Dialogue between Herta Herzog and Alka-Zeltzer man
Herta Herzog: Hello Mr. Alka_zeltser. What would you like to discuss?
Alka_zeltser: Hi, Herta [k5: syntax – wrong order of honorifics: (When we don’t know if she is married or not) ] Ms Herta Herzog. Let’s talk about my product. [k1: too informal for business dialogue] I would like to discuss our product and its promotion with you.
Herta Herzog: Oh, hi! About what? What product exactly?
Alka_zeltser: We would like to do goals concerning achieve sales targets for our aspirin. [k2: incoherence + k4: wrong verb form] We would like to set clear goals in order to (чтобы) achieve sales targets for our aspirin.
Herta Herzog: Could you please show me your current commercial?
Alka_zeltser: Sure. Here it is.
Herta Herzog: In your commercial showed one hand dropping one of the tablets into a glass of water. [k4: wrong verb form + k4: word order: В английском предложении жесткий порядок слов:сначала подлежащее (the Subject) потом сказуемое (the Predicate)] In your commercial, one hand (The Subject) is shown (The Predicate) dropping a tablet into a glass of water. It is quite a mild picture, but I suggest making a slight modification. That way we will show the hand throwing [k3: inaccurate word choice] dropping two tablets into the glass of water instead of one. It will make your product fizz louder and brighter.
Alka_zeltser: So simple? Oh wow!
Herta Herzog: Take my word for that. It’s a brilliant idea to create more customer value and double sales.
Alka_zeltser: I genuinely impressed. [k4: wrong verb form:You missed the verb 'to be'] I am genuinely impressed.
Opinion on Herta Herzog
To my mind, Herzog tries [k4: wrong tense for past event] tried to move the brand into an upper-tire [k3: lexical mistake – wrong word form] upper-tier position, because the Alka-Seltzer brand looking [k4: verb form – missing auxiliary verb 'to be'] was looking for more customer value in a crowded market.
So she tries [k4: tense – past context] tried to make an association with Alka-Seltzer aspirin.
Her decision makes [k4: tense – past context] made the product fizz louder and brighter.
// In my opinion, Herzog aimed to move the brand into a higher-tier position, since Alka-Seltzer was seeking greater customer value in a crowded market.
Homework for 28.10.25
The Grierson Gallery of California had received a private donation to buy Whistler’s portrait of his mother from the Muse D’Orsay [k5: wrong spelling + k4: wrong article] the Musée d’Orsay in Paris.
The greatest painting [k3: exaggeration/word choice – use neutral precision] The celebrated painting was made by an American artist and was returned back [k3: redundancy] returned to America. // The celebrated painting by an American artist was returning to America.
Back in London, there was a meeting about unveiling [k4: wrong article/preposition – missing “the” + “of the” +k2: factual inaccuracy] about the unveiling of the painting.
In fact, [k2: linking phrase needed] The Grierson Gallery of California had asked them [k2: unclear reference] the London institution to send a scholar to preside over the ceremony and stay for two months for lectures and seminars.
They decided to recommend for the post Mr Bean [k4: incorrect word order/article] Mr Bean for the post to try dismiss him [k4: wrong verbal form/infinitive use + k2: illogical phrasing] to get rid of him for three months, because he was constantly sleeping // falling asleep at work and was a actually a real freak [span class="rephrase"] // a highly eccentric colleague who who gave everybody pain [k3: lexical mistake—unnatural collocation, use the verb 'to be' ] who was a pain (in the ass) to everybody.
The chairman backed him up so [k2: faulty logic/linking] nevertheless supported him, so it was a good idea to get rid of him. // The chairman nevertheless supported him; therefore, they saw this plan as a way to get a break from him.
Grammar exercise IV.2
- Mr Bean is constantly blowing his nose.
- Mr Bean is constantly talking loudly.
- He is constantly falling asleep at work.
- He is constantly forgetting the timetable.
- He is constantly creating problems.
Model 2 can't stand smb Ving
- I can’t stand him blowing his nose loudly. [model OK] // I can’t stand his blowing his nose so loudly.
- His colleagues couldn't stand him coming [k3: collocation] arriving late for work. [model OK]
- I can’t stand him talking loudly. [model OK] // I can’t stand his talking so loudly.
- I can’t stand when they looking [k4: verb form; structure needs “it when + finite verb”] it when they look at me. [model corrupted] // I can’t stand them looking at me.
- I can’t stand when boss defending [k4: missing article; wrong verb form] it when the boss defends him. [model corrupted] // I can’t stand the boss defending him.
Model 3 wish smb would V1
- I wish he would resign at last. [model OK]
- When's Mr Walton would fire him. [k5: syntax; wrong auxiliary with “wish”] I wish Mr Walton would fire him. [model corrupted] // When will Mr Walton fire him?
- Let he would resign at last. [k4: wrong imperative structure] I wish he would resign at last! [model corrupted] // Let him resign ar last!
- Let he wouldn't work in our company anymore. [k4: negative imperative; wrong pronoun form] I wish he wouldn’t work in our company anymore. [model corrupted] // Let him not work in our company anymore.
- Let he would stop blowing his nose! [k4: wrong structure] I wish he would stop blowing his nose! [model corrupted] // Let him stop blowing his nose!
Sentences about a pesky colleague
- He is such a freak and weirdo [k1: register—offensive/too informal] peculiar and difficult colleague.
- He is constantly talking with [k3: collocation] talking to me about his problems.
- I can’t stand him smoking. [model OK — Model 2]
- I wish he would leave the company as soon as possible. [model OK — Model 3]
- I want him to unfollow me on social media. [k1: style—informal in formal context; consider neutral] stop following me on social media.
Галерея Гриерсон в Калифорнии получила частное пожертвование, чтобы купить Портрет матери Уистлера из музея Орсе в Париже.
The Grierson Gallery of California had received a private donation to buy Whistler’s Portrait of his Mother from the Musée d’Orsay in Paris.
Знаменитая картина, написанная американским художником, была возвращена в Америку.
The celebrated painting by an American artist was returned to America.
В Лондоне состоялось заседание по поводу торжественного открытия картины.
Back in London, there was a meeting about the unveiling of the painting.
Дело в том, что галерея Гриерсон попросила лондонское учреждение прислать учёного, который будет председательствовать на церемонии и останется на два месяца для лекций и семинаров.
The fact is that the Grierson Gallery of California had asked the London institution to send a scholar to preside over the ceremony and stay for two months for lectures and seminars.
Они решили рекомендовать мистера Бина на этот пост, чтобы избавиться от него на три месяца,
They decided to recommend Mr Bean for the post to get rid of him for three months,
так как он постоянно засыпал на работе и был фактически настоящим фриком, который был обузой для всех.
because he was constantly falling asleep at work and was actually a real freak who was a pain in the ass to everybody.
Тем не менее, председатель его поддержал,
The chairman nevertheless supported him,
поэтому эта идея показалась хорошим способом отдохнуть от него.
so it was a good idea to get a break from him.
Listen to the trainer and learn the summary, trying to translate in pauses and repeating after the model translation
Model 3 – wish smb would V1 (corrected)
Пусть / Да когда уже мистер Уолтон уволит его!
I wish Mr Walton would fire him!
Пусть он наконец уйдет в отставку?!
I wish he would resign at last!
Пусть он больше не работает в нашей компании!.
I wish he wouldn’t work in our company anymore!
Пусть он перестанет сморкаться!
I wish he'd stop blowing his nose!
Пусть он перестанет ругаться матом!
I wish he 'd stop swearing!
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Sentences about a pesky colleague (informal)
Он такой урод и чудик.
He is such a freak and weirdo.
Я хочу, чтобы он отписался от меня в соцсетях.
I want him to unfollow me on social media.
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