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Mark Twain quotes:

Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.

— Mark Twain, US humorist, author (1835 - 1910)

 

Getting someone to do something

Posted in Category/Categories: Email, Meetings, Phrasal verbs.

Getting someone to do something
Explanation:You want something to be done by a deadline. You want to "get someone to do something" by then. (Sinngemäß: dafür sorgen, dass jemand etwas bis zu einem bestimmten Zeitpunkt erledigt.)
The use of “please”:If something has to be done, tell the other person clearly. It helps if you are in a position in the hierarchy to do that, for example if you are the supervisor. In this case you can use "please", though do not overuse the word. It can seem too pushy, reproachful (vorwurfsvoll) or even sarcastic.
Examples of “please”:
  • Please finish this by Friday.
  • Can you finish this by Friday please?
Use “we”:Sometimes it is good to use the "we" pronoun so the other person doesn't feel like you are focusing on him or her, or giving an order.
Examples of “we”:
  • Can we finish this by Friday?
  • We need this done by Friday at the latest.
  • This is a priority, we really have to complete this by Friday.
Use the passive form:We can also use the passive (to be done: something is done) to make the request less direct.
Examples of the passive form:
  • This has to be done by Friday.
  • Can this be taken care of by the end of the week?
  • What can we do to make sure this is done by Friday?
Ask when and if it is convenient:You can ask if it is convenient for the other person to do it.
Examples of this:
  • When you have a minute, could you check this data?
  • Could I bother you to take a look at this report and let me know if we can send it to the customer as is?
  • Can you fit this into your schedule…?

get, an overview

Posted in Category/Categories: Phrasal verbs, Words. Tagged with .

An overview of how get is used
Explanation:Get is a verb which is mainly used in speech and informal writing. It usually replaces some other, more formal, verb.
Uses of get with examples:
  • to buy, pick up, obtain
    He got a new car last week. She got you a coffee.
  • Receive
    I got your email this morning. Did you get my letter?
  • Understand
    I don’t get the meaning of this sentence.
  • Cause something to be done
    I got my car checked. She got her hair styled.
  • Arrive
    I got home late last night. He got to work at 10:00 this morning.
  • Change of state, condition
    It is getting warmer now. He got sick on the weekend. (But NOT: He got manager last month.
  • Send something to someone
    I will get it to you by Friday.
  • To contact someone again, to return a call or email
    I will get back to you this afternoon. (See my entry: language-skills.org/2011/11/28/get-back-to-someone/…)

access

Posted in Category/Categories: Words. Tagged with .

phrases with the noun access
Explanation:The sentences below are examples of using collocations, which are groups of words that often appear together.
Access:Some verbs are often used with the word “access”. In this case we are using the verb “to provide” with the noun “access”.
Example:
  • The customer requires us to provide access to the our reports.
Further examples with other verbs:
  • They will only allow access for a limited time.
  • You can gain access to your user data by logging in.
  • In order to obtain access to the system, you have to create a strong password.
  • If you use the wrong password three times, the system will refuse access.

ability

Posted in Category/Categories: Words. Tagged with .

phrases with the word ability
Explanation:The sentences below are examples of using collocations, which are groups of words that often appear together.
Ability:Some verbs are often used with the word “ability”. In this case we are using the verb “to assess” with the noun “ability”.
Example:
  • The test helps you assess your ability.
Further examples (adapted from linguee.com):
  • The interview is also designed to assess ability to perform management tasks within the multicultural environment.
  • The system contains exercises specifically designed to assess the motor ability and coordination of patients.
  • The Commission’s opinions will assess the applicant countries’ ability to implement the changes.

get in touch with someone

Posted in Category/Categories: Email, Idioms, Telephoning, Writing.

to get in touch with someone
Similar verb phrases:to contact someone, to call or write to someone
Meaning:this is self-explanatory, it means to make contact with a person, as the similar phrases above indicate
Example:
  • Can you get in touch with our supplier?
Using “get”:Again, as mentioned in my previous entry, “get” is a verb with many meanings and uses, and again, this meaning of “get” is “to arrive”. In this case, to “arrive” where you have contact with or could “touch” someone. though of course here it is figurative.
Examples:
  • I’ll get in touch with them later.
  • If you have any problems, please get in touch with our help desk.
  • Please fill out the form, submit it, and we’ll get in touch with you.

get back to someone

Posted in Category/Categories: Email, Telephoning, Words.

to get back to someone
Similar verb phrases:to contact someone again, to follow up on something, to return a call
Meaning:the phrase means to contact someone you are talking to or who wrote to you with a question
Examples:
  • We’ll get back to you as soon as we have an answer.
  • I’ll get back to you after the meeting.
Using “get”:“Get” is a verb with many meanings and uses. One meaning of “get” is “arrive”.
So we can say that the phrase “to get back to someone” means “to arrive back” or “to return to” somewhere. “Somewhere” can have the abstract meaning of “here in this conversation.” That is a short explanation of how the verb “get” is being used in the phrase “to get back to someone.”
Examples:
  • When did you get to work?
  • I got home late last night.
  • The shipment got here on time.

Just for fun, some of you may remember or know the song by The Beatles called Get Back. The meaning in the lyrics is both geographical, to return to where you came from, as well as abstract, to return to your former state of being.
Here is a Wikipedia entry on the song →.
And, for further fun, here is a youtube video of The Beatles performing Get Back on the rooftop of Apple Studios in London in the film Let it Be.