Page 20 -The afternoon of the next day. In the office there were a man, a woman and a cat.- I was not able to find Pina yesterday after all. Probably before we went there, she went back home. What is she doing now? "I'll make coffee." "Thank you," Mary said. "Please don't hesitate." Rickey was making coffee. -The office was filled with the fragrance of coffee.- "Would you mind if I smoke?" Mary asked. "I don't mind." "Thanks. I tried to stop smoking … actually I haven't broken the habit." You should stop smoking. It's hard for me, especially as cat's senses are sensitive. Today's points -The point 1- Please don't hesitate. "Hesitate" means we consider something before doing that or want to stop it some time. Thus, "Don't hesitate." means you can do that as you like. This is the suggestion. (1) Please don't hesitate to call me. Thank you. May I ask you a question? Okay. Please don't hesitate to ask me. Can I have some water? Please don't hesitate. "Feel free to …" is the same. Please feel free to eat. -The point 2- Would you mind if I smoke? "Mind" means thinking it is odd and "if I smoke" means when I smoke. "Would you mind if I smoke?" means do you think it is odd when I smoke? in the literal translation. Thus, it is used to get the permission. Hello. This is Rickey. Hello, Rickey. I'm sorry. I'm busy now. Would you mind calling back later? No. Not at all. After "mind", the ing verbs are put like the above. As the answer if we say "Yes.", it means we think it is odd and do not give the permission. If we give the permission, we say "No." "No problem.", "Not at all.", "I don't mind." are the same. Hello, Buttered. What's the hurry? Hello, Pina. I'm looking for Libre. I saw him at the pond. Would you mind telling me why you are looking for him? No, not at all. "Is it okay?" is also used as the casual expression. Is it okay if I smoke? No problem. By the way, "if" is used to have the condition. After it, "the subject + the verb" is put. (2) What are you going to do for your next vacation? I'm planning to go abroad. Great! If you go to Italy, I'll recommend nice shops to you. If you go to the pond, I'll go with you. Okay. Sherry has already gone to the pond. Let's go now! -The point 3- Thanks. I tried to stop smoking … actually I haven't broken the habit. "I haven't broken the habit." means I do not stop the habit. "The habit" means we often do something without the intention. "Be in the habit of …" is used as we have the habit of … After "of", the ing verbs are put. I'm in the habit of tapping the desk. (3) I can't stop eating snacks between meals. Have you ever tried to stop having snacks? Yes. But I started again. Oh, it's a bad habit. I think so, too. But I'm also in the habit of having snacks between meals. Aha. "Bad habit" means we have something which is needed to fix. -The point 4- You should stop smoking. "Should" can give the suggestion or the advice. After it, the verbs are used. When is Fiona going to move out? Do you know, Sherry? I don't know. Anyway, you should talk to her. Hey, Roy! Buttered and Pina. I saw Pina at the fountain by chance. Did you see Libre? Yes. Libre and Sherry went to see Fiona. I've been waiting for you. What should I do? What do you think, Pina? We should wait for them. The negative form is "shouldn't." It is used to stop something as the advice. I have a hangover. You shouldn't drink too much. -Note- Make yourself at home. "Make yourself at home." is used as we want someone to be free. "At home" means relaxable. Mary, your office is tidy. Thank you. May I sit here? Okay. Make yourself at home.

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