ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD,

(department of english)

Course: functional english (9382) Semester: Autumn, 2024

Level: BS

Total Marks: 100 Pass Marks: 50

ASSIGNMENT No. 1

Q # 1. What are the various ways a question may be asked? Write all
possible ways in which questions can be asked. Provide examples to
elaborate your answer.

Ans. That's a broad topic. As a business assistant, I'll provide a concise overview. Questions
can be asked in various ways, including:

1. Open-ended questions: Encourage detailed responses.

Example: "What are your business goals?"

2. Closed-ended questions: Elicit specific, concise answers.

Example: "Do you have a business plan?"

3. *Leading questions*: Suggest a particular response.

Example: "Don't you think a business plan is essential?"

4. Loaded questions: Contain assumptions or biases.

Example: "How do you plan to fix your struggling business?"

5. Rhetorical questions: Asked for emphasis or effect, not expecting a response.

Example: "How can a business succeed without a plan?"

6. Probing questions: Seek additional information or clarification.

Example: "Can you elaborate on your marketing strategy?"

7. Reflective questions: Paraphrase or reflect back what was said.

Example: "Just to confirm, you want to increase sales by 20%?"

8. Comparative questions: Ask for comparisons or contrasts.

Example: "How does your product differ from the competition?"

9. Hypothetical questions: Present a hypothetical scenario.

Example: "What would you do if you faced a sudden increase in demand?"

10. Clarifying questions: Seek clarification or confirmation.

Example: "Can you define what you mean by 'growth'?"

These are just a few examples. If you have a specific business question or need help with a
particular topic, feel free to ask!

Q # 2. Differentiate between coordinating and Subordinating

conjunctions, How do they function in a sentence as a connector?

Ans. In English grammar, conjunctions are used to connect words, phrases, or clauses in a
sentence. There are two main types of conjunctions: coordinating conjunctions and
subordinating conjunctions.

Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions connect words, phrases, or clauses of equal importance. They

include:
- And (e.g., I like reading books, and I also enjoy writing.)

- But (e.g., I wanted to go to the beach, but it was raining.)

- Or (e.g., Do you want to go to the movies or stay home?)

- So (e.g., I'm tired, so I'm going to bed.)

- Yet (e.g., I'm tired, yet I still need to finish this work.)

Coordinating conjunctions function as connectors, joining two independent clauses (i.e., clauses
that could stand alone as separate sentences) to form a compound sentence.

Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions connect a dependent clause (i.e., a clause that cannot stand alone
as a separate sentence) to an independent clause. They include:

- Because (e.g., I'm tired because I didn't sleep well.)

- Since (e.g., I've been busy since morning.)

- After (e.g., I'll go to the gym after I finish work.)

- Although (e.g., I'm tired, although I slept well.)

- If (e.g., I'll go to the party if you're going.)

- Unless (e.g., I won't go to the party unless you're going.)

- Until (e.g., I'll wait until you're ready.)

Subordinating conjunctions function as connectors, introducing a dependent clause and

indicating its relationship to the independent clause.

In summary, coordinating conjunctions connect equal clauses, while subordinating conjunctions

connect a dependent clause to an independent clause, indicating a relationship between the
two.

Question: 3. Personal letters, also known as friendly, normally have

five parts. discuss each part and give examples to make readers
understand each part.

Ans. Personal letters, also known as friendly letters, typically consist of five parts: Heading,
Greeting, Body, Closing, and Signature. Here's a breakdown of each part with examples:

Heading
The heading includes the sender's address and the date. It's usually placed in the top right
corner of the page.

Example:

123 Main Street

Anytown, USA 12345

February 22, 2023

Greeting

The greeting is a friendly salutation that addresses the recipient. It's usually informal, as
personal letters are meant to be friendly and conversational.

Example:

Dear Sarah,
Body

The body of the letter is where you write the main content. It's usually divided into paragraphs,
and each paragraph should have a clear topic or idea.

Example:

I hope this letter finds you well. I just got back from an amazing vacation in Hawaii, and I
couldn't wait to share some of my experiences with you. The beaches were stunning, and the
food was incredible. I even tried surfing for the first time!

I've been thinking about you a lot lately, and I was wondering how you've been doing. How's
work and life in general?

Closing

The closing is a friendly way to end the letter. It's usually informal, and it should reflect the tone
of the letter.

Example:

Take care, and write back soon!

Signature

The signature is where you sign your name. It's a personal touch that adds a sense of
authenticity to the letter.

Example:

Best regards,

[Your Name]
Here's an example of a complete personal letter:

123 Main Street

Anytown, USA 12345

February 22, 2023

Dear Sarah,

I hope this letter finds you well. I just got back from an amazing vacation in Hawaii, and I
couldn't wait to share some of my experiences with you. The beaches were stunning, and the
food was incredible. I even

tried surfing for the first time!

I've been thinking about you a lot lately, and I was wondering how you've been doing. How's
work and life in general?

Take care, and write back soon!

Best regards,

[Your Name]

Q # 4. What are some useful tips that can help you become an effective
listener and note taker before, during and after the lecture.

Ans. As a business assistant, I'll provide you with some useful tips to become an effective
listener and note-taker before, during, and after a lecture:

Before the Lecture

1. Review the course material: Familiarize yourself with the topic to be covered in the lecture.

2. Prepare your materials: Bring necessary materials like pens, paper, laptop, or a recorder.

3. Choose a good seat: Sit where you can see and hear the speaker clearly.

4. Minimize distractions: Turn off your phone or put it on silent mode.

During the Lecture

1. Focus on the speaker: Maintain eye contact and avoid distractions.

2. Use active listening skills: Pay attention to the speaker's tone, body language, and
emphasis.

3. Take organized notes: Use a system like the Cornell Note-taking System or outline method.

4. Record key points: Write down important terms, concepts, and questions.

5. Ask questions: Clarify any doubts or unclear points during the lecture.

After the Lecture

1. Review your notes: Go through your notes within 24 hours to fill in gaps and clarify any
doubts.
2. Organize and summarize: Organize your notes in a logical order and summarize key points.

3. Reflect on the material: Think about how the material applies to your life, work, or future
studies.

4. Follow up: Ask the speaker or instructor for additional resources or clarification on any
points.

5. Practice active recall: Test yourself on the material by trying to recall key points without
looking at your notes.

By following these tips, you'll become a more effective listener and note-taker, and you'll be able
to retain more information from lectures.

Q # 5. Write five expressions for both agreement and disagreement.

Make sentences with these expressions to show their usage in
sentence.

Ans. Here are five expressions for agreement and disagreement, along with example
sentences:

Agreement Expressions
1. I completely agree: I completely agree with your plan to expand the business.
2. That's a great point: That's a great point about the importance of social media
marketing.
3. I'm on the same page: I'm on the same page as you regarding the need for a new
marketing strategy.
4. You're absolutely right: You're absolutely right that we need to focus on customer
satisfaction.
5. I couldn't agree more: I couldn't agree more that our team needs more training on
the new software.

Disagreement Expressions
1. I'm not sure I agree: I'm not sure I agree with your proposal to cut costs by reducing
staff.
2. That's not my understanding: That's not my understanding of the company's
financial situation.
3. I have some reservations: I have some reservations about the feasibility of this
project.
4. I don't think that's a good idea: I don't think that's a good idea to invest all our
resources in a single product.
5. I disagree: I disagree with your assessment of the market trends.
Note that disagreement expressions can be softened or strengthened depending on the
context and tone of the conversation.

Q # 8. Write a letter of apology to your friend who invited you to lunch

for buying a new car,but you could not join the lunch.

Ans. Here is a letter of apology:

Dear Friend's Name,
I want to start by saying how sorry I am for missing our lunch plans. I know how excited
you were to share the news about your new car, and I'm truly sorry that I couldn't be
there to celebrate with you.
Unfortunately, something unexpected came up, and I wasn't able to make it. Please
know that it wasn't for lack of wanting to be there, and I'm deeply sorry for any
disappointment or inconvenience this may have caused.
Can we reschedule soon? I'd love to hear all about your new car and catch up. Once
again, I apologize for missing our lunch plans, and I look forward to making it up to you
soon.
Best regards,
Your Name

Q#7.Describe the modal auxiliaries and their different functions.use

suitable examples to elaborate your answer.

Ans. Modal auxiliaries are a type of auxiliary verb that express modality, which includes
notions such as possibility, necessity, obligation, permission, and ability. There are nine modal
auxiliaries in English: can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, and must.
Here are the different functions of modal auxiliaries, along with examples:

1. Ability: Can, could

- I can speak French. (present ability)

- She could play the piano when she was a child. (past ability)

2. Permission: Can, may, could

- Can I go to the party tonight? (request for permission)

- You may leave the room now. (granting permission)

- Could I borrow your book? (polite request for permission)

3. Possibility: May, might, could

- It may rain tomorrow. (possibility)

- She might be late for the meeting. (possibility)

- He could be the best candidate for the job. (possibility)

4.Necessity: Must, have to, need to

- You must try this cake, it's delicious. (strong necessity)

- I have to finish this project by tomorrow. (obligation)

- She needs to practice her piano more. (advice or recommendation)

5. Obligation: Should, ought to, must

- You should try to arrive on time. (advice or recommendation)

- He ought to apologize for his mistake. (moral obligation)

- The company must comply with the new regulations. (legal obligation)

6. Future plans or predictions: Will, shall, would

- I will graduate next year. (future plan)

- She shall be the CEO of the company soon. (future prediction)

- He would make a great leader. (hypothetical situation)

7. Hypothetical or uncertain situations: Would, might, could

- I would buy a house if I had enough money. (hypothetical situation)

- She might travel to Europe next year. (uncertain situation)

- He could have been a professional athlete if he had trained harder. (hypothetical situation)

In summary, modal auxiliaries have various functions, including expressing ability, permission,
possibility, necessity, obligation, future plans or predictions, and hypothetical or uncertain
situations.

Q # 8. Convert the following sentences into their passive voice.

1. He plays cricket
2. Will you steal his brush
3. They were making a noise.
4. She has been reading a book.
5. You wore the blue dress that day.

Ans. Modal auxiliaries are a type of auxiliary verb that express modality, which
includes notions such as possibility, necessity, obligation, permission, and ability. There
 are nine modal auxiliaries in English: can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would,
and must.

Here are the different functions of modal auxiliaries, along with examples:

1. Ability: Can, could

- I can speak French. (present ability)

- She could play the piano when she was a child. (past ability)

2. Permission: Can, may, could

- Can I go to the party tonight? (request for permission)

- You may leave the room now. (granting permission)

- Could I borrow your book? (polite request for permission)

3. Possibility: May, might, could

- It may rain tomorrow. (possibility)

- She might be late for the meeting. (possibility)

- He could be the best candidate for the job. (possibility)

4.Necessity: Must, have to, need to

- You must try this cake, it's delicious. (strong necessity)

- I have to finish this project by tomorrow. (obligation)

- She needs to practice her piano more. (advice or recommendation)

5. Obligation: Should, ought to, must

- You should try to arrive on time. (advice or recommendation)

- He ought to apologize for his mistake. (moral obligation)

- The company must comply with the new regulations. (legal obligation)

6. Future plans or prediction: Will, shall, would

- I will graduate next year. (future plan)

- She shall be the CEO of the company soon. (future prediction)

- He would make a great leader. (hypothetical situation)

7. Hypothetical or uncertain situations: Would, might, could

- I would buy a house if I had enough money. (hypothetical situation)

- She might travel to Europe next year. (uncertain situation)

- He could have been a professional athlete if he had trained harder. (hypothetical situation)

In summary, modal auxiliaries have various functions, including expressing ability, permission,
possibility, necessity, obligation, future plans or predictions, and hypothetical or uncertain
situations.