Do You Understand This English Sentence?

Jannet suggested to her upper managment:

I know that our company’s financial statements are important and we should care about our income and profit but our workers have planned on their wages and they live with that so it is better to keep our workers and reduce 10% of all wages to solve everyone’s problem. Company and workers will not lose a lot and we all can work together.

Hello Mr Alston. Thank you very much for your new lesson 🙏
My answer:
I understand the concern for the final outcome of company, but the final outcome and most important aspect is the fate of our workers and the financial health of the company. Therefore I suggest that the company reduce 10% of money you pay someone. That way we can help each other and work together to achieve our goals.

Lesson #19 

Janet to Upper Management: I understand the concern for the company’s bottom line, but the bottom line is the fate of our workers and the financial health of the company. Therefore I suggest that the company dock everyone’s wage 10%. That way we hang together rather than hanging separate.

Question: Can you paraphrase Janet’s statement?

Next lesson is coming soon. Janet takes Bill’s advice and meets with upper management.

Please stay tuned.

Explanation of Lesson #18:

Got it= To understand (past tense of get it).

Let this matter rest= Hesitate to take action.

Play hardball= To act aggressively or ruthlessly to get what you want.

Lay low= Not bring attention to yourself or take it easy.

Good job, everyone!

Thank you Mr. Alston. 🙏

Sabann Nee- Very good explanation. Change to “I understand” and delete “to” before mind this issue.

Amira- A superb explanation! Your writing drew me in and made me wish you had continued to write the story.

Bluesky97- Your explanation is very good. Change to “It is better that you not stop…”

Fatemeh- You’re welcome. Your explanation is very good. Your writing is becoming very smooth reading. Keep up the good work!

Hello Mr. Alston. Thank you very much for your new lesson 🙏
My answer:
Bill: Ok, I will forget all the past. Concerning your work situation, you should not be ruthless with management in order to get what you want, so I would advise you to go into hiding and get a plan together to reduce their expenses without letting workers go.

Bill: OK! Let’s forget what happened between us and focus on your work problem now.  It is better you stop to argue with your manager. We can find a way together to reduce costs rather than expel workers.

Hello Mr. Alston,

Bill: I get it! I’ll let this matter go. Concerning your work situation, You can’t get ruthless with the management, so i would advise you to take it easy and get a plan together to reduce their expenses without letting workers go.

Lesson No. 18

Bill: Got it! I’ll let this matter rest. Concerning your work situation, you’re in no position to play hard ball with management, so I would advise you to lay low and get a plan together to reduce their expenses without letting workers go.

Question: Can you explain Bill’s statement?

Pop Quiz #2 Explanation:

The therapist speaks of a little birdie in an anonymous sense (not specific) but Janet knows that it was her mother who told the therapist. Using the grammar indefinite article “a” allows for this.

Janet uses the grammar definite article “the” little birdie which means a specific person. Bill can read between the lines to know that Janet was speaking of her sister.

Fatemeh, Sabann, and Bora you all passed the quiz test. Congratulations!

Hello Mr. Alston. Thank you very much 🙏
The therapist doesn’t know this little birdie (Janet’s mother) then he say “A little birdie” but Janet does know this little birdie (her sister) then she say “The little birdie”

Pop Quiz

Question #2:

What is the difference between the therapist saying, “A little birdie told me” and Janet saying, “The little birdie told me?”

According to the text, two people used the phrase “Little Birdie” i.e. the therapist and Janet. The only person Bill spoke to was Janet’s sister. Therefore the little birdie Janet referred to was her sister.

Good efforts, everyone!

Hello🌹

I read previous parts of this lesson.

Maybe that birdie was Janet’s sister who talked to bill when he was sad about Janet’s behavior.

Bora and Fatemeh, thanks for submitting your answers. Please state the basis of the reason for your answers.

Hello Mr. Alston. Thank you very much 🙏
I think is Janet’s sister.