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5                              Everyday Conversational Expressions                                           Directing a Conversation p.3

 

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* 5 Directing a Conversation (p.3 of 8)

 

5.9   When you don’t understand what a speaker has said

 

Sir?   Listen   AI didn’t hear what you said, sir, so could you please repeat it.”   <“Can you please help me with my luggage?” – “Sir?” – “I need you to help me with the luggage.”>

Ma’am?   Listen   AI didn’t hear what you said, ma’am, so could you please repeat it.”   <“How can I get to Maple Street?” – “Ma’am?” – “I’m looking for Maple Street. Do you know where it is?”>

Pardon me?   Listen   AI didn’t understand what you said, so could you please repeat it.”   <The man had a strong accent. Suzy did not understand his question and said, “Pardon me?”>

Excuse me?   Listen   <“Which floor do you need?” – “Excuse me?” – “Where do you want me to stop the elevator?”>

I’m sorry?   Listen   <“Would you like regular or decaf?” – “I’m sorry?” – “We have coffee of regular strength and decaffeinated coffee. Which one do you prefer?”>

I’m sorry. I missed that.   Listen   <“Breakfast is served at 8 a.m.” – “I’m sorry. I missed that.” – “Breakfast will be ready tomorrow at eight o’clock in the morning.”>

I’m sorry. What?   Listen   <“It’s so noisy here. I can hardly hear you.” – “I’m sorry. What?” – “Let’s get out of here.”>

What did you say?   Listen   <“Make a left turn at the next intersection.” – “What did you say?” – “Turn left!”>

What was that?   Listen   <“Is it safe here in Georgia?” – “Yeah. You ain’t gonna worry about nothing.” – “What was that?” – “I’m saying, you don’t need to worry about anything.”>

Could you please repeat yourself?   Listen   <“Sometimes I don’t understand you. Could you please repeat yourself?”>

Could you please repeat that?   Listen   <“I didn’t get what you said. Could you please repeat that?”>

Could you please say that again?   Listen   <“You have an accent. Could you please say that again?”>

Say that again.   Listen   <“Say that again. And speak more clearly this time”.>

I didn’t quite get that.   Listen   AI didn’t hear what you said, so could you please repeat it.”   <“I didn’t quite get that. What did you say?”>

Listen to Entire Passage

 

 

5.10   When you don’t understand what a speaker is saying

 

I don’t understand you.   Listen   <The old man cupped his hand to his ear and said, “I don’t understand you. Speak louder.”>

I can’t understand you.   Listen   <She told me, “You’ve got an accent. I can’t understand you.”>

I can’t hear you.   Listen   <The schoolboy said bashfully, “I’m sorry. I won’t do that again.” The teacher said angrily, “I can’t hear you. Repeat.”>

Could you please speak slower?   Listen   <“Could you please speak slower? I can hardly understand you.”>

Please speak more slowly.   Listen   <“I don’t understand you. Please speak more slowly.”>

Speak up.   Listen   ASpeak louder. Turn your voice up.”   <“I don’t hear well. Please speak up.”>

Could you please speak louder?   Listen   <The old man told me, “Could you please speak louder? I can hardly hear you.”>

Could you spell that?   Listen   <“I’m looking for O’Reilly’s. It’s a bakery. Can you help me?” – “Hmm… Could you spell that?”>

Listen to Entire Passage

 

 

5.11   When you don’t follow the speaker’s train of thought

 

I don’t follow.   Listen   <“Your logic seems sketchy. I don’t follow.”>

I don’t follow you.   Listen   <“Can you say that in plain English? I don’t follow you.”>

I don’t quite follow you.   Listen   <“Could you explain that in more detail? I don’t quite follow you.”>

I’m not following you.   Listen   <“Could you elaborate on that? I’m not following you.”>

I’m not sure I follow.   Listen   <“Could you amplify your point? I’m not sure I follow.”>

Listen to Entire Passage

 

 

5.12   When you don’t understand the speaker’s point

 

I don’t understand your point.   Listen   <“I don’t understand your point. Could you provide some details?”>

I don’t get it.   Listen   <“My sister loves her husband. At the same time, she keeps telling me how unhappy her marriage is.” – “I don’t get it. It appears like she can’t make up her mind.”>

I didn’t quite get that.   Listen   <“This economic theory teaches us that if the government increases taxes, it has more money to give to the people.” – “I didn’t quite get that. Why doesn’t the government leave money in the people’s pockets in the first place?”>

I don’t see what you’re getting at.   Listen   <“I understand your premises and logic, but I don’t see what you’re getting at.”>

I’m not sure I get your point.   Listen   <“I’m not sure I get your point. What do you want to say?”>

I’m not sure I get what you mean.   Listen   < – “Let me explain my thought once again, and you please listen carefully this time.”>

I’m not sure I know what you mean.   Listen   <“The recent test is showing that your glucose level is way too high. You might have diabetes.” – “I’m not sure I know what you mean.” – “It’s a chronic disease. You will be dieting for the rest of your life.”>

Listen to Entire Passage

 

 

5.13   When you bring up a counter point

 

I hate to bring this up, but…   Listen   <“I hate to bring this up, but I see a major flaw in your theory.”>

I don’t mean to be negative, but…   Listen   <“I don’t mean to be negative, but the basis of your theory is questionable.”>

I don’t mean to be rude, but…   Listen   <“I don’t mean to be rude, but Professor Johnson comes to a different conclusion.”>

I may be wrong, but…   Listen   <“I may be wrong, but my test results contradict your assumptions.”>

Correct me if I am wrong, but…   Listen   <“Correct me if I’m wrong, but some parts of your theory contradict each other.”>

You might be right, but…   Listen   <“Mr. Einstein, you might be right, but your theoretical results are hardly verifiable experimentally.”>

You may have a good point, but…   Listen   <“You may have a good point, but your proof is insufficient at best.”>

That may be true, but…   Listen   <“That may be true, but you can’t prove it.”>

Listen to Entire Passage

 

 

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