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Jack had decided to go to work early. He had been on holiday and had a lot of paperwork to deal with. For a start, there were several marketing reports that he would have to read. By going in so early, he thought that he could work without being disturbed for a while. He was wrong!
He had just started to read the first report when Ben knocked at his office door.
‘Sorry to disturb you, Jack. I wonder if I could have a copy of last month’s sales figures.’
‘That’s all right, Ben,’ said Jack politely. ‘Here it is.’
He had once more started to read the marketing report when Bill appeared at his door.
‘Sorry for interrupting, Jack,’ said Bill. ‘Could I borrow your copy of the agenda for tomorrow’s marketing meeting? I can’t find mine.’
‘Thanks, and sorry again, Jack,’ said Bill as Jack gave him the copy of the agenda.
‘No problem, Bill, but I have to get on with these reports.’
Jack had got halfway through the first marketing report when Lucy arrived wanting to borrow a book.
‘Excuse me for interrupting, Jack, but I need to look something up urgently.’
‘No need to apologise, Lucy, but I have to read all these reports by tomorrow’s meeting.’
So far Jack had been polite to his colleagues, but he was beginning to get a bit annoyed at all the interruptions, and he was worried about the amount of work he had to do.
He had just got back to the report when Jane knocked at the door and came in, saying,
‘Forgive me for disturbing you, Jack. I’m collecting for Mary’s wedding present from the staff.’
‘Jane!’ said Jack angrily. ‘Can’t you see I’m trying to work? Just at the moment I don’t care about Mary’s wedding present. I’ll give you something later.’
Jane quickly left the room, looking upset. Jack, who was usually a very polite, kind person, felt bad about losing his temper and went after her.
‘Jane, I apologise for snapping at you. I shouldn’t have done it.’
‘It doesn’t matter, Jack,’ she said. “I shouldn’t have interrupted you when you were busy.’
Please accept my apologies, anyway,’ said Jack and returned to his office, hoping for no more interruptions.
🔹 Work & Routine Expressions
| English Expression | Mongolian Translation | Meaning / Usage |
|---|---|---|
| had decided to go to work early | ажилдаа эрт явахаар шийдсэн | expresses a firm decision made before the story time |
| had been on holiday | амралттай байсан | indicates a completed period of rest before this time |
| a lot of paperwork to deal with | бичиг цаасны олон ажил хийх | “paperwork” = office documents, forms, reports |
| for a start | эхлээд, юуны өмнө | used to introduce the first point or reason |
| work without being disturbed | саад болохгүйгээр ажиллах | “disturbed” = interrupted or bothered while working |
| He was wrong! | Тэр буруу боджээ! | expression showing contrast or surprise |
🔹 Interruption / Politeness Frames
| English Expression | Mongolian Translation | Meaning / Function |
|---|---|---|
| Sorry to disturb you, Jack. | Уучлаарай, Жак, саад боллоо. | polite way to interrupt someone at work |
| I wonder if I could… | …хийж болох болов уу гэж бодлоо. | polite request phrase |
| That’s all right. | Зүгээр дээ. | polite response showing it’s not a problem |
| Sorry for interrupting. | Уучлаарай, тасалдлаа. | another polite apology for interruption |
| Could I borrow your copy of…? | Таны хувийг түр зээлж болох уу? | polite request to borrow something |
| Thanks and sorry again. | Баярлалаа, дахин уучлаарай. | polite closing to show respect |
| No problem, but I have to get on with… | Зүгээр дээ, гэхдээ би … хийх хэрэгтэй байна. | friendly but firm way to say “I need to continue” |
🔹 Work Context Phrases
| English Expression | Mongolian Translation | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| halfway through the report | тайлангийн хагас хэсгийг уншсан | describes progress within a task |
| need to look something up | ямар нэг зүйлийг шалгах хэрэгтэй | means “to search for information” |
| have to read all these reports by tomorrow | маргааш гэхэд эдгээр тайлангуудыг унших ёстой | obligation or deadline |
| beginning to get a bit annoyed | бага зэрэг уур хүрч эхэлсэн | gradual emotional change |
🔹 Apology & Emotion Phrases
| English Expression | Mongolian Translation | Usage / Tone |
|---|---|---|
| Forgive me for disturbing you. | Уучлаарай, таныг саад болгосонд. | formal, polite apology |
| Can’t you see I’m trying to work? | Би ажиллаж байгааг харахгүй байна уу? | annoyed or frustrated tone |
| I don’t care about… | …надад хамаагүй. | expresses irritation or frustration |
| felt bad about losing his temper | уурласаныхаа төлөө буруутай мэдэрсэн | “lose one’s temper” = become angry suddenly |
| I apologise for snapping at you. | Танд уурласаныхаа төлөө уучлалт гуйж байна. | “snap at” = speak angrily or sharply to someone |
🔹 Common Frames (sentence patterns)
| Frame | Example | Mongolian Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| He had just started to ___ when ___ | He had just started to read when Ben knocked. | Тэр дөнгөж … гэж байтал … |
| I wonder if I could ___ | I wonder if I could have a copy… | …хийж болох болов уу гэж бодлоо. |
| No need to apologise, but ___ | No need to apologise, but I have to read… | Уучлал гуйх хэрэггүй ээ, гэхдээ би … ёстой. |
| Just at the moment, I don’t care about ___ | Just at the moment, I don’t care about Mary’s wedding. | Одоохондоо … надад хамаагүй. |
| I shouldn’t have done it. | — | Тэгэх ёсгүй байсан юм. |
