HANDY ENGLISH CLUB

TRANSACTIONAL-INTERPERSONAL

The purpose of this pages is to show you the type of English that is usually used in conversation. Although your English is now advanced enough so that you can speak in different situations, you may feel that you want to use more natural-sounding English. The language in the following pages will help you to say what you think and feel more exactly, more politely and in a way that sounds more natural.

These pages are in two parts.

The first, ‘Conversations at work’, gives you phrases that are slightly formal and right for when you are at work.

The second, ‘Conversations with friends’, gives you phrases to use with people

that you know socially and can talk to more informally.

1 Conversations at work

The language you use at work is often different from the language of everyday

conversation. It is often, though not always, more formal, and it includes phrases that you do not usually hear in informal conversations.

Below are phrases that are often used when people have meetings in order to discuss work. These phrases will help you to speak clearly and professionally, in a way that is both confident and polite.

SPEAKING UP               

OPINIONS Speaking up

Use these phrases when other people have been speaking and you want to say something:

Could / can I (just) say something here?

Could / can I (just) add something here?

Could / can I (just) come in here?

Could / can I (just) make a point here?

Giving an opinion

Use these phrases when you want to give your opinion. In meetings, a speaker will often introduce their opinion with one of these phrases.

This ‘softens’ the tatement,

making it sound less direct and more polite.

The way I see things…

I tend to think that…

It seems to me that…

It’s my feeling that…

In my experience…

It’s my experience that…

Examples:

I tend to think that it’s the marketing department’s responsibility to sort this out.

It seems to me that we’re going to waste a lot

of money taking this approach.

It’s my feeling that enough time has been spent on this project already.

Asking for an opinion

Use these phrases to ask someone else what they think about something:

James, what’s your opinion of / about / on…?

James, what do you think of / about…?

James, what’s your feeling about …?

James, could we have your input here?

Example:

James, what’s your feeling about staffing levels in the department?

Agreeing

Use these phrases to agree with what someone has said:

I agree (with you).

(I think) you’re right.

I tend to agree. / I tend to agree with Anna.

I’m with Anna on this one.

Agreeing strongly

Use these phrases when you agree strongly

with someone and want to show it:

Absolutely!

Exactly!

I quite agree!

I totally agree with you.

I’m in complete agreement with you.

I couldn’t agree more!

Disagreeing

Use these phrases when you disagree with

what someone has said:

Note: In a work meeting, people often

disagree in an indirect way. They usually

avoid very strong, definite phrases, such

as ‘I completely disagree,’ as these can

sound rude.

I’m afraid I don’t / can’t agree with

you there.

I’m sorry, I don’t agree with you there.

I have to say, I disagree with you there.

I’m not sure I agree with you.

I’m not sure about that.

I’m not sure that’s true.

I take a (slightly) different view

on this.

I don’t know. I tend to think that the

opposite is true.

Examples:

A: Money spent on training is always

a good investment.

B: I’m not sure about that. I think it

depends on the quality of the training.

A: In my experience, customers are looking

for quality in a product and they’ll pay

extra for it.

B: I take a different view on this. I think the

lower price is mainly what sells the product.

Disagreeing strongly

Use this phrase when you disagree strongly

with what someone has said:

I’m sorry but…

Note that if you say ‘I’m sorry but…’ at the

beginning of a sentence, it does not really

mean that you are sorry. In fact it is a way of

emphasizing that you are going to disagree

with what someone has said.

Examples:

I’m sorry but I can’t agree with you.

I’m sorry but I just don’t think it’s a good

use of our time.

I’m sorry but the point you make simply

doesn’t apply to our department.

Listening

Listening to someone’s opinion

Use these phrases when you understand

what someone has said but still disagree:

I see / get your point but…

I see / get what you mean but…

I see / get what you’re saying but…

I see / get where you’re coming from

but…

Note that ‘get’ is often used in these phrases

instead of ‘see’ but sounds more informal

than ‘see’.

Examples:

I see your point – it is a lot of money – but I

still think it’s an investment worth making.

I get what you’re saying – she’s not the easiest

person to work with – but I don’t think we

have any choice here.

Responding to an interesting remark

Use these phrases when someone has said

something interesting that you had not

thought of:

(Yes,) that’s true.

That’s very true.

That’s a point!

Good point!

Example:

That’s very true – I hadn’t thought of that.

Repeating and explaining

Repeating

Use these phrases when you want to talk

again about something that was said before:

If I could just go back to something Julia

said / mentioned earlier…

Going back to what Julia said/

mentioned earlier…

Thinking about what Julia said /

mentioned earlier…

As Julia said earlier…

Examples:

Going back to what Julia said earlier,

perhaps it would be better to keep some of this

money back for training purposes.

As Julia said earlier, we can’t get the staff

because we don’t pay enough.

Not hearing

Use these phrases when you did not hear

what someone said:

(Sorry,) I missed that.

(Sorry,) I didn’t catch that.

(I’m sorry,) could you repeat that,

please?

(I’m sorry,) could you say that again,

please?

Not understanding

Use these phrases when you you did not

understand what someone said:

I’m sorry, could you explain that again,

please?

I’m not sure I understand what you

mean (by) …

Could you run that by me again, please?

I’m afraid I don’t follow you.

I’m sorry, you’ve lost me.

Examples:

I’m not sure I understand what you mean by

‘type A projects.’ Would you mind explaining

that, please?

Could you run that by me again, please? I

mean the figures part.

Asking for more information

Use these phrases when you want someone

to tell you more about something:

Angela, could you say a little bit more

about…?

Angela, could you explain…in a bit

more detail?

Examples:

I’m afraid I don’t know much about the new

system – could you say a little more about it,

Peter?

Making sure that you understand

Use these phrases when you think you

understand something but want to make

sure:

So, what you’re saying, Paul, is that…

Is that right?

Just to recap (= repeat the main points),

you would like to… ? Is that right?

So, Paul, just to make sure I’ve

understood this / got this right…

So, am I right, Paul, in saying that you

want to…?

Examples:

So, Paul, what you are saying is that we need

more money in the training budget. Is that

right?

So, Paul, just to recap, we need a bigger

training budget but we could probably reduce

the marketing spend?

2 Conversations with friends

The next six pages will give you a range of

phrases for speaking in different situations.

All these phrases are used in spoken English

today and will help you to speak in a way

that sounds friendly, polite and natural.

Starting and ending a conversation

Meeting someone by chance

Use these phrases when you meet someone

you know by chance:

Hello / Hi! I haven’t seen you in ages!

Hello / Hi! I was just thinking about you

the other day.

Hello / Hi! I thought I might see you

here.

Hello / Hi! What a nice surprise to

see you here.

*(humorous) Hello, stranger!

*Long time, no see.

* These two phrases are said to a person

that you have not seen for a long time.

Being misunderstood

Use these phrases when someone has not

understood you:

That’s not quite what I meant.

I think you’ve misunderstood me.

Perhaps I didn’t explain this

very clearly.

Examples:

I think you’ve misunderstood me – I wasn’t

talking about the changes that are proposed

in this report.

Not knowing

Use these phrases when you are not sure

what you think or who you agree with:

I don’t know what to think about this.

I’m in two minds about this.

I’m not sure where I stand on this.

I can see both sides of the argument.

Examples:

I’m in two minds about this issue. Certainly

we need publicity but is this the best use of

our money?

I’m not sure where I stand on this. Is it better

to invest now or see how the market goes and

decide later?

Before saying goodbye

a. Use these phrases when you have been

speaking to someone but now need to leave

them:

(It was) nice / good to see you.

I’m afraid I have to go now, but it’s been

really nice seeing you.

I’m sorry, I have to dash

(= leave quickly).

*Anyway, I can see that you’re busy.

*Anyway, I’ll let you get on. / I’d better

let you get on (= I will let you leave or do

what you have to do).

*Anyway, I won’t take up any more

of your time.

* In order to seem polite, speakers often

try to end a conversation by saying that the

person they are talking to needs to go. Note

that the word ‘anyway’ is often used at the

start of this type of sentence.

b. Use these phrases when you have been

talking to someone for a short time and you

would like to see them for longer next time:

It would be nice to catch up sometime

(= talk about things that we have done

since we last saw each other).

It would be nice to have

a proper catch-up sometime.

During a conversation

Remembering and forgetting something

in a conversation

a. Use these phrases when you suddenly

remember something that you want to say:

I was going to / meaning to ask you…

I know what I wanted to ask you…

Oh, and while I think of it…

Oh yes, I remember what I was going to

ask / tell you…

b. Use these phrases when you forget what

you wanted to say:

What was I saying? Oh yes…

I’ve completely forgotten

what I was saying.

My mind’s gone blank.

I’m sure there was something I meant

to tell / ask you.

Use these phrases when you want to

introduce a new subject that is related to the

one that you are talking about:

I’ve had this jacket for almost ten years.

Speaking / Talking of clothes, I like that

sweater you’re wearing.

He takes really good photos. While we’re

on the subject, did you get the photos

I sent you last week?

Making arrangements

Use these phrases to talk about possible

dates to meet someone. All of these phrases

mean ‘Can you meet during the week that

starts Monday 12th?’

Is the week starting Monday 12th

any good for you?

How does the week starting

Monday 12th sound?

How are you fixed for the week

starting Monday 12th?

Use these phrases to say that a date

is not possible:

That week might be a bit

tricky / difficult.

I’ve got a lot on (= I am busy) that week.

Actually, I’m a bit busy that week.

Making arrangements continued…

Use these phrases to say that a date

is possible:

That week’s good / fine / OK for me.

That week’s a possibility.

I don’t have anything / much on

that week.

Use these phrases to decide a date :

Let’s say Friday 16th.

OK, let’s make it Friday 16th.

Friday 16th it is then.

Shall we pencil in Friday 16th

(= say Friday 16th for now, although it

may change later)?

Let’s say Friday 16th for now

(= the date may change later).

Let’s say Friday 16th and I’ll get back

to you if there’s a problem.

Use this phrase to check nearer the date that

the arrangement is still possible:

Are you / we still on for (= able to do

what we have planned) this Friday?

Agreeing

Use these phrases when you agree with

someone’s opinion:

You’re (absolutely) right.

Absolutely!

True!

That’s true!

That’s exactly how I feel.

Responding when someone

is speaking to you

Asking for more information

Use these phrases when you want the

speaker to explain more:

Why’s that?

Why do you think that is?

I wonder why that is?

Listening and interested

Use these phrases when you want the

speaker to know that you are still listening

and interested:

Ah!

Really?

Yes?

Is that right?

Understanding

Use these phrases to say that you

understand a problem or situation that

someone has been explaining to you:

I see.

Right!

Now I’m with you (= I understand now

though I didn’t before).

Showing amusement

Use these phrases to show that you think

what someone has told you is funny:

That’s hilarious!

That’s really / very funny!

How funny !

That’s made my day!

Showing surprise or shock

Use these phrases to show that you are

surprised or shocked at what someone has

told you:

No!

Never!

You’re joking!

You’re kidding!

You’re not serious!

That’s unbelievable!

I don’t believe it!

Example:

A: They’re making a hundred and fifty people

redundant.

B: You’re kidding!

A: No, I read it in the paper last night.

Sympathizing

a. Use these phrases to show that you feel

sorry for someone who has a problem.

Note that these phrases are not right if the

problem is very serious.

Oh no!

Poor you!

What a shame!

What a nuisance / hassle!

That’s awful / terrible!

That sucks! (AmE informal)

What a pain!

What a drag!

Tell me about it (= I have had the same

problem as you, so I understand)!

b. Use these phrases to show sympathy for

someone who has a serious problem:

I am sorry.

I’m (very / so) sorry to hear that.

Example:

A: Karl’s mother died at the weekend.

B: I’m so sorry to hear that.

Dealing with an interruption

Use these phrases when someone was

speaking to you and you have been interrupted, for example by a phone.

You want the first person to continue speaking:

Sorry, Sara, what were you saying?

Sorry, Sara, you were saying?

Sorry, Sara, you were telling me about

your mother.

Conversational ‘softeners’

The phrases below are used in situations

in which you do not want to upset someone

or seem rude.

Refusing an offer of help

Use these phrases when someone has offered

to help you but you do not need their help:

(to start a sentence)

You’re all right…

It’s all right / OK…

Don’t worry, I’ll be OK…

(to end a sentence)

…but thanks anyway.

…but I appreciate the offer.

…but thanks for the offer.

…but it’s very kind of you to offer.

Example:

A: Would you like some help with the

packing?

B: It’s all right – my neighbour’s offered to

help out. But thanks anyway.

Refusing an offer of food or drink

Use these phrases to refuse food or drink

that someone has offered you:

(No,) I’m all right, thanks.

(No,) I’m fine, thanks.

Not for me, thanks.

No thanks, I’ve just had lunch.

Example:

A: Would you like some coffee, Julia?

B: I’m all right, thanks.

Refusing more food or drink

Use these phrases when you do not want

any more food or drink:

I’ve had plenty, thank you / thanks.

No, that was delicious but I couldn’t

manage any more, thanks.

Dealing with apologies

Use these phrases when someone apologizes

and you want to let them know that you are

not angry:

That’s all right.

Not to worry.

Don’t worry (about it).

It doesn’t matter.

It is usual to add a sentence or two

explaining why you are not angry with the

person who has said sorry.

Example:

A: I’m sorry I didn’t make it to your party on

Friday.

B: That’s all right – I know you’re busy at the

moment.

let’s talk: conversation [EH12]

Of course

The following examples will show you how

to use the phrase ‘of course’ correctly and in

a way that sounds natural. Remember that

the phrase ‘of course’ is not used for agreeing

with someone else’s opinion. In fact it can

even sound slightly rude when used in this

way. The other thing to remember is that

‘of course’ should not be used for accepting

an offer. For example, do not say ‘of course’

when you are offered a drink as this can

sound rude. These are the different ways in

which ‘of course’ can be used correctly:

Of course

1. Used to say politely that someone

can do or have something:

A: Can I borrow your pen?

B: Of course (you can).

2. Used to state a fact that most people

already know:

The Second World War ended,

of course, in 1945.

Of course you shouldn’t eat too much fat.

3. Used for saying that something that

happened was not surprising:

We got to the station half an hour late

so, of course, we missed our train.

4. Used to mean ‘certainly’ when someone

asks you a question or asks you to do

something:

A: Do you love me?

B: Of course I love you!

A: Could you help out on Saturday?

B: Of course!

Of course continued…

5. Used for disagreeing strongly with

something that someone says. Note that

this use can sometimes sound rude and is

generally used between people who know

each other well:

A: Your mother doesn’t even like me!

B: Of course she likes you!

A: I’m too fat to wear anything like that.

B: Of course you’re not!

6. Used when someone tells you that they or

someone else felt angry or sad and you want

to show you understand how they feel:

A: My mother was upset because my

brother wasn’t there.

B: Of course.

A: I just feel so angry with her.

B: Of course.

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