Say the Right Thing Class 7 Notes English Unit 2 Free PDF

Introduction

Say the Right Thing is a funny play by G.C. Thornley about Mary Shaw, a young girl who wants to chat with guests at her home. Her mother, Mrs. Shaw, teaches her to be polite and say kind words to make guests feel welcome. When Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Lee visit, Mary tries to be nice but makes silly mistakes and unintentionally rude remarks that upset them. The play shows why we should speak carefully to avoid hurting others’ feelings.

Detailed Summary

The play begins with Mrs. Shaw getting her house in Lanfield ready for two guests, Mrs. Harding, a wealthy man’s wife, and Mrs. Lee, his sister. She tells her daughter, Mary, to tidy up, like putting away a coat, to make the house neat. Mary grumbles, saying she’s not a kid, but is excited to meet the guests. Mrs. Shaw says they’ll talk about different things and teaches Mary to be polite, like saying “Good afternoon” or “How are you?” She advises Mary to say kind words, laugh to keep things fun, start conversations if it’s quiet, and ask guests to stay longer with phrases like “Must you go? Can’t you stay?” Mary promises to follow these tips, puts on a clean dress, and feels ready.

When Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Lee arrive, Mrs. Shaw welcomes them warmly. When things get quiet, Mary tries to be polite but messes up. She says Mrs. Harding has “beautiful children,” but Mrs. Harding has no kids, making her upset. Mary insists she saw a boy and a girl, making everyone uneasy. Mrs. Shaw talks about a neighbour, Mr. Best, but Mary questions his routine and generalises about bankers. Mrs. Lee says her brother is a banker, so Mary apologises, embarrassed.

Trying to fix things, Mary laughs at Mrs. Best’s blue dress and red coat, but Mrs. Harding wears the same, causing more awkwardness. Mary then says Mrs. Cotter is lazy for staying in bed and seeing the doctor often, but Mrs. Harding stays in bed too, and Mrs. Lee visits the doctor, so Mary apologises again. Mary calls Mrs. Grantley, Mrs. Shaw’s friend, “too talkative” and boring, but Mrs. Lee’s mother is talkative, embarrassing Mary. Seeing a dirty dog outside, Mary complains, but it’s Mrs. Harding’s dog, Towzer, so she says sorry. Mary then mocks Mr. Pomeroy for horse riding and shooting, but Mrs. Lee’s brother does the same, upsetting her.

When the guests say they must leave, Mrs. Shaw politely asks them to stay. Mary, forgetting her mother’s advice, says, “Oh, must you stay? Can’t you go?” The visit ends in an awkward silence, with Mary’s mistakes making everyone uncomfortable.

Theme/Message

• The play teaches us to think before speaking and use kind, polite words. Mary’s funny mistakes show how careless words can hurt people’s feelings and make things awkward. 
• Her mother’s advice to say nice things and make guests feel welcome shows the importance of being thoughtful. 
• The story encourages us to follow good advice, practice polite talk, and be kind to make others happy. 
• It also shows that children often copy what adults expect them to do, even if they don’t fully understand how to behave in social situations.
  

Difficult Words

Here are the meanings of some difficult words from the story, explained simply:

• Hilariously: In a very funny way.
• Blunders: Careless mistakes that cause problems.
• Embarrassment: Makes someone feel uncomfortable or shy.
• Wealthy: Having a lot of money or riches.
• Polite: Showing kindness and respect to others.
• Compliments: Kind words said to praise someone.
• Awkward: Uncomfortable or embarrassing.
• Mocking: Making fun of someone in a mean way.
• Apologises: Says sorry for doing something wrong.
• Disapprovingly: Showing that you don’t like or agree with something.