Your class has decided to organise a Green Week at school. The aim is to encourage students to reduce waste, save energy and use fewer disposable products. However, several problems have appeared: some students are not completing their tasks; the recycling bins have not arrived; the posters contain unclear information; the organisers disagree about what to do next.
So, how can you respond when something goes wrong? In real conversations, you will need expressions that help you react appropriately, ask questions and suggest solutions.
Step 1. Expressing criticism or dissatisfaction
When a problem continues for too long, you may need to express your frustration. Some expressions sound strong and emotional. Others allow you to disagree more politely.
Situation: several students promised to help prepare the Green Week posters, but they still have not completed them.
When a problem continues for too long, you may need to express your frustration. Some expressions sound strong and emotional. Others allow you to disagree more politely.
Situation: several students promised to help prepare the Green Week posters, but they still have not completed them.
What could you say?
I’m fed up with reminding everyone about the deadline.
I’ve had enough of … — use this expression when you no longer want to accept a situation; man pietiek … / man tas ir apnicis …
I’ve had enough of waiting for people to finish their tasks.
I’m tired of … — use this expression when something has happened too often and has become annoying; man ir apnicis …
I’m tired of doing everything on my own.
I’m tired of doing everything on my own.
I’m not quite sure I agree — use this expression when you want to disagree politely; neesmu īsti pārliecināts / pārliecināta, ka piekrītu
I’m not quite sure I agree. I think we should give them one more day.
Svarīgi!
Look closely — use a noun or an -ing form after these expressions:
I’m fed up with the delays.
I’m fed up with waiting.
I’ve had enough of the excuses.
I’ve had enough of doing all the work myself.
I’m tired of the constant changes.
I’m tired of repeating the same instructions.
I’m fed up with the delays.
I’m fed up with waiting.
I’ve had enough of the excuses.
I’ve had enough of doing all the work myself.
I’m tired of the constant changes.
I’m tired of repeating the same instructions.
Step 2. Suggesting a course of action
Complaining may show that something is wrong, but it does not solve the problem. The next step is to suggest a possible action.
Situation: the recycling bins have not arrived, but Green Week starts on Monday.
Complaining may show that something is wrong, but it does not solve the problem. The next step is to suggest a possible action.
Situation: the recycling bins have not arrived, but Green Week starts on Monday.
What could you say?
If I were you, I would … — use this expression when you want to give advice; tavā vietā es …
If I were you, I would contact the company today.
If I were you, I would contact the company today.
Have you thought about …? — use this expression when you want someone to consider another option; vai esi apsvēris / apsvērusi domu par …?
Have you thought about borrowing bins from the sports centre?
Have you thought about borrowing bins from the sports centre?
Why don’t we …? — use this expression when you want to suggest a practical solution; kāpēc gan mums …?
Why don’t we make temporary collection boxes?
Why don’t we make temporary collection boxes?
Perhaps we should … — use this expression when you want to suggest a shared plan politely; varbūt mums vajadzētu …
Perhaps we should ask the student council for help.
Perhaps we should ask the student council for help.
It might be a good idea to … — use this expression when you want to make a careful suggestion; varētu būt laba doma …
It might be a good idea to prepare a backup plan.
It might be a good idea to prepare a backup plan.
The first thing we should do is … — use this expression when you want to identify the first step in a plan; pirmais, kas mums būtu jādara, ir …
The first thing we should do is check when the bins will arrive.
The first thing we should do is check when the bins will arrive.
Svarīgi!
Look closely — some expressions are followed by the base form of the verb:
If I were you, I would call the company.
Why don’t we make temporary boxes?
Perhaps we should ask for help.
It might be a good idea to prepare a backup plan.
However, use an -ing form after Have you thought about …?
If I were you, I would call the company.
Why don’t we make temporary boxes?
Perhaps we should ask for help.
It might be a good idea to prepare a backup plan.
However, use an -ing form after Have you thought about …?
Step 3. Asking for clarification
Sometimes you understand the words, but the speaker’s idea is still unclear. In this case, ask for clarification.
Situation:
A student says: “We need to make the campaign more interactive.” You are not sure what this means.
Sometimes you understand the words, but the speaker’s idea is still unclear. In this case, ask for clarification.
Situation:
A student says: “We need to make the campaign more interactive.” You are not sure what this means.
What could you say?
What do you mean by “interactive”?
What exactly do you mean? — use this expression when you need a more precise explanation; ko tieši tu ar to domā?
Could you explain what you mean? — use this expression when you want to ask for clarification politely; vai vari paskaidrot, ko tu ar to domā?
Could you be a little more specific? — use this expression when you need more detailed information; vai vari izteikties nedaudz precīzāk?
Could you give me an example? — use this expression when an example would make the idea clearer; vai vari minēt piemēru?
Step 4. Asking someone to explain their behaviour or decisions
Sometimes the situation is clear, but the reason is not. You may need to ask why a person made a particular decision.
Situation: the organisers removed the climate quiz from the Green Week programme without discussing it with the group.
Sometimes the situation is clear, but the reason is not. You may need to ask why a person made a particular decision.
Situation: the organisers removed the climate quiz from the Green Week programme without discussing it with the group.
What could you say?
Can you tell me why …? — use this expression when you want to ask for a reason; vai vari man pateikt, kāpēc …?
Can you tell me why the quiz was removed?
Can you tell me why the quiz was removed?
Could you explain why …? — use this expression when you want to ask for a reason politely; vai vari paskaidrot, kāpēc …?
Could you explain why the programme was changed?
Could you explain why the programme was changed?
I don’t really understand why … — use this expression when a decision seems unclear; es īsti nesaprotu, kāpēc …
I don’t really understand why nobody discussed this with us.
I don’t really understand why nobody discussed this with us.
Why is it that …? — use this expression when a situation seems surprising or unreasonable; kāpēc ir tā, ka …?
Why is it that only two students were informed?
Why is it that only two students were informed?
Is there a reason why …? — use this expression when you want to ask carefully and politely; vai ir kāds iemesls, kāpēc …?
Is there a reason why the quiz cannot take place during lunch break?
Is there a reason why the quiz cannot take place during lunch break?
Step 5. Explaining your behaviour or decisions
When someone asks you why you did something, begin your explanation clearly. You can give a reason, describe your intention or admit that something went wrong.
Situation: you removed the quiz because there was not enough time to prepare it properly.
When someone asks you why you did something, begin your explanation clearly. You can give a reason, describe your intention or admit that something went wrong.
Situation: you removed the quiz because there was not enough time to prepare it properly.
What could you say?
Well, you see, … — use this expression when you want to introduce some background information; redzi, … / lieta tāda, ka …
Well, you see, we only had two days to prepare the questions.
Well, you see, we only had two days to prepare the questions.
To be honest, … — use this expression when you want to answer openly and honestly; godīgi sakot, …
To be honest, we were worried that the quiz would not be ready in time.
To be honest, we were worried that the quiz would not be ready in time.
The main reason is that … — use this expression when you want to give the most important reason; galvenais iemesls ir tāds, ka …
The main reason is that we did not have enough volunteers.
The main reason is that we did not have enough volunteers.
I thought it would be better to … — use this expression when you want to explain the reasoning behind your decision; man šķita, ka būtu labāk …
I thought it would be better to postpone the quiz.
I thought it would be better to postpone the quiz.
I was trying to … — use this expression when you want to explain your intention; es centos …
I was trying to keep the programme realistic.
I was trying to keep the programme realistic.
I didn’t mean to … — use this expression when the result was not intentional; mans nolūks nebija …
I didn’t mean to leave anyone out of the discussion.
I didn’t mean to leave anyone out of the discussion.
Atsauce:
Picture “Green week”: AI / Shutterstock.com