(answer key follows)
Michael: Sharon, I am having some
problems at work, and I was wondering if you might be able to give me some
advice.
Sharon: Sure, what's the problem?
Michael: The computer sales business is more difficult than I thought. When customers (come) _______in to look at the new computer models, they often (ask) _______me which model they should buy. If they (ask) ________me to suggest a model, I (be) __________usually quite honest with them. Most computer users don't need a very advanced computer; they just need a basic model which they can use for word-processing, bookkeeping and Internet access. If I am honest and I (recommend) ________one of the cheaper models, my boss (get) __________angry at me. He always says that a good salesperson can convince a customer to buy one of the more expensive advanced models. I don't really feel comfortable doing that. What would you do in my situation? Isn't it wrong to make them buy something which they don't need?
Sharon: I think you should help your customers make an intelligent decision. If I (be) _________you, I (educate) _________the customers. I (teach) _________them how to make a good decision by themselves. I (make, not) _________the decision for them. When a customer (ask) _________a question, answer it honestly. You don't need to lie to the customer, and you don't need to make the decision for them.
Michael: When I (sell) _________an inexpensive computer to a customer, my boss (complain) __________that I am not trying hard enough. What would you tell him?
Sharon: If I (be) _________in your situation, I (tell) _________him that I wasn't comfortable forcing customers to buy products which they don't need. Tell him that you don't want to lie to honest people, and that you want to provide them with good service. Remind him that when customers (get) _________good service, they (return) _________to a store and spend more money.
Michael: I think that's a great idea. He (might) _________change his mind if I said that to him. Maybe he (realize) ________that good service is the most important thing to consumers. And, of course, I (feel) ________much more comfortable if I (be) ________able to be honest with the customers. Thanks for your advice.
Sharon: Sure, what's the problem?
Michael: The computer sales business is more difficult than I thought. When customers (come) _______in to look at the new computer models, they often (ask) _______me which model they should buy. If they (ask) ________me to suggest a model, I (be) __________usually quite honest with them. Most computer users don't need a very advanced computer; they just need a basic model which they can use for word-processing, bookkeeping and Internet access. If I am honest and I (recommend) ________one of the cheaper models, my boss (get) __________angry at me. He always says that a good salesperson can convince a customer to buy one of the more expensive advanced models. I don't really feel comfortable doing that. What would you do in my situation? Isn't it wrong to make them buy something which they don't need?
Sharon: I think you should help your customers make an intelligent decision. If I (be) _________you, I (educate) _________the customers. I (teach) _________them how to make a good decision by themselves. I (make, not) _________the decision for them. When a customer (ask) _________a question, answer it honestly. You don't need to lie to the customer, and you don't need to make the decision for them.
Michael: When I (sell) _________an inexpensive computer to a customer, my boss (complain) __________that I am not trying hard enough. What would you tell him?
Sharon: If I (be) _________in your situation, I (tell) _________him that I wasn't comfortable forcing customers to buy products which they don't need. Tell him that you don't want to lie to honest people, and that you want to provide them with good service. Remind him that when customers (get) _________good service, they (return) _________to a store and spend more money.
Michael: I think that's a great idea. He (might) _________change his mind if I said that to him. Maybe he (realize) ________that good service is the most important thing to consumers. And, of course, I (feel) ________much more comfortable if I (be) ________able to be honest with the customers. Thanks for your advice.
Check your answers.
Michael: Sharon, I am having some
problems at work, and I was wondering if you might be able to give me some
advice.
Sharon: Sure, what's the problem?
Michael: The computer sales business is more difficult than I thought. When customers come in to look at the new computer models, they often ( ask me which model they should buy. If they ask me to suggest a model, I am usually quite honest with them. Most computer users don't need a very advanced computer; they just need a basic model which they can use for word-processing, bookkeeping and Internet access. If I am honest and I recommend one of the cheaper models, my boss gets angry at me. He always says that a good salesperson can convince a customer to buy one of the more expensive advanced models. I don't really feel comfortable doing that. What would you do in my situation? Isn't it wrong to make them buy something which they don't need?
Sharon: Sure, what's the problem?
Michael: The computer sales business is more difficult than I thought. When customers come in to look at the new computer models, they often ( ask me which model they should buy. If they ask me to suggest a model, I am usually quite honest with them. Most computer users don't need a very advanced computer; they just need a basic model which they can use for word-processing, bookkeeping and Internet access. If I am honest and I recommend one of the cheaper models, my boss gets angry at me. He always says that a good salesperson can convince a customer to buy one of the more expensive advanced models. I don't really feel comfortable doing that. What would you do in my situation? Isn't it wrong to make them buy something which they don't need?
This part of the conversation is all in the 0 conditinal-present tense-Micahael is explaining his current situation. Now notice how Susan uses the past tense (1st conditional) to make the situation hypothetical. As they continue the conversation, the go back and forth between real and unreal.
Sharon: I think you should help your customers make an intelligent decision. If I were you, I would educate the customers. I would teach them how to make a good decision by themselves. I wouldn't make the decision for them. When a customer asks a question, answer it honestly. You don't need to lie to the customer, and you don't need to make the decision for them.
Michael: When I sell an inexpensive computer to a customer, my boss complains that I am not trying hard enough. What would you tell him?
Sharon: If I were in your situation, I would tell him that I wasn't comfortable forcing customers to buy products which they don't need. Tell him that you don't want to lie to honest people, and that you want to provide them with good service. Remind him that when customers get good service, they return to a store and spend more money.
Michael: I think that's a great idea. He might change his mind if I said that to him. Maybe he would realize that good service is the most important thing to consumers. And, of course, I would feel much more comfortable if I were able to be honest with the customers. Thanks for your advice.
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