15. Wishful Thinking (III)

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And now, all things considered, you will find it easier to agree with the fact that the context in which the lie is told is of great significance. A lie told in order not to offend someone’s feelings is by all means less dangerous than one told in order to gain fame, fortune, or glory…

It is for you to decide, after making all the changes and additions necessary to produce a complete dialogue from the words and phrases below.

Example: So/get here/last/Peter.

► So you got here at last, Peter.

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PETER Yes/I be/terribly sorry/late.

(1) …         

JENNY It be/second time/this/happen/last two weeks.

(2) …         

PETER I know/I hope/you/forgive me.

(3) …         

JENNY Well/why/late/this time?

(4) …         

PETER The boss/ask me/work late/again.

(5) …         

JENNY Well/why/you not/phone me?

(6) …                  

PETER I/try to/but/not be/possible.

(7) …         

JENNY What/you mean? You try/tell me/there be/no phones/your office?

(8) …         

PETER Of course/there be/phones/the office/but/ there be/something wrong/them.

(9) … 

Peter & Jenny


So you got here at last, Peter.
(1) It's the second time this has happened in the last two weeks.
(2) I know, and I hope you'll forgive me.
(3) Well, why were you late this time?
(4) The boss asked me to work late again.
(5) Well, why didn't you phone me?
(6) I tried to, but it was not possible.
(7) What do you mean? Are you trying to tell me there are no phones in your office?
(8) Of course there are phones in the office, but there was something wrong with them.

Which of the statements below are true (T) and which are false (F)?

1.   Peter has never been late before. T/F

2.  He phoned Jenny to tell her he would be late. T/F

3.  Dinner is ready when he arrives. T/F

4.  Jenny had to go away on business last weekend.

5.  She doesn't believe Peter when he says he saw some friends last weekend. T/F

6.  He doesn't know who Carla is. T/F

7.  Peter is very amused when he notices her watch. T/F

8.  Jenny seems to have a special way of finding out if Peter is telling the truth. T/F

What has been causing the strange noise that Peter keeps hearing?

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1  Why do you think Jenny doesn't believe Peter's story about the phones?

2   What other lies does he tell?

3  Who could Carla be?

4  What exactly is it that proves to Peter that Jenny is lying to him, too?

All the questions you've read so far are sufficient to give you food for thought. Hopefully, they will motivate you to post your comments on the whole topic, for which the following section is the last one. 

ANOTHER, CLOSER LOOK AT LANGUAGE:  

I wish and If only

• What's the difference?

1   (a)          I don't want to live in a big city; (b) I wish I didn’t live in a big city.

2   (a)          I want to have a lot of money, (b) If only I had a lot of money.

3   (a)          I hope I can come to your party, (b) I wish I could come to your party.

4   (a)          I want to be in London now. (b) If only I were in London now.

•   Which of these sentences (a) or (b) expresses most clearly the idea that the speaker is sorry about something?

Finish each sentence so that it means more or less the same thing as the one before it.

1         I'm sorry I can't speak English perfectly.

I wish ...

2         I'm sorry I haven't got a lot of money.

If only ...

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3         What a pity I don't know the answer to that question.

I wish ...

4         I'm sorry I have to work in this terrible place.

If only ...

5         I'm sorry that I can't help you.

I wish ...

6         I'd like to be rich but I'm not.

If only ...

7         Don't you think it's a pity you can't drive?

Don't you wish ...