Verbal Context
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Drill
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Statements
(conveying personal concern or involvement, disgruntled protest)
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I must see Mr. Roberts.
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I'm afraid you can't. He's just gone out.
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What did you think of the house?
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I was rather taken with it. It seems quite nice.
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He says he knows nothing about it.
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I just can't understand it. I distinctly remember telling him.
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Haven't you finished that book yet?
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I've only just begun it.
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I'm afraid I failed my exam.
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I'm not at all surprised. You must try working a bit harder.
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You ought to have informed me at once.
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I didn't realize, it was so important.
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Special questions
(sounding displeased, unpleasantly surprised, protesting)
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What's that you say?
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Why don't you listen?
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I can't find the file anywhere.
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What have you done with it?
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You can't easily mend it.
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What do you mean, easily?
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I gave it to her personally.
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But when did you see her?
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Which one shall I have?
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Which would you prefer?
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I shall write to him again.
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Whatever do you hope to gain by that?
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I was too late. They'd sold out.
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Whyever didn't you buy it when you had the chance?
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General questions (protesting, impatient)
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I'm terribly hard up!
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Aren't we all?
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It's always possible.
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But do you think it's likely?
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I'm quite booked up next week.
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Will the week after suit you better?
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In my view he's a culprit.
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Could you be mistaken?
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I can't meet you this Tuesday,
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Shall we leave it till next week?
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1 can't say I do like this coat.
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Would you have preferred the plum coloured one?
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Imperatives (lively, with a note of critical surprise)
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What on earth shall I do?
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Try it again. You've no alternative.
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What should I tell him?
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Tell him exactly what you think.
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How many sandwiches shall I make?
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Make as many as you think we'll eat.
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I don't want to go alone.
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Come along with us, then.
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I've lost my invitation.
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Well write and ask them to send you another one.
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Exclamations (conveying affronted surprise, protesting)
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I told him what I thought of him.
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Good for you!
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She says she's twenty-nine.
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Absolute nonsense!
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But I can't take you out tonight. I'm working late.
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What a pity you didn't say so sooner.
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Look. It works.
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So it does. How very odd!
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You're a bit grumpy today.
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Not in the least!
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Verbal Context
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Drill
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Why don't you stay longer?
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I've no time. I'm so busy now.
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When do we go there?
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I've just told you. At seven.
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Do you really want to see her?
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I haven't seen her for ages.
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What made you go there?
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I went there because I wanted to.
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Why didn't you come there in time?
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You know how far it is.
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What do you think of this picture?
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It's nothing less than a masterpiece.
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I've no time now. I'm leaving.
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Where to?
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You must look through it again.
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What's wrong about it?
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He'll be here by six.
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What makes you so sure?
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You must phone her at once.
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Why not you?
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I missed some words.
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Why don't you listen?
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You'd better take a taxi.
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What for?
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Monday is a very busy day for me.
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Can't we meet on Friday then?
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You are not a good swimmer, are you?
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Have I ever pretended tc be?
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Mary's not here yet.
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Go alone, then.
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It's too late to walk.
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Take a bus, then.
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I doubt if I can do it better.
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Try again.
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He's given up this idea.
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Sensible chap!
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He's won.
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Would you believe it!
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