B has either done already or is going to do it soon

FALL-RISE

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The falling-rising tone is a combination of the Low Fall and the Low Rise. It sounds optimistic, enthusiastic, pleased and friendly.

There are two main kinds of tone in English: those which finally rise (and) and those which finally fall (and). Of these the two which seem to occur most frequently are the and the.

Speakers use falling tones in parts of utterances which contain information they think is new for their hearers – when they are telling them something they don’t already know. It may be information in response to a question, or it may be information the speakers present as new, something they want their hearers to know about or consider.

Dave: What shall we GIVE Claire?

Gill: Well, as she likes REA ding, we could give her a BOOK.

- speakers use the falling-rising tone in parts of utterances which contain ideas they think their hearers already know about or have experience of. They refer to something shared by themselves and the hearers at that point in the conversation. It may be something they both know about, e.g.: Gill: Well, as she likes reading…

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Practice activities:

1. I’ve got some letters to write on Tuesday. – This is a suitable response in a context like this:

A: How about coming out for a drink on Tuesday?

B: Unfortunately I’ve got some letters to write on Tuesday.

Now go on in the same way, using words in ()

A is trying to persuade B to go out for a drink but B has something arranged every night and can’t accept.

1) A: Why don’t we go on Wednesday then? 2) A: Can you go on Thursday?

B: I’m afraid / meeting / on Wednesday. B: Sorry / homework / on Thursday.

3) A: Well, let’s go on Friday after work. 4) A: Could you manage Saturday, then?

B: I can’t / phone call / on Friday. B: I’m afraid not / theatre / on Saturday.

A: Oh dear, Sunday perhaps? 6. A: Well, that just leaves Monday …

B: It’s impossible / visit sister / on Sunday. B: Sorry / things to do / on Monday. I

need some time for myself!

2. Look at this example:

B: I’m going to the theatre on Saturday.

This is a suitable response in a context like this: A: Let’s go to the theatre.

B: I’m going to the theatre on Saturday.

- where the theatre is an idea already shared by A and B.

Now go on in the same way. A and B have finally arranged to meet, but they haven’t decided what to do. Whatever A suggests

B has either done already or is going to do it soon.

1) A: Let’s go to the sports centre, then. 2) A: Would you like to see a film?

B: / tomorrow. B: / this evening.

3) A: Shall we visit Janet? She keeps inviting us. 4) A: We could try the new Italian restaurant.

B: / next Monday. B: / last Saturday.

5) A: Why don’t we drive to the coast?

B: / on Thursday.

6) A: Well, let’s just stay in and listen to the music.

B: / last night. That’s what we always do in the end!

Listen to the following utterances which you will hear twice. In each case mark the tones you hear and decide which of the questions, (a) or (b), provides a suitable context for what you hear.

1) I met Robert / this morning. 2) He told me / he was in love.

a) Who did you meet today? a) What did he tell you?

b) When did you meet Robert? b) How do you know he is in love?

3) She’s started to worry / about her exams. 4) I learned Spanish / at school.

a) How does she feel about her exams? a) Where did you learn to speak Spanish?

b) What is she worrying about? b) Did you learn any languages at school?