Learning English

Caalii
Yooyyaa! Gara sagantaa barnootaa How do I… ‘tti baga nagaan dhufte! An Caaliidha. Shaan na waliin jirti.

Sian
Hi, everybody!

Caalii
Sagantaa kana keessatti, wayita namni tokko waan tokko akka raawwattuuf si affeeru akkatti haala dansaa ta’een ‘lakki’ jechuu dandeessuurratti haalawwan garagaraa ilaalla.
Fiil, ganama boriitti namoota ta’an buna affeeruuf yoo gaafatu caqasuun haajalqabnu. Hubachuuf yoo si rakkise, hinyaadda’iin; gara boodaatti gargaarsa siif goona. Ammaan namoonni meeqa ‘eeyee’ akka jedhan qofa qalbeeffadhu.

Do you want to come for a coffee with me tomorrow morning?

• I'd love to, but I'm meeting a friend then.
• I'd like to, but I'm really busy.
• Ah sorry, but I have to work.

Caalii
Did you understand? Nobody said yes. Poor Phil! So, Sian, shall we look at the language we can use to say 'no' politely?

Sian
I’d like to, but I'm really busy! No, I'm just joking! Of course!

Caalii
Ha ha! Very funny Shaan! Amma dubbataan jalqabaa 'I'd love to' jedhe; haala gaarii kan ibsu yoo ta’ellee, ‘lakki’ jechuukee dura gaalee kana fayyadamuun kan barameedha. Irradeebinee haacaqasnu.

I'd love to, but I'm meeting a friend then.

Sian
So we often start by saying 'I'd love to, but…' or 'I'd like to, but…' and then we give a reason why we can't accept the invitation. So if you hear 'but' and a reason you know that the person is saying 'no'.

Caalii
Bakka kanatti, akkitti sagaleessanis barbaachisaadha – namichi ‘lakki’ jechuuf kan deemu yoo ta’e akkaata sagaleessaarra baruu ni dandeessa.

Sian
Exactly, so let's practise. Repeat after me and pay attention to the tone.
I'd love to, but…
I'd like to, but…

You can also just say 'I'm sorry, but...'

Caalii
Akkasumas, walumagalatti sababa affeerricha fudhachuu dadhabdeefis himuun barbaachisaadha; akkas mitii?

Sian
That's right. Can you remember any of the reasons they gave? Let's listen to the three reasons again.

I'm meeting a friend.
I'm busy then.
I have to work.

Sian
So the first person said 'I'm meeting a friend' – it's very common to use the present continuous to give your reason. For example, you can say 'I'd love to, but I'm going to the cinema'.

Caalii
Eeyee, egaa asitti henna ammaa kan itti fufu fayyadamna, sababiinsaa karoora beekama fi kan qabatamaatti gochuuf jirtu tokko waan ta’ef.
Akkasumas sababa hinqabdu yoo ta’e, ‘yommuu sana muddaman qaba ykn hojiitu natti baay’ata’ ‘I’m busy then’ jechuu dandeessa.

Sian
Yes, but that can seem rude so it's better to give a reason if you can.
The last person used 'I have to' so if you have an obligation you can use this form to give your reason. Let's practise that. Repeat after me.
I have to work.

Caalii
Ammaa haalawwan ittiin ‘lakki’ jedhan baratteetta; yeroon kun kan itti shaakaltuudha. First listen to this question:

Would you like to come to dinner tonight?

Caalii
Tole egaa, sababa tiyaatirii daawwachuu deemtuuf hindandeessu haa jennu. Jecha jaalachuu ‘love’ fayyadamuun haala gaarii ta’een deebii kenni; akkasumas sababa kennuu hindagatiin. Ittaansuun deebiikee mirkaneeffachuuf, Shaan deebii yoo kennitu dhageessa.

Sian
I'd love to, but I'm going to the theatre.

Caalii
Atis akkasuma jette? Ammammoo affeerraa kana caqasi.

Would you like to come to the beach tomorrow?

Caalii
Bor qayyabachuutu sirra jira, kanaafuu haala gaarii ta’een ‘lakki’ jedhi. Deebinkee sirrii ta’u adda baafachuuf Shaan kanneen deebii ta’uu danda’an muraasa yoo kennitu dhageessa.

Sian
I'd like to, but I have to study.
I'm sorry, but I have to study.

Caalii
Atis akkasuma jette?

Sian
Well done! Now we've finished this programme, do you want to come for lunch with me?

Caalii
Ah I'd love to Sian but I'm really busy!

Sian
Oh, OK! Bye, everybody!