.
2 Expressions Closing a meeting
Vocabulary
big news,what is that going to mean for us?,trouble,are there any more questions?
So,to summarize,action item,Okay,that's it.Thank you for coming.
Dialogue
TODD:Okay,Next item on the agenda is the company update.Some of you have asked me about Sunset Computers.
Harry:Yeah,what's going on Todd?
TODD:Yesterday,I asked Joan what what was happening.She confirmed that we are buying Sunset Computers.
Harry:wow,That's big news!
Sally:Yeah!
Harry:So,what is that going to mean for us?
TODD:it's very good news.You know we've been having trouble with sales in Asia,right?
Harry:Uh-Huh
TODD:well,this deal could make us stronger over there.Sunset Computers have big customers in China and Korea.
Sally:Oh,yeah,That's right.
Harry:But do we need to worry about out jobs?
TODD:Absolutely not.The outlook is really good.Oh,and one more thing.this is confidential.Do not talk to anyone outside the company.
Sally:Okay
Harry:got it!
TODD:great.Are there any more questions?
TODD:so,to summarize:this deal is good for us.Not job cuts.The outlook is great.And there's only one action item-please clean up your desks.
TODD:Okay,That's it.Thank you for coming.
Harry:Did you konw anything about this?
Sally:I heard some people talking about it.but ...
Closing a meeting
The end of a meeting often follows a series of steps, with language that marks each step.
1. Ask for final questions.
Are there any further questions? Are there any further questions?
2. Summarize the meeting.
To summarize, sales look good. To summarize, sales look good.
3. State the action items.
Remember, there is one action item: Confirm your team sales. Remember, there is one action item: Confirm your team sales.
4. Close the meeting.
That's it. Thanks. Have a great day. That's it. Thanks. Have a great day.
3 Grammar 'Anyone' and 'anything'
'Anyone' and 'anything'
Use the indefinite pronouns anyone and anything in negative statements and in questions, when the precise number of what you are talking about is unimportant or hard to identify.
Don't tell anyone about this. Don't tell anyone about this.
Does anyone have questions?
Does anyone have questions?
I don't have anything to report.
I don't have anything to report.
Mike, do you want to say anything? Mike, do you want to say anything?
Sentence:
Britney didn't have anything to say.
Do you want anything from the snack table?
Don't tell anyone about the update.
Does anyone have anything else to say?
Is anyone taking notes?
4 Writing Writing a meeting summary
Writing a meeting summary
After a meeting, you may be asked to email a summary to your colleagues. Here is a sample format to follow.
1. Write a short, precise subject line (subject line).
Royal project meeting summary Royal project meeting summary
Summary of Thursday's budget meeting Summary of Thursday's budget meeting
2. Briefly explain the main reason (main reason) for your email.
I'm writing to summarize our meeting about the Royal project. I'm writing to summarize our meeting about the Royal project.
3. List the main topics (main topics) discussed, including questions asked and answers given.
Randy asked who is working on the project. Randy asked who is working on the project.
Jeremy said that Bill and Lucy are working on the project.
Jeremy said that Bill and Lucy are working on the project.
4. List any action items (action items) resulting from the meeting.
Jeremy said that he can confirm the budget by Monday. Jeremy said that he can confirm the budget by Monday.
Writing a meeting summary
Summary of Friday's sales meeting
From:
tj@actionidea.com
To:vince@actionidea.com; robert@actionidea.com; mary@actionidea.com; ted@actionidea.com; todd@actionidea.com
Hi.
I'm writing to summarize our sales meeting from Friday:
Robert asked what customers are saying about the new product.
Vince said that he hasn't heard from anyone yet.
Mary asked how many new customers there are.
Vince said that there are more than 300 new customers.
Action items:
Vince said that we need to think of ways to get new customers.
Did I miss anything? Please let me know.
Thanks.
TJ
5 Final Task Summarizing a meeting