065_Would_You_Know?

065_Would_You_Know?

Kevin Introduces more casual indirect questions with Nichibei student Hiroko.

Kevin:

Hello everyone. Welcome again to Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin Podcasting. A quick and easy way to review English words and phrases. I’m your host, Kevin Jones, and today I’m again speaking with Nichibei student Hiroko about indirect questions in English. Hello Hiroko,

Hiroko:

Hi Kevin.

Kevin:

On the last podcast we studied ways to make an indirect question.

Hiroko:

Right. Such as… Could you tell me how much a ticket is?

Kevin:

That’s right. We also studied indirect questions using … Do you know?

Hiroko:

Ahh… Do you know where Mr. Trinkle is?
 

Kevin:

Very good. So today we are going to continue with… Do you know… indirect questions, but we are going to add on some special phrases such as…
Would you happen to know…
Would you happen to know where Mr. Trinkle is?
and
You wouldn’t happen to know, with the tag question at the end would you?
You wouldn’t happen to know where Mr. Trinkle is, would you?
This signals to the person you are talking to that it is a casual inquiry

Hiroko:

A casual what?

Kevin:

Oh, an inquiry. An inquiry is the asking of a question. A causal question.

Hiroko:

I don’t get it. What do you mean by casual question?

Kevin:

Well it’s a question, which the person asking feels is not serious, or not such an important question.

Hiroko:

Ahh… I still don’t get it.

Kevin:

OK. Let me give you an example.
A direct question would be
What time does the bank open?
In our last podcast we studied how to ask an indirect question such as,
Do you know what time the bank opens.
Today we are going to use the phrases
Would you happen to know…
and
You wouldn’t happen to know would you? …
to ask if someone knows the answer to our question. This is more casual and also signals the person we are asking that if they don’t know the answer, it’s OK. It’s not problem.

Hiroko:

I see.

Kevin:

Now Hiroko, you give it a try. Change this inquiry using the new pattern.
OK, here it is …What is Kyoko’s phone number?

Hiroko:

Ahh… Would you happen to know Kyoko’s phone number?

Kevin:

Perfect Hiroko. Now try it again with the second pattern You wouldn’t happen to know, would you?

Hiroko:

You wouldn’t happen to know Kyoko’s phone number, would you?
 

Kevin:

Very good Hiroko, Remember that these patterns are used when you want to make a more casual inquiry or when it’s OK if you do not get an answer.Hiroko, would you like to have another phrase you you can add to the beginning of this pattern?

Hiroko:

Sure, what is it?

Kevin:

By any chance…

Hiroko:

Oh … By any chance would you happen to know ……

Kevin:

Right. Using this phrase at the beginning makes it very clear to the person I’m asking that I don’t think they know, and it’s OK if they don’t know, but I’m asking anyway.

Hiroko:

Could I hear some examples?

Kevin:

Sure… Let me get some examples from Nichibei instructors.

Kevin:

Ah… Scott.

Scott:

Yeah.

Kevin:

Would you happen to know what time the party starts tonight?

Scott:

Ahh, six o’clock, I think.

Kevin:

Thanks.

Scott:

You’re welcome.

Kevin:

Hey Joji.

Joji:

Yeah.

Kevin:

By any chance, would you know Professor Jackson from Mississippi State University?

Joji:

Yeah sure. We’re old friends.

Kevin:

Phil?

Phil:

Yeah?

Kevin:

By any chance would happen to know where Professor Anderson is?

Phil:

I’m sorry I have no idea.

Kevin:

How were those examples?

Hiroko:

Fine thanks.

Kevin:

OK Hiroko, let me hear you try. Change this inquiry using this casual pattern.

Hiroko:

I’m ready.

Kevin:

Where is Beacon Restaurant?

Hiroko:

By any chance would you happen to know where Beacon Restaurant is?

Kevin:

Very good Hiroko. And thank you so much for your help.

Hiroko:

My pleasure Kevin, it was fun.

Kevin:

And thank you for listening to our podcast. Next episode we’ll talk about more casual ways to use indirect questions. When you have a moment why don’t you visit the podcast website where you can read the transcript for this episode. The address is, www.nichibei.ac.jp/podcasting. This podcast is a production of Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin and Live Mix Media.

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