Conversation Lesson 3
 
 
 
 
Lesson 3 - Formal Introductions

Dialogs for everyday use. Short situational dialogs for students of English as a Foreign (EFL) or Second (ESL) Language.
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Formal Introductions

Margaret: Mr. Wilson, I’d like you to meet Dr. Edward Smith.

Mr. Wilson: How do you do, Dr. Smith.

Dr. Smith: How do you do.

Margaret: Dr. Smith is an economist. He’s just finished writing a book on international trade.

Mr. Wilson: Oh? That’s my field, too. I work for the United Nations.

Dr. Smith: In the Development Program, by any chance?

Mr. Wilson: Yes. How did you guess?

Dr. Smith: I’ve read your articles on technical assistance. They’re excellent.
Conversation Notes
  • Mr. Wilson
  • There is a rising intonation on the words Mr. Wilson. A falling intonation on a name used in direct address is unusual in American English and tends to sound brusque and impolite.
  • It is important to include the d in I’d in this expression in order to differentiate it from I like, which has a different meaning. (I’d like = I would like = I want.)
  • How do you do
  • Has the form of a question (and is sometimes followed by a question mark), but it is not a question in meaning. It is simply a polite formula used in formal introductions.
  • How do you do
  • The reply to How do you do is simply the same phrase uttered with the same intonation by the other speaker. In fact, lines 2 and 3 are not strictly statement and reply but rather statements uttered by the two speakers independently and, possibly, simultaneously.
  • He’s just finished writing
  • A useful pattern indicating an action recently completed. (Just is frequently used with the present perfect tense.)
  • Development Program
  • Since these two words constitute a compound noun, the principal stress falls on the first word.
  • by any chance
  • The meaning is possibly. Used in questions to confirm something you think might be true actually is.
  • I’ve read
  • It is important to include the /v/ in I’ve in this expression in order to differentiate it from I read, which has a different meaning.
Source: U.S. State Department
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