UNIT 7: TRATANDO CON QUEJAS
7-1 PRESENT PERFECT PASSIVE
After inspecting the rooms at 10.00 a.m., the housekeeper in a large hotel made a list of jobs that needed to be done. It is now 11.50 a.m. Write sentences about what
has been done and what
hasn't been done.
- 201 - fix lock on bathroom door (No)
The lock on the bathroom door in 201 hasn't been fixed.
- 208 - collect laundry (Yes)
The laundry has ben collected from 208.
- 213 - mend plug (Yes)
The plug in 213 has been mended.
- 215 - replace kettle (No)
The kettle in 215 hasn't been replaced.
-316 - clean up red wine stain on carpet (No)
The red wine stain on carpet in 316 hasn't been cleaned up.
- 302 - change bedcovers (Yes)
The bedcovers in 302 have been changed.
- Third floor- empty bins in corridor (Yes)
The bins in corridor on the third floor have been emptied.
- 403 - repair leaking tap (No)
The tap leaking in 403 hasn't been repaired.
- 416 - put in cot (No)
The cot hasn't been put in 416.
- 500 - air-conditioning needs adjusting (Yes)
The air-conditioning in 500 has been needed adjusting.
7-2 SHOULD HAVE (DONE)
Look at these examples from the conversation:
- This room is filthy. They should have cleaned it.
- You should have complained earlier.
- They should have made the bed.
- The news was awful. You should have said something about it.
- He shouldn't have been so inefficient.
- He should have written down the informations straight away.
7-3 COMPLAINT
- This soup's disgusting!
- I'm sorry to trouble you, but i don't seem to have any towels.
- It's really noisy. Can't you do something about it?
- The central heating's not working.
- Look. Our sheets haven't been changed.
- Sorry, but I ordered tea, not coffee.
- I can't seem to get the shower to work.
7-4 APOLOGY
Lo siento mucho:
- I'm extremely sorry
- I'm very sorry
- I'm awfully sorry
- I'm terribly sorry
7-5 ACTION
-
I'll send someone up to clean it immediately.
-
I'll send someone up to change it immediately.
7-6 WRITE A LETTER TO ONE OF THE GUESTS APOLOGIZING FOR THE DIFFICULTIES THEY HAD, AND EXPLAINING THE REASONS
Structure:
Paragraph 1: Thank writer for letter. Make general apology.
Paragraph 2: Make specific apology and give explanation/reasons for each complaint.
Paragraph 3: Offer some compensation (if you want).
Paragraph 4: Repeat general apology and make closing remarks.
Here are some expressions which may be useful:
- Thank you for...
- I was sorry to hear...
- I would like to explain...
- I can assure you...
- As a sign of our concern, we would like to offer... Como muestra de nuestro interés nos gustaría ofrecer...
- I hope...
- Please accept...
7-7 VOCABULARY
Mend: Arreglar
Lock: Bloquear
Stain: Mancha
Bins: Contenedores
Leaking: Fugas
Cot: Cuna
Cater: Abastecer
Arrangements: Arreglos
Wash-basin: Lavabo
Sweep: Barrer
Vacuum: Clean with a special machine. Pasar la aspiradora
Sheets: Sábanas
Nasty: Unkind. Poco amable, grosero
Make a fuss: Cause a lot of problems with no real reason
Shabby: Dressed in old, untidy clothes
Immaculate: Perfect, very neat
Rambling: Talking in a long, unorganized way. Hablar dando un rodeo.
To discuss: Discutir
To argue: Argumentar
To curse: Insultar
Straight away: Inmediatamente
To deal: Tratar
Complaint: Queja
Remarks: Observaciones
Shelves: Estanterías
Dust: Polvo
To empty: Vaciar
Cope with: Enfrentarse con...
Filthy: Very dirty