Main Topic 2: Business Interactions Lesson 14: Task Delegation (20-25 minutes) Today, you will: 1. Learn useful vocabulary related to delegating tasks. 2. Review Subject and Verb Agreement Rules Part 4 (numbers 13-16) I. VOCABULARY Exercise 1: What s the meaning? (5-6 minutes) Choose the meaning of the underlined words from the choices that follow. Then practice using the words in your own sentences. 1. Mark s supervisor acknowledged ( 認めた ) his hard work by giving him a promotion. a. notified b. replaced c. recognized d. disapproved 2. After hours of negotiation, the two CEOs finally reached an agreement. ( 合意 ) a. conduct b. contract c. contrast d. construct 3. Mrs. Leung is the highest person in authority ( 権限 ) in this company. a. power b. money c. expertise d. confidence 4. It is the boss s duty to encourage ( 励ます ) and motivate her team. a. stop b. maintain c. promote d. persuade Page 1
5. Mark was tasked to take over ( 引き継ぐ ) Jane s job while she was on leave. a. show ability b. steal suddenly c. invade secretly d. assume responsibility Exercise 2: What s the word? (5-7 minutes) Read the following dialog with your tutor and try to use context clues to fill in the blanks with the most appropriate word. You can find the missing word from the pool of words at the bottom. The senior manager, Jane Smith, is talking to Mark, an assistant manager. Ms. Smith: Hello Mark, may I have a word with you please? Mark: Certainly. What can I do for you Ms. Smith? Ms. Smith: I will be on leave for two weeks starting May fifth. Since you are a trusted (1) of mine, I am assigning you to take over my post while I am away. Mark: I will be glad to do it. What responsibilities do I need to (2)? Ms. Smith: I just need you to (3) the trainees progress and talk with them regarding their sales targets. Mark: I see, and if they are not performing well and not meeting their targets, do I have permission to (4) them? Ms. Smith: Of course. Mark: Thank you for deeming me (5) for this job. I will do my best. Ms. Smith: I expect you to. Thank you Mark. Page 2
Choices: a. monitor ( 監視する ) b. reprimand ( 叱る ) c. subordinate ( 部下 ) d. suitable ( ふさわしい ) e. release ( 解放する ) f. undertake ( 請け負う ) II. GRAMMAR REVIEW: Topic: Subject-Verb Agreement Rules (5-6 minutes) ( 主語と動詞の一致に関する決まり ) Subjects and verbs must always agree with one another in number. If a subject is singular, its verb must also be singular. If a subject is plural, its verb must also be plural. ( 主語と動詞は数の上で常に一致しなければなりません 主語が単数形であれば動詞も 単数形でなければならず 主語が複数形であれば動詞も複数形でなければいけませ ん ) 1. When a sentence contains both a singular and a plural subject joined by or, nor, neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but also, the verb should agree with the subject that is nearer the verb. (or nor neither/nor either/or そして not only/but also などで接続された単数形の主語と複数形の主語が 文の中に共にある場合 動詞はより動詞に近い位置にある主語の数に一致します ) Example: The chocolate chips or the egg is added next to the batter. ( チョコレートチップか卵がバターの横に添えられています ) 2. The words each, each one, either, neither, everyone, everybody, anybody, anyone, nobody, somebody, someone, and no one are singular and agree with a singular verb. (each each one either neither everyone everybody anybody anyone nobody somebody someone そして no one などの言葉は単数扱いで 動詞の単数形と結びつきます ) Example: Everybody has his own idea of what love is. ( 愛とは何かについては 皆独自の考えを持っています ) Page 3
3. Both, few, many, others, several are plural pronouns and agree with plural verbs. (Both few many others several は複数形の代名詞で 動詞の複数形と結びつきます ) Example: Both girls are intelligent. (2 人の女の子はどちらも知性があります ) 4. Two infinitives joined by and agree with a plural verb. (and で接続された 2 つの不定詞は 動詞の複数形と結びつきます ) Example: To love and to laugh are life s greatest pleasures. ( 愛することと笑うことは人生で最高の喜びの一つです ) Remember: To make sure the subject agrees with the verb, check if your subject and verb are both singular, or both plural. If yes, then you have subject-verb agreement. ( 主語と動詞が一致しているかを確かめるために 主語と動詞の両方が単数形になっているか または複数形になっているかをチェックしましょう もし正しければ 主語と動詞が一致していると言えます ) Incorrect: Correct: McDonald s are a popular fast food restaurant. McDonald s is a popular fast food restaurant. ( マクドナルドは人気のファーストフード店です ) Incorrect: Correct: Some of the students is bored with the lessons. Some of the students are bored with the lessons. ( 生徒の中にはその授業に退屈している者もいます ) Comprehension Check: This sentence is taken from a popular 80 s song. Does it agree in subject and verb? Everybody wants to rule the world. Page 4
Exercise 1: Incomplete Sentences (5-6 minutes) Choose the word or phrase that would best complete the following sentences. 1. Not only Ms. Smith but also the team members Mark as a co-worker. a. like b. likes c. unlike d. dislikes 2. Each of these training manuals to be distributed tomorrow. b. am c. are d. were 3. The employee s least favorite things to do to work overtime and to write annual reports. b. are c. has d. was 4. Many volunteered, but few chosen to take over the important projects of the team. b. were c. has d. will 5. Everybody Mrs. Leung whenever she comes into the office. a. greet b. greets c. is greeting d. have greeted Page 5