REPROACH AND REPRIMAND The following expressions can be used for reproach and reprimand:
Why (on earth) didn’t you…? You might have… I do think you might have… –rather mild
You should (not) have…/ought (not) to have… You ought to be ashamed (of yourself). What do you mean by …ing? – mixed with anger
You have no right to… How dare you (…)! – very strong, mixed with anger
Come off it! = Stop whatever you are doing – a mild, informal reprimand
Reproach and reprimand are frequently used to prevent people (especially children) from behaving badly. Here are some expressions which can be used for this:
What are you up to? Stop (doing) that! Stop fooling around/about! Behave yourself! Be/act your age! Come on, be a good boy/girl (and…) – gentle, mild.
COMPLAINT The most usual complain about services or quality of goods. Formal:
I am sorry to complain, but…I don’t like to complain, but…
Less formal complaints about the same:
I don’t want to make fuss (about it), but…I don’t want to make a mountain out of a molehill, but…
You should remember that the English are reluctant to complain, and when they do it, they often do it in a somewhat apologetic manner:
Sorry, but… could you…? – semi-formal, formal
Do you think you could…? – semi-formal, formal, depending on the tone of voice.
I wish you wouldn’t… – grumbling
Do you have to…? – sarcastic
Grumbling, semi-formal, informal:
It’s a bit much/thick. It’s a bit much/thick if…It’s a bit steep. – about prices
Replies are:
Oh, I’m very sorry (Sir/Madam). I’ll see that everything is put right. I’ll see to it at once. I’ll ask/ tell the… to…I’ll send for…Sorry, is it bothering you? Sorry, I thought you didn’t mind. Sorry, I didn’t realize you felt so strongly about it.
If complaint is considered to be unjustified, one may tactfully say, for example:
Yes, I know, but…I’m (very) sorry, but…I’m (very) sorry, but there’s nothing we can do about it (I’m afraid).Well, Sir/Madam, you…
OPINION An opinion may be expressed simply as an assertion, without any introductory words.
Sometimes, however, such statements may sound too dogmatic, and to avoid this effect one of the following phrases should be used:
I think (that)… – the most common. I thought is often used to express an opinion about something experienced in the past, for example, a film seen, a book read.
I think may also be used in sentences about verifiable facts, meaning It seems to me. I believe (that)… I feel (that)… I consider (that)… formal, semi-formal. Also more intellectual than I feel, which is more emotional.
In my opinion – emphatic, slightly formal To my mind – emphatic. If you ask me,… – colloquial
The following phrases are used to ask someone’s opinion:
What do you think of/about? What do you feel about…? What’s your opinion of/about…? – formal, semiformal
Note: to avoid being dogmatic and/or abrupt you may express your opinion (especially when asked) beginning your phrase with Well.
