BEGAE-182 Block 2 Unit 2 Notes — Making Enquiries

BEGAE-182 Study Notes — Block 2 Unit 2: Making Enquiries / Asking Questions

Study notes for BEGAE-182 Block 2 Unit 2. Covers polite questions, modal verbs, personal enquiries, telephone etiquette, condolence conversations, dinner talk, procedure enquiries, and listening to fast speech. Free PDF download.

0 views 0 downloads January 2026 English 13 pages 18 min read🔄 Updated Today

Free study notes by IGNOUNotes.in for BEGAE-182 Block 2 Unit 2 — Making Enquiries / Asking Questions. This unit covers politeness in questions, modal verbs, personal enquiries, telephone etiquette, condolence conversations, dinner talk, enquiries about services and procedures, and listening to fast speech. Complete with model exam answers.

2.1 Introduction — Why Politeness Matters in Questions ignounotes.in

We ask questions every day — to find directions, seek information, understand procedures, or enquire about people. But the way we ask a question can make the difference between getting helpful, friendly answers and getting a cold response or no response at all.

📌 Key Principle

In English, politeness in questions is conveyed mainly through indirect phrasing and modal verbs (could, would, may, might). A direct question like "What is your name?" can feel rude in many contexts. The polite equivalent — "Could I know your name, please?" — shows the same curiosity with respect and warmth. People are more willing to help when they feel respected.

Many people come across as rude in English simply because they translate direct questions from their mother tongue word for word. Understanding how English frames polite questions is essential for professional and social communication.

2.2 Direct vs Indirect Questions ignounotes.in

Situation	Direct (Potentially Rude)	Indirect (Polite)
Asking for someone's name	"What's your name?"	"Could I know your name, please?" / "May I know your name?"
Confirming identity	"Are you Captain Hagberd?"	"You must be Captain Hagberd." (stated as a conjecture)
Missing someone's name	"Say your name again!"	"I'm afraid I didn't catch your name."
Asking where someone works	"Where do you work?"	"Did you say you were working in...?"
Asking for information	"Tell me about it."	"I'd like to know..." / "Could you tell me..." / "I wonder if you could help me..."
Between close friends (acceptable)	"What are you doing, Laxman?"	Direct is fine — directness signals informality and closeness

📝 Note

The directness of a question depends on the relationship. Husband and wife can ask each other direct questions freely. But with a stranger, an employer, or a customer, indirect forms with modal verbs are always safer and more professional.

2.3 Modal Verbs for Polite Questions ignounotes.in

Modal verbs like could, would, may, might soften the force of a question and signal respect. They are the main tool for expressing politeness in English questions.

🗣 Standard Formulas for Enquiries

"I want to know..." (basic — modify with modal for politeness)
"I'd like to know..."
"I wish to know..."
"Could you tell me...?"
"Would you be able to tell me...?"
"I'm looking for information regarding..."
"I wonder if you could help me with this."

2.4 Personal Enquiries — Face-to-Face ignounotes.in

When enquiring about a person — their identity, situation, or wellbeing — we use indirect phrasing to avoid sounding intrusive.

💬 Sample Dialogue — Enquiring About a Person (From IGNOU Textbook)

Visitor: "You must be Captain Hagberd."

Hagberd: "Yes, I am."

Visitor: "You've been waiting for your son, I believe?"

Hagberd: "My son Harry... he's coming home tomorrow."

📝 Note — How This Works

The visitor already knows who this person is — he is at his residence. But instead of asking directly "Are you Captain Hagberd?" he softens it to "You must be Captain Hagberd" — a conjecture, not a demand. The follow-up about the son uses "I believe" instead of a direct question. This shows sensitivity and respect for the other person's feelings.

2.5 Telephone Enquiries — Receiving and Making Calls ignounotes.in

A) Receiving a Call — How to Identify Yourself

Who Is Answering	How to Identify
An individual at home	"Jayaram here." / "Jayaram speaking." / "Hello, Mr. Shorey's residence."
A business establishment	"Good morning, India Travel Bureau. May I help you?" / "Hello, this is Grindus Bank. How may we help you?"
Answering machine (personal)	"Hi, I'm Geeta. Thank you for calling. I'm sorry I'm not able to respond right now. Please leave a message after the beep."

B) Making a Call — How to Introduce Yourself

Situation	What to Say
Not sure if you have the right number	"Hello, is that 2776 5434, please? May I talk to Mr. Madhukar?"
Calling a friend (personal)	"Hi Geeta, this is Prakash. I'm here in Pune for a day, and..."
Calling a professional	"Hello, may I speak to Mr. Anil Shorey, please? I'm calling from Jaipur. My name is Ravinder."
Calling a business (formal)	"Good morning. I'm Madhukar. Could you let me know the fare to...?"

C) When the Person Is Unavailable

Situation	What to Say
Person is out of town	"I'm sorry, Mr. Jayaram is out of town this week. Would you like his cell phone number?"
Person is in a meeting	"I'm sorry, Mr. Jayaram is in a meeting right now. Would you like to call again after 1 PM?"
Person cannot come to the phone	"I'm sorry, Mr. Jayaram cannot come to the phone right now. Would you like to leave a message?"

🗣 Polite Ways to Ask Who Is Calling

"May I know who I am speaking to?"
"Could you repeat your name, please?"
"May I know who is calling?"
"Did you say you were speaking from Chennai?"

2.6 Bad Phone Manners — What NOT to Do ignounotes.in

Bad Manner	Why It Is a Problem	Correct Behaviour
Failing to identify yourself when calling	The receiver has no idea who is calling — feels invasive and unprofessional	Always state your name and purpose at the start
Not verifying you have the right number	You waste both your time and the receiver's time	Confirm: "Is that 2776 5434, please?"
Speaking unclearly or with food in the mouth	Words are muffled and impossible to understand	Speak clearly; never eat or chew while on the phone
Speaking unnecessarily loudly	Disturbs people around you; sounds aggressive to the receiver	Speak in a normal or soft voice — the phone amplifies it well
Insisting you have the right person when you haven't	Causes confusion and embarrassment for everyone	Apologise and verify the number first

⭐ Important Point

The telephone is designed to pick up your voice even at a low volume. Speaking clearly in a normal or soft voice is more effective than shouting. Speaking loudly on a mobile phone in public is considered very bad manners — everyone around you ends up learning your private business.

2.7 Condolence — Handling Sensitive Conversations ignounotes.in

Enquiring about a bereavement — the death of someone close — requires extreme sensitivity. Direct questions feel harsh and cruel. The key technique is to make statements that invite the person to speak rather than questions that demand answers.

💬 Sample Dialogue — Condolence (From IGNOU Textbook)

Shraddha: "Extremely sorry, Vipin. I can understand how painful it must be."

Vipin: "Mm."

Shraddha: "I heard it was all too sudden."

Vipin: "Yes. He was so active. Had gone to work that day. I just can't believe he isn't there."

Shraddha: "It's very difficult. Was it at home?"

Vipin: "He complained of mild discomfort soon after dinner and we rushed him to hospital, but even before we reached..."

Shraddha: "Your mother must be inconsolable."

Vipin: "Yes, this was the last thing she expected."

Shraddha: "I'll come home with you today to see her."

Vipin: "Thanks, Shraddha."

💡 How Shraddha Handles This Perfectly

• She starts with empathy: "I can understand how painful it must be."
• She makes statements, not questions: "I heard it was all too sudden." — this invites Vipin to respond but does not demand he answer.
• When she does ask a question ("Was it at home?"), it is gentle and one-word — giving Vipin the option to share as much or as little as he wants.
• She acknowledges the mother's pain — showing she is thinking about the whole family.
• She offers concrete help: "I'll come home with you today." — Presence and action are more comforting than words.

⭐ Exam Tip — Condolence Conversations

Never ask "How did he die?" or "What went wrong?" directly. Instead, use statements: "I heard it was sudden." / "He was so young." Let the grieving person decide how much to share and at what pace. Silence and physical presence are often more comforting than words.

2.8 Dinner Talk and Enquiries About Services ignounotes.in

A) Dinner Talk — Questions Through Rising Intonation

💬 Sample Dialogue — Business Dinner (From IGNOU Textbook)

Lee Wan: "Nice place!"

Saraf: "Yes, I like the ambience. I often come here with my family."

Lee Wan: "Kids in school?"

Saraf: "Just one. He is in the tenth."

Lee Wan: "I'd like to know what schools are like here. The system they follow."

Saraf: "We have three examination boards. Schools choose the one they want to affiliate with."

Lee Wan: "I suppose it's ten years of school and then Junior College?"

Saraf: "Yes, that's right. Is it the same in Singapore?"

📝 Note — Dinner Talk Features

• "Kids in school?" — not a complete sentence. A question implied by rising intonation. Lee Wan asks two questions in two words — friendly and economical.
• "I suppose it's ten years..." — a statement with question intent. Invites confirmation politely without sounding interrogative.
• Saraf asks a reciprocal question: "Is it the same in Singapore?" — showing genuine interest and balance.

B) Enquiries About Services — Between Friends

💬 Sample Dialogue — Studying Abroad (From IGNOU Textbook)

Puneet: "Shailesh, you're just the person I was looking for!"

Shailesh: "Why, what's the matter?"

Puneet: "I'll be finishing BDS this May. I'd like to go for further studies to the US or Australia. I want to know how I can apply for scholarships."

Shailesh: "Ketan Mishra is the study-abroad counsellor at MMK College in Baroda. He runs an online service. Write to him at counselor@educationtimes.com"

💡 Note

Puneet and Shailesh are close friends, so direct questions are natural here. If Puneet were speaking to a stranger or professional counsellor, he would use: "I was wondering if you could help me with information about studying abroad..." The key phrase "I want to know..." can always be made more polite by adding modal verbs.

2.9 Enquiries About Procedures — Active Listening ignounotes.in

When someone explains a process to us step by step, we ask clarifying questions at each stage. This is called active listening. The IGNOU textbook gives the excellent example of Vinita learning how to make a terrarium (a glass-enclosed plant garden) from her friend Sumi.

Question Type	Example from the Terrarium Dialogue	Purpose
Opening curiosity	"That's a nice thing. I've never seen anything like it before."	Opens the conversation — invites the expert to explain
Clarifying an unfamiliar word	"I've heard of 'aquarium', but a 'terrarium'?"	Asks indirectly what the word means — smart, non-abrupt technique
Questioning a contradiction	"The glass container is closed. Don't the plants need air?"	Follows the logic and raises a natural concern
Anticipating the next step	"We mix them all up and put them in the container?"	Shows you are following actively — anticipate, then be corrected if wrong
Asking about an unknown word	"I'm sorry, but I don't know what peat is."	Polite admission of ignorance — prefaced with "I'm sorry"
Closing gracefully	"Thanks, that was very interesting. Next time you come, you'll see a terrarium."	Signals understanding + gratitude + closes naturally

💡 Key Skills in Procedure Enquiries

• Ask questions at each step — don't wait until the end
• When you miss something: "I'm sorry, I didn't follow that — could you explain?"
• Anticipate steps ("So we mix them all together?") — it shows you're following
• When you don't know a word: "I'm sorry, I don't know what [word] means."
• Close with thanks and a forward-looking comment

2.10 Listening in Fast Speech — How English Really Sounds ignounotes.in

Informal spoken English sounds very different from written English. Words run together, sounds are dropped, and the pace is much faster. Understanding natural English requires practice with specific patterns of fast speech.

🔍 How Fast Speech Changes a Sentence

Written: Mrs. Gandhi went to Parliament at once.
Spoken fast: "ms Gandhwentu Parlimnatwuns"

This is not careless speech — it is natural, fast spoken English. Words run together and unstressed sounds disappear. The listener uses context and language knowledge to fill in the gaps.

Feature of Fast Speech	What Happens	Example
Words run together	End of one word blends into start of the next	"went to Parliament" becomes "wentu Parlimnat"
Unstressed sounds dropped	Function words become very weak or disappear	"at once" spoken as "atwuns" — very compressed
Content words stressed	Nouns, verbs, adjectives are spoken loudly and clearly	In "She THINKS they're WRONG" — THINKS and WRONG are stressed
Function words unstressed	Prepositions, auxiliaries, conjunctions are very soft	"to", "the", "and", "was" — barely audible in fast speech
Hesitation markers	Speakers use "er", "um", "uh" while thinking	"Because I THINK — er — very STRONG — er — CULtural..."

📝 Slips of the Ear — Real Example from Textbook

A speaker said "My friend Shanthi..." but the listener heard "Your French aunty!" — because the speaker's pronunciation was slightly unclear and the listener's brain filled in the closest match it knew. Linguist Victoria Fromkin called these "slips of the ear" — they happen to everyone, even native speakers.

💡 How to Improve Listening — Practical Steps

• Start with news headlines — content is predictable, so easier to follow
• Listen to sports commentary — familiar terms help you guess uncertain words
• Weather bulletins are easy for beginners — language is repetitive and simple
• Listen to short stretches (30 seconds) and replay multiple times — build gradually
• After a week of daily listening to the same speaker, comprehension noticeably improves
• Don't panic when you miss words — let your language knowledge fill the gap

2.11 Let Us Sum Up ignounotes.in

The basic question forms in English are wh-questions and yes/no questions. But the degree of politeness required changes the form significantly.
Polite questions use modal verbs (could, would, may, might) and indirect forms ("I'd like to know...", "Could you tell me...?", "I wonder if you could...").
In personal enquiries, ask through statements with implied questions rather than direct interrogative forms — especially with strangers or superiors.
Telephone etiquette: Always identify yourself when receiving or making a call. If the person is unavailable, offer alternatives (call back time, message).
Bad phone manners: not identifying yourself, speaking unclearly, speaking too loudly in public, not verifying the number first.
In condolence conversations, use statements to invite the grieving person to speak. Offer practical help. Never ask direct questions about the death.
In dinner talk, questions are often implied by rising intonation ("Kids in school?") rather than formally stated.
In procedure enquiries, follow each step with a clarifying question, anticipate the next step, and always ask about unfamiliar words — politely.
In fast spoken English, content words are stressed and clear; function words are soft and often dropped. Use context to fill in the gaps you miss.

2.12 Model Q&A — Exam-Ready Answers ignounotes.in

⭐ Word Limits

2-mark → 40–60 words | 4-mark → 100–150 words | 6-mark → 200–280 words

Q1 (2 marks) — Why is it important to ask questions politely in English?

Asking questions politely is important because abrupt, direct questions can make the listener feel disrespected or put-off, reducing their willingness to help. In English, politeness is conveyed through modal verbs (could, would, may) and indirect phrasing ("I'd like to know..." rather than "Tell me..."). People are more cooperative and willing to provide information when they feel respected and valued.

Q2 (4 marks) — Describe the etiquette for receiving and making telephone calls.

Receiving a call: Always identify yourself immediately. An individual at home says "Jayaram here" or "Jayaram speaking." A business says "Good morning, India Travel Bureau. May I help you?" If the person called cannot come to the phone, politely say so and offer alternatives: "I'm sorry, Mr. Jayaram is in a meeting. Would you like to call again after 1 PM?"

Making a call: Identify yourself and state who you wish to speak to and why: "Hello, may I speak to Mr. Anil Shorey please? I'm calling from Jaipur. My name is Ravinder." If you are not sure you have the right number, verify first: "Hello, is that 2776 5434, please?"

Bad phone manners to avoid: Not identifying yourself; speaking loudly in public; speaking unclearly; insisting you've reached the right person when you haven't.

Q3 (4 marks) — How should one handle a condolence conversation?

A condolence conversation is one of the most sensitive forms of communication. Direct questions like "How did he die?" can feel brutal and intrusive to a grieving person. The correct technique is to use statements that invite response rather than questions that demand answers.

The textbook shows Shraddha meeting Vipin after his father's death. She starts with empathy: "I can understand how painful it must be." Then uses statements: "I heard it was all too sudden." This allows Vipin to share as much or as little as he wants. When she does ask ("Was it at home?"), it is gentle and brief.

The most important thing is to offer practical help: "I'll come home with you today to see your mother." Presence and action are often more comforting than words. Silence is also appropriate — a grieving person does not need to be kept talking.

Q4 (4 marks) — What is fast speech? How does it affect listening? What can be done to improve?

Fast speech refers to natural, rapid spoken English where words blend together, unstressed sounds are dropped, and the pace is much quicker than written or scripted English.

For example, "Mrs. Gandhi went to Parliament at once" sounds like "ms Gandhwentu Parlimnatwuns" in fast speech. Content words (nouns, verbs, adjectives) are stressed and clearly spoken. Function words (prepositions, auxiliaries, conjunctions) are weak and often inaudible. Listeners use language knowledge and context to fill in the gaps.

Mishearing is common — one speaker said "My friend Shanthi" and was heard as "Your French aunty!" Linguist Victoria Fromkin called these "slips of the ear."

To improve: start with news headlines, sports commentary, and weather bulletins. Listen to short stretches (30 seconds) repeatedly. Don't panic about missed words — use context to reconstruct meaning.

Q5 (6 marks) — Discuss the various types of enquiries and how politeness is maintained in each. Use examples.

We make enquiries in many different contexts — about people, services, procedures, and in formal and informal settings. Each requires a different level of politeness.

1. Personal Enquiries: Use indirect forms. Instead of "Are you Captain Hagberd?" say "You must be Captain Hagberd" — a conjecture, not a demand. This respects the listener's dignity and gives them space to respond naturally.

2. Telephone Enquiries: Always identify yourself when calling. Use modal verbs: "Could you let me know the fare to...?" rather than "Tell me the fare." When the person is unavailable, offer helpful alternatives.

3. Condolence Enquiries: Never ask direct questions about death. Make statements that invite response: "I heard it was very sudden." Follow the grieving person's pace — do not push for details.

4. Dinner Talk: Questions are often implied by rising intonation: "Kids in school?" means "Do you have school-going children?" The informality of the setting allows this compression.

5. Enquiries About Services: Between friends, direct questions are fine. With strangers or professionals, use polite openers: "I was wondering if you could help me..." / "I'd like to know..."

6. Enquiries About Procedures: Follow each step with a clarifying question. Ask about unknown words politely: "I'm sorry, but I don't know what peat is."

The core principle: the more formal or sensitive the context, the more indirect and modal-verb-based the question should be.

IGNOUNotes.in — Free study material for IGNOU students. These notes are for personal academic use only. Download the full PDF version of this unit from our website for offline reading and exam revision.

BEGAE-182 Study Notes — Block 2 Unit 2: Making Enquiries / Asking Questions

0 views 0 downloads January 2026 English 13 pages 18 min read🔄 Updated Today

Situation

Direct (Potentially Rude)

Indirect (Polite)

Asking for someone's name

"What's your name?"

"Could I know your name, please?" / "May I know your name?"

Confirming identity

"Are you Captain Hagberd?"

"You must be Captain Hagberd." (stated as a conjecture)

Missing someone's name

"Say your name again!"

"I'm afraid I didn't catch your name."

Asking where someone works

"Where do you work?"

"Did you say you were working in...?"

Asking for information

"Tell me about it."

"I'd like to know..." / "Could you tell me..." / "I wonder if you could help me..."

Between close friends (acceptable)

"What are you doing, Laxman?"

Direct is fine — directness signals informality and closeness

Who Is Answering

How to Identify

An individual at home

"Jayaram here." / "Jayaram speaking." / "Hello, Mr. Shorey's residence."

A business establishment

"Good morning, India Travel Bureau. May I help you?" / "Hello, this is Grindus Bank. How may we help you?"

Answering machine (personal)

"Hi, I'm Geeta. Thank you for calling. I'm sorry I'm not able to respond right now. Please leave a message after the beep."

Situation

What to Say

Not sure if you have the right number

"Hello, is that 2776 5434, please? May I talk to Mr. Madhukar?"

Calling a friend (personal)

"Hi Geeta, this is Prakash. I'm here in Pune for a day, and..."

Calling a professional

"Hello, may I speak to Mr. Anil Shorey, please? I'm calling from Jaipur. My name is Ravinder."

Calling a business (formal)

"Good morning. I'm Madhukar. Could you let me know the fare to...?"

Situation

What to Say

Person is out of town

"I'm sorry, Mr. Jayaram is out of town this week. Would you like his cell phone number?"

Person is in a meeting

"I'm sorry, Mr. Jayaram is in a meeting right now. Would you like to call again after 1 PM?"

Person cannot come to the phone

"I'm sorry, Mr. Jayaram cannot come to the phone right now. Would you like to leave a message?"

Bad Manner

Why It Is a Problem

Correct Behaviour

Failing to identify yourself when calling

The receiver has no idea who is calling — feels invasive and unprofessional

Always state your name and purpose at the start

Not verifying you have the right number

You waste both your time and the receiver's time

Confirm: "Is that 2776 5434, please?"

Speaking unclearly or with food in the mouth

Words are muffled and impossible to understand

Speak clearly; never eat or chew while on the phone

Speaking unnecessarily loudly

Disturbs people around you; sounds aggressive to the receiver

Speak in a normal or soft voice — the phone amplifies it well

Insisting you have the right person when you haven't

Causes confusion and embarrassment for everyone

Apologise and verify the number first

Question Type

Example from the Terrarium Dialogue

Purpose

Opening curiosity

"That's a nice thing. I've never seen anything like it before."

Opens the conversation — invites the expert to explain

Clarifying an unfamiliar word

"I've heard of 'aquarium', but a 'terrarium'?"

Asks indirectly what the word means — smart, non-abrupt technique

Questioning a contradiction

"The glass container is closed. Don't the plants need air?"

Follows the logic and raises a natural concern

Anticipating the next step

"We mix them all up and put them in the container?"

Shows you are following actively — anticipate, then be corrected if wrong

Asking about an unknown word

"I'm sorry, but I don't know what peat is."

Polite admission of ignorance — prefaced with "I'm sorry"

Closing gracefully

"Thanks, that was very interesting. Next time you come, you'll see a terrarium."

Signals understanding + gratitude + closes naturally

Feature of Fast Speech

What Happens

Example

Words run together

End of one word blends into start of the next

"went to Parliament" becomes "wentu Parlimnat"

Unstressed sounds dropped

Function words become very weak or disappear

"at once" spoken as "atwuns" — very compressed

Content words stressed

Nouns, verbs, adjectives are spoken loudly and clearly

In "She THINKS they're WRONG" — THINKS and WRONG are stressed

Function words unstressed

Prepositions, auxiliaries, conjunctions are very soft

"to", "the", "and", "was" — barely audible in fast speech

Hesitation markers

Speakers use "er", "um", "uh" while thinking

"Because I THINK — er — very STRONG — er — CULtural..."

BEGAE-182 Study Notes — Block 2 Unit 2: Making Enquiries / Asking Questions

A) Receiving a Call — How to Identify Yourself

B) Making a Call — How to Introduce Yourself

C) When the Person Is Unavailable

A) Dinner Talk — Questions Through Rising Intonation

B) Enquiries About Services — Between Friends

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BEGAE-182 Study Notes — Block 2 Unit 2: Making Enquiries / Asking Questions

A) Receiving a Call — How to Identify Yourself

B) Making a Call — How to Introduce Yourself

C) When the Person Is Unavailable

A) Dinner Talk — Questions Through Rising Intonation

B) Enquiries About Services — Between Friends

Want Printed Notes?

Resource Details

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