Nói lời cám ơn khi được giúp đỡ là một phần quan trọng trong mỗi nền văn hóa. Chúng ta cám ơn vì nhiều thứ, như khi nhận được tin tức, được mời, nhận quà, được giúp đỡ hoặc khi nhờ cậy người khác và khi được khen. Chúng ta bày tỏ lòng biết ơn dưới nhiều hình thức khác nhau, từ những câu rất đơn giản như ỌThanksÚ hoặc ỌThank youÚ đến những câu phức tạp và trịnh trọng hơn ỌThank you ever so much for...Ú hoặc ỌYou have no idea how grateful I am for...Ú Sự chân thật và giọng nói là hai phần quan trọng trong lúc cám ơn. Người nghe phải cảm nhận được sự biết ơn chân thật qua những gì bạn nói. Vì vậy nếu bạn chỉ có thể nói những câu cảm ơn rất mộc mạc chỉ với vài từ nhưng bằng giọng nói nhiệt thành và nụ cười thật tươi Ũ chỉ vậy thôi là họ đủ biết được thành tâm của bạn rồi.

Sau khi nhận được lời cám ơn, thông thường người ta đáp lại đơn giản bằng câu: ỌYou're welcomeÚ. Nhưng cũng có một số cách trả lời khác như:

It was my pleasure (Formal)

You're welcome. (Formal)

You're very welcome. (Formal)

You're more than welcome. (Formal)

Oh, it was the least I could do.

Think nothing of it.

It was nothing.

My pleasure.

Don't mention it.

Any time. (Informal)

No big deal. (Informal)

Bây giờ hãy xếp các câu cám ơn và đáp lại với nhau. Dưới đây là 5 kiểu cám ơn khác nhau dựa trên các lý do cần phải cám ơn. Những câu trịnh trọng và thân mật đều được chỉ r', bao gồm những câu đáp lại hoặc xác nhận lời cám ơn tiêu biểu.

Information or Directions

1. A: I want to thank you so much for the map and directions. You have no idea what a tremendous help you've been! (Formal)

B: It was my pleasure. (Formal)

2. A: Thank you for all your help. I think I can find my way now.

B: You're welcome. Good luck.

3. A: Thanks a lot for the information. I really appreciate it.

B: Oh, you're very welcome. Any time.

4. A: Thanks for taking the time to explain it to me. I hope it wasn't too much of a bother.

B: Not at all. It was the least I could do.

5. A: Thanks a million for the info. (Informal)

B: You bet! Any time. (Informal)

Info là cách nói rất thân mật của information.

PRACTICE 1

Following are the information or directions that have been given by certain persons. Choose a partner, thank the person, and respond to the thanks.

EXAMPLE: A police officer gave you directions to the driver's license bureau.

You: Thank you for your help, officer. I think I can find my way now.

Officer: I'm glad I was able to help.

1. A travel agent gave you information about airfares to, and hotels in Los Angeles.

You:

Travel agent:

2. Your teacher explained the past perfect tense to you after class.

You:

Teacher:

3. A bank worker gave you information about applying for a major credit card.

You:

Bank worker:

4. Your roomate gave you directions to the new disco.

You:

Roommate:

5. A gas station attendant gave you directions to a German restaurant nearby.

You:

Gas station attendant:

Invitations

Dù nhận hay từ chối lời mời (để hiểu r' hơn xin xem Chương 8), bạn luôn luôn nên cám ơn người đã có thành ý mời bạn. Lưu ý rằng người đi mời thường không đáp lại bằng câu ỌYou're welcomeÚ trừ khi là sau cuối câu cám ơn của người được mời. Ví dụ,trong mẫu thứ nhất, người đi mời đáp: ỌYou are welcomeÚ bởi vì người thứ nhất kết thúc bằng câu ỌThanks for the inviteÚ. Tương tự ở mẫu 5, khi người được mời nói ỌThank you for the invitationÚ, đáp lại sẽ là câu ỌIt's my pleasure.Ú

1. A: Many thanks for inviting me to your dinner party, Mrs. Gray, but I'm afraid I won't be able to come because of a previous commitment (Formal)

B: Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. We certainly will miss you.(Formal)

2. A: Thanks, Anne! I'd love to go to the beach this Saturday!

B: Great! I'll know we'll have fun!

3. A: I appreciate the invitation, Tom. Of course I'll come!

B: Good! The play starts at 8:00, so I'll pick you up at 7:30, Okay?

4. A: Sure! I've been wanting to go to a soccer game. Thanks for the invite!

B: You're welcome. I'm glad you can come.

5. A: What a fantastic idea! I've been dying to see them in concert for a long time! Thanks for the invitation.

B: It's my pleasure!

A previous (hoặc prior) commitment là một cuộc hẹn hay một bổn phận phải thực hiện trước cái hiện thời.

Invite là một hình thức giản lược thân mật của invitation.

Dying là hình thức rất thân mật của very eager.

PRACTICE 2

You've been given invitations by the following people. Reject or accept each invitation as indicated, but also thank the person sincerely. Then have you partner respond.

EXAMPLE: Jose, who's in your exercise class, wants you to have dinner with him tomorrow night after class. (Reject)

You: Thanks for inviting me, Jose but I've already made other plans.

Jose: That's too bad. Maybe another time.

1. Your roommate wants you to go with him or her to a basketball game tonight (Reject)

You:

Roommate:

2. An acquaintance from your work asks you to have a drink together after work (Accept)

You:

Acquaintance:

3. An American family you know well wants you to go with them on a picnic Sunday (Accept)

You:

Mr. Oliver:

4. A friend from the university invites you to dinner at his home tonight (Reject)

You:

Friend:

5. Your boyfriend/girlfriend asks you to go to the Billy Joel concert in two weeks (Accept)

You:

Friend:

Gifts

Đây là một vài ví dụ mẫu bày tỏ lòng biết ơn khi nhận quà và đáp từ.

1. A: Thank you very much for the beautiful book, Mr. Kincaid. It was very nice of you to remember my birthday. (Formal)

B: It was the least I could do. I hope you enjoy it.

2. A: The flowers are gorgeous! Thanks a lot, Bob!

B: Don't mention it. Happy anniversary!

3. A: That was nice of you to bring us the coffee cake, Sarah. We'll really enjoy it for breakfast in the morning!

B: Oh, it was nothing! I hope you like it.

4. A: Wally, the bracelet is beautiful, but really, you shouldn't have!

B: You're welcome. I think it looks beautiful on you.

5. A: Doris, these vegetables look fantastic! And you know what a salad eater I am. Thanks a zillion!

B: Any time! There are a lot more in my garden, so I'll bring you more later.

You shouldn't have là một hình thức giản lược thân mật của ỌYou shouldn't have done it (bought me this bracelet)Ú.

A zillion là một số rất lớn (không có thực): nó có nghĩalà rất nhiều.

Help or Favors:

Nói ỌthanksÚ là một cách nói thông thường và lịch sự khi được giúp đỡ hoặc nhờ cậy người khác.

1. A: Janice, you're a litesaver! I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't helped me make the decorations for the party! Thanks so much!

B: Oh, it was nothing I'm glad I could help out.

2. A: Thank for working with me on the computer, Bob. I'd been struggling with it for over an hour before you came along.

B: Don't worry about it. I enjoyed helping you.

3. A: Thanks for helping me with the dinner, Joe. I really appreciate it.

B: It was the least I could do! Thanks for inviting me over.

4. A: Thanks a million for lending me your car, Ted. That was a big help!

B: I'm glad I could help. Let me know if you need to borrow it again.

5. A: You're so nice to help with the broken lamp, Don. I'm no good at mechanical things.

B: You're welcome. I'm glad I was able to fix it.

Compliments

Mặc dù chúng ta thường cám ơn người khen mình (xem Chương 12), người nhận được lời cám ơn thường sẽ không đáp lại bằng câu ỌYou're welcomeÚ.

1. A: That's a beautiful necklace you're wearing.

B: Thanks. I got in Mexico last summer.

2. A: What a gorgeous flower arrangement! It's really beautiful!

B: That's nice of you to say so. I'm really glad you like it.

3. A: Would you sing some more, Christos? That last song was lovely!

B: Thank you, Mrs. Jenkins. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

4. A: That kitchen dish was fantastic, Nahmood! You are a great cook!

B: I appreciate the compliment, but I did have a lot of help from my sister!

5. A: Yumi, you did a beautiful job decorating your home. It looks wonderful

B: Well, thank you for saying so, but I got a lot of help from others.

PRACTICE 3

Respond to each compliment with a polite thank you or some variation.

1. Ahad: That's a nice sweater you're wearing. It looks good with your hair color!

You:

2. Lori: You can really dance! I've never seen anyone move as gracefully as you!

You:

3. Mr. Fetner: You did a remarkable job on the Hastings account. I want to compliment you on the way you handled it.

You:

4. Ben: Your hair looks great! I know you did something different, but I can't quite tell what.

You:

5. Charles: You played a fantastic game of tennis today! Your serve has never been better!

You:

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