someone. When someone plays a particular sport, they are usually glad to talk about it and it is an easy way to make a common interest known Bill not only asks Dan about a sport he plays, but Bill knows that i Is all feel comfortable talking about /i participants and that they on interest of the three coversation Not as much as i would like Dan could have simply answered Yes or No, but by replying this way he also conveys that he would like to play more This gives bill the opportunity to come back with a suggestion that they go and play sometime--a suggestion that Dan was probably hoping for when he chose which words to say. I see you ve met Elizabeth. This is a very easy way to enter into an already-in-progress conversation. It requires a response and that requires a break in th conversation-in-progress Elizabeth? I though Clai Dan has just been given a very confusing message. He needs to sort it out. The clarification strategy used here is very direct and to the point--this woman in front of him has been called by two different names and he wants to know why Could you pass me that newspaper? By beginning with "could this is asking, Is it possible?. It is a polite way to make a request. But notice even though it is very polite there is no please used."Please may have been included, but it is common among close friends to drop it in a casual situation. With it, the request would seem more formal and since could was used it was not as formal as a request such as," Please pass me the newspaper. Sure, here you go An informal answer to an informal request is appropriate. This answer implies that he doesn t mind at all--he ping the requester to not feel uncomfortable asking for the assistance. How often do you play, Dan? Claire is now showing interest in knowing more about Dan. The question s not personal, but the reply could provide her with some clues intosomeone. When someone plays a particular sport, they are usually glad to talk about it and it is an easy way to make a common interest known. Bill not only asks Dan about a sport he plays, but Bill knows that it is a common interest of the three coversation participants and that they all could feel comfortable talking about it. "Not as much as I would like." Dan could have simply answered "Yes" or "No", but by replying this way he also conveys that he would like to play more. This gives Bill the opportunity to come back with a suggestion that they go and play sometime--a suggestion that Dan was probably hoping for when he chose which words to say. "I see you've met Elizabeth." This is a very easy way to enter into an already-in-progress conversation. It requires a response and that requires a break in the conversation-in-progress. "Elizabeth? I thought your name was Claire." Dan has just been given a very confusing message. He needs to sort it out. The clarification strategy used here is very direct and to the point--this woman in front of him has been called by two different names and he wants to know why. "Could you pass me that newspaper?" By beginning with "could" this is asking,"Is it possible?". It is a polite way to make a request. But notice even though it is very polite there is no "please" used. "Please" may have been included, but it is common among close friends to drop it in a casual situation. With it, the request would seem more formal and since "could" was used it was not as formal as a request such as, "Please pass me the newspaper." "Sure, here you go." An informal answer to an informal request is appropriate. This answer implies that he doesn't mind at all--helping the requester to not feel uncomfortable asking for the assistance. "How often do you play, Dan?" Claire is now showing interest in knowing more about Dan. The question is not personal, but the reply could provide her with some clues into