You are on page 1of 1

Useful language The life and times of Patrick Swayze.

TRACK 04 for successful


communication.
FUNCTIONAL LANGUAGE
FUNCTIONAL LANGUAGE &
THE GENTLEMAN COWBOY

THIS MONTH: E-MAILS

Punctuation
The Gentleman
Cowboy
@ = at = amy@yahoo.com
“.” = dot = ben@gmail.com
“-” = hyphen = nigel-bates@hotmail.com
“_” = underscore = peter_jones@yahoo.com

H
is biggest films were Dirty Dancing Patrick Wayne
and Ghost. He was known as the Swayze
Things to do with an e-mail gentleman cowboy, but Patrick Actor, dancer and
Swayze passed away at the age of just 57. singer-songwriter.
Send an e-mail.
Receive an e-mail.
Born 18th August
Swayze’s big break came in 1987 with the 1952(1952-08-18) in
Reply to an e-mail. film Dirty Dancing. It was a low-budget Houston, Texas. Died
Delete an e-mail. film and was almost scrapped at one 14th September 2009 in
Forward an e-mail. point. However, it eventually became Los Angeles, California.
Attach a document to an e-mail. a big hit that generated $64 million Famous quotes from his
Open an e-mail. at the US box office and $214 million films: “Pain don’t hurt!”
(Road House); “Nobody
Close an e-mail. worldwide. In the film, Swayze played puts Baby in a corner!”
dance instructor Johnny Castle who (Dirty Dancing).
starts a romance with 17-year-old New
Things you say Yorker Frances “Baby” Houseman (played
by Jennifer Grey). In real life, dance was
Could you send me that e-mail, please? always important for Swayze. His mother
Did you get the e-mail I sent you? owned a dance studio in Houston (Texas)
Did you open the e-mail attachment? and he learnt to dance at an early age.
Could you send the e-mail again, please? Swayze met his future wife, Lisa Niemi,
Forward it to everyone on the list. at his mum’s dance studio.
You forgot to attach the document.
Swayze’s next big film was Ghost
Dialogue (1990). In the movie, Swayze plays the
part of a ghost who tries to protect
IN THIS DIALOGUE, BRIONY AND AARON HAVE his fiancée (played by Demi Moore). GLOSSARY
JUST MET. It was an even bigger hit, taking more to pass away phr vb
Briony: Well, that was great to finally meet you. than $505 million worldwide. to die
a big break n
Aaron: Likewise. We must keep in touch. In March 2008, Swayze announced that an opportunity to become famous
a low-budget film adj
Briony: Could I get your e-mail address, please? he had pancreatic cancer. However, a film that is produced with very
Aaron: Sure. I’ll give you my personal one, it’s he continued filming a new cable little money
to scrap vb
aaron77@yahoo.com television series, playing an FBI agent on if you “scrap” something, you
Briony: Let me just get a pen. The Beast. He eventually died on 14th abandon any plans you had for it
a hit n
Aaron: Here you are. [He gives her a pen.] It’s aaron77@ September at his home in Los Angeles. a very successful film/song, etc.
the box office n
yahoo.com Demi Moore said of Swayze, “Patrick you the “box office” refers to the amount
Briony: Is that all lowercase? are loved by so many and your light will ofsalesmoney a film receives from ticket
in the cinema
Aaron: Yes. And your e-mail address? forever shine in all of our lives.” Whoopi a fiancée n
Briony: It’s brion_89@gmail.com Goldberg, who won an Oscar for Best a woman who someone is going
to marry
Aaron: Sorry, what was that number again? Supporting Actress in Ghost, said, “Patrick to owe vb
if you say that you "owe" someone
Briony: Eighty nine. Underscore, eight, nine. was a really good man, a funny man something, you are grateful to that
Aaron: Great. I’ll send you those documents as soon as I and one to whom I owe much that I person because they have helped you
gorgeous adj
get back to the office. can’t ever repay.” And Jennifer Grey said, really nice; lovely; kind; wonderful
a tender heart exp
Briony: Fantastic. Speak soon. “Gorgeous and strong, he was a real someone with a “tender heart” is very
Aaron: Bye. cowboy with a tender heart.” kind and nice

12 / www.learnhotenglish.com / For Skype / Phone speaking classes, e-mail classes@learnhotenglish.com

You might also like