UNIT 8 HUMAN RESOURCES

LANGUAGE REVIEW

-ing forms and infinitives

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We sometimes use one verb after another verb. Often the second verb is in the infinitive. We can't afford to increase their pay. He intends to sign the new contract next week.

Sometimes the second verb must be in the ing form. This depends on the first verb. (See page 149 for a list of verbs that are usually fallowed by the ing form.) My job involves monitoring sickness levels.

Some verbs can be followed by the ing form or the infinitive without a big change in meaning. I started working there last month. / I started to work there last month.

With other verbs, however, the meaning changes. We stopped to have lunch. 0Ne stopped what we were doing in order to have lunch.) We stopped having lunch. 0Ne stopped our habit of having lunch.)

=:l Grammar reference page 149

EI In each of the sentences, two of the verbs are possible and one is incorrect.

III

Cross out the incorrect verb. 1 He . . . . . . . . . . . . to review our complaints procedures.

a) promised b) delayed c) wanted

2 I . . . . . . . . . . . improving interpersonal skills training.

a) undertook b) suggested

3 . . . . . . . . . . . . to meet the HR Director.

a) decided b) didn't mind

c) recommended

c) arranged

4 She . . . . . . . . . . . to check the redundancy arrangements.

a) refused b) failed c) put off

5 We . . . . . . . . . . . . to review our policy for anti bullying in the workplace.

a) consider b) hope c) plan

Match the sentence halves. 1 H R recommends a) to raise the minimum wage.

2 The company simply can't afford b) to call me back in a couple of days.

3 This job involves c) smoking after the programme.

4 The manager seemed impressed d) working weekends sometimes. by my CV and promised

5 Three members of staff stopped e) to follow a directive given by his superior.

6 He was fired because he refused f) using the cheapest form of transport.

II Choose the most appropriate form of the verb to complete the sentences. 1 HR's new computer programme has stopped working / to work.

2 She was driving in a hurry, but she stopped answering / to answer her mobile phone.

3 Did you remember calling / to call H R yesterday?

4 I can't remember offering / to offer you a raise.

5 I forgot telling / to tell you I'd quit my job.

6 I ' l l never forget making / to make my first sale.

III Make sentences of your own with the verbs i n bold i n Exercise B, using either the -ing form or the infinitive.

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SKILLS

Getting information on the telephone

USEFUL LANGUAGE

SAYING WHO YOU ARE Good morning, my name's Lisa Mann. Hello, Ben speaking.

STATING YOUR PURPOSE I'm calling about ... The reason I'm calling is ...

UNIT 8 HUMAN RESOURCES

m l CD2.9 Cindy Tan calls the Guangdong Trading Company (GTC) to get i nformation about an advertisement i n the China Post for the position of Marketing Assistant. listen to her talking to li Ping. a member of the Human Resources department. Tick the points about which she needs further information.

a) the closing date

b) what the duties would be

c) if there's an application form

d) when she would be expected to join the company

e) how many days' holiday she would get

f) what the starting salary would be

III 1 CD2.9 listen to the call again and complete the extracts . Cindy Li Ping Cindy

Cindy

Li Ping

Cindy

Li Ping Cindy

Li Ping

Cindy Li Ping

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ' if you could give me a little more information. Certainly, what do you need to know? Well. first of all, am I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 ?

Just one o r two more questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . when the successful candidate has to start work with you. I mean, if I get the job, will i be able to give my present employer sufficient notice? OK, that's a good question. How much

. . h ?

OK, so, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " I probably wouldn't have to start working until February, and maybe even later? 6 One last question. Could I ask you . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . 7? It wasn't given in the advert. You're right. It would depend on a lot of things: qualifications, experience, personal qualities, that sort of thing .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 you can't give me a figure? That's right. The salary's . . . . . . . . . . . . '.

B Role-play this telephone situation in pairs, A department store will be hiring a number of temporary workers from Omnia Employment Agency. The Human Resources Manager calls the agency to discuss some of the terms and conditions of the contract. Read your role cards. then role-play the call.

Human Resources Manager: Turn to page 137. Employment agency consultant: Turn to page 142.

ASKING FOR CHECKING SHOWING INFORMATION INFORMATION INTEREST I was wondering if Just to get this Certainly, what do you could give me ... ? clear ... you need to know? Could you tell me ... ? There's just one No, don't worry. I'd also like to know ... other thing, I'd like I look forward to

to check ... getting it. Could I ask you ... ? Are you saying ... ? That's correct.

Good luck.

ENDING A CALL OK, I think that's everything. Right, I think that's ali i need to know.

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II Modal verbs Advice 1 We can use should and shouldn't to give or

ask for advice.

You should always learn something about a country before visiting it.

Should I invite our agents out to dinner after the meeting?

He shouldn't ask so many personal questions.

Should often follows the verbs suggest and think.

I think we should find out more about them before signing the contract.

2 For strong advice, we can use must or mustn't.

They must pay their bills on time in future.

You mustn't refuse if you're offered a small gift

Obligation/Necessity 1 We often use must when the obligation

comes from the person speaking or writing.

We must ask them to dinner when they're over here.

2 We use mustn't to say that something is prohibited, it is not allowed.

You mustn't smoke in here.

3 We often use have to to show that the obligation comes from another person or institution, not the speaker.

You have to renew your residence permit after three months. (This is the law.)

lack of obligation / lack of necessity We use don't have to when there is no need or obligation to do something.

You don't have to wait for your order. You can collect it now.

Compare the uses of must not and don't have to here.

We mustn't rush into a new partnership too quickly. We don't have to make a decision for at least six months.

GRAMMAR REFERENCE

II -ing forms and infinitives 1 We sometimes use one verb after another

verb. Often, the second verb is in the infinitive form.

We are continuing to cut our manufacturing costs.

Management agreed to offer generous redundancy terms to all staff affected.

The verbs below are often followed by the infinitive.

intend attempt promise plan

mean try arrange offer

want pretend hope forget

seem fail wish expect

claim guarantee

2 Sometimes, the second verb must be in the ing form. This depends on the first verb.

The decision involves reducing our heavy losses.

The verbs below are usually followed by the ing form.

admit appreciate contemplate

give up involve deny

enjoy consider carry on

mean mind justify can't stand don't mind remember resent detest recommend risk delay miss suggest avoid put off

look forward to

Some verbs can be followed by the ing form or the infinitive form without a big change in meaning.

She started loading the software. / She started to load the software.

Sometimes, however, the meaning changes.

She stopped to read the manual. (She stopped what she was doing in order to read the manual.)

She stopped reading the manual. (She no longer bothered to read the manual.)

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