School of Continuing Studies 1

Department of Language & Intercultural Communication

Certificate of Proficiency - English for Professional Communication

COMMUNICATIVE FUNCTIONS

DEBATE: ARGUING

Formal: I believe that…; I’m convinced that…; In my opinion…; Don’t you think/feel that...?
Informal: I think that; I feel that…..; The thing is.….; I’m sure that…

DEBATE: COUNTER ARGUMENTS

Formal: Yes, but don’t you think...: However,…;On the other hand…; I agree with you, but...;
I see your point of view, but…….
Informal: I don’t think so; It seems to me that…; Yeah/yes, but…

CONSIDERING ALTERNATIVES / MAKING SUGGESTIONS

Formal: There is an alternative….…; Rather than that, perhaps we could…

Informal: Instead, why don’t we…; If that’s no good, we could always…

DIRECT SUGGESTIONS: I suggest we/ you… You (really) should

You’d better… You could (always)…….

TACTFUL SUGGESTIONS: Why don’t you /we…… Do you think it might work if we……
Don’t you think it might be a good idea to……..Why not……. We could always…..Perhaps you
could….. One way would/could be to…….. …… Maybe you could try…..

CLARIFYING A PROBLEM

Formal: What concerns me is…..; The (most) important thing is…….

Informal: What it comes down to is...; The thing is…

INFLUENCING / PERSUADING

Formal: Have you considered; I’d like you to think about…;Don’t you think it’d be a good idea
to…; I agree with you on the whole, but it could be said that…

Informal: Why don’t you/we……; Don’t you want to……; Just try(...ing); I’ll do …if you’ll do……
Wouldn’t it be better if…. How about….. Yes/sure/ OK but….That’s (probably) true but….
That’s a good idea but….. I see your point but…Possibly, but…

CEEN 422 Oral Comm Contexts M.Langevin & D.Delaney 1

 School of Continuing Studies 2
Department of Language & Intercultural Communication
Certificate of Proficiency - English for Professional Communication

IDENTIFYING A PROBLEM

Formal: The difficulty here is; The trouble with this is; As I see it…..
Informal: Well, the problem is; What bothers me is;

WARNING

Formal: If you do/don’t …you might/will…; I’m not sure that’s a good idea…If I were you,
I would/wouldn’t…; You should/shouldn’t…otherwise… You might want to……
reconsider….; I would prefer that you……
Informal: Be careful, or else…; You’d better watch out, because if you don’t…;
That’s not a good idea because…; Maybe you should ….

EXPRESSING PROHIBITION

Formal: Under no circumstances should you…; Please ensure that you…;

Remember to never/always…
Informal: Don’t…; Always…; Never…; Make sure you…

EXPRESSING REGRET

Formal: I’m really/so sorry that I…; I can’t imagine why I…

Informal: I should/shouldn’t have…; I don’t know what I was thinking!
I don’t know what got into me!

EXPRESSING DISAPPROVAL

Formal: I’m sorry that you did/didn’t…; I don’t understand why you…;
Could you please explain why you…;
Informal: Why on earth did you…; You should/shouldn’t have…; I don’t think you should…

CEEN 422 Oral Comm Contexts M.Langevin & D.Delaney 2

 School of Continuing Studies 3
Department of Language & Intercultural Communication
Certificate of Proficiency - English for Professional Communication

EXPRESSING INDIFFERENCE (lack of concern or interest in something)

Formal: I have no preference either way. It doesn’t matter in the least to me.
As you wish… That doesn’t interest me in the least. (leans toward the negative)
I have no opinion on the matter

Informal: I’m not thrilled by…… It’s all the same to me. I could go either way.
I don’t mind. I have no opinion on the matter
. I don’t care. I could care less. (leans towards the negative)
Whatever!

HYPOTHESIZING

Formal: Perhaps we could/there is…; I wonder if…;

Informal: Do you think maybe…; What if…

AGREEING

Formal: I totally agree / I’m in total agreement with what you said about………(and I’d just like
to add…)
I think ______was right to say that……….and I couldn’t agree more…

Informal: I agree 100% ! That’s exactly what I think /was thinking ! I agree with you
completely! Absolutely! Yes! Certainly! Of course! For sure! Good/great idea! Good point!
Great! Terrific! Super! Marvelous! Wonderful! Definitely! No doubt about it! Sounds
good/great! Right!

Weak Agreement: I don’t mind. I suppose so. If you/we have to. If you/we must. OK.
Sure but….; You might be right ; maybe you’re right

DISAGREEING:

Formal: I’m not sure I share your opinion/point of view,

I ‘m afraid I cannot agree with you here
Perhaps, but what concerns me is………
I know that, but, all things considered,…
Yes, but you / people don’t seem to understand that…
That’s all very well in theory, but you’ve got to take into account…
You do have a point when you say that…but don’t you think that…?
I understand what you’re saying but

CEEN 422 Oral Comm Contexts M.Langevin & D.Delaney 3

 School of Continuing Studies 4
Department of Language & Intercultural Communication
Certificate of Proficiency - English for Professional Communication

DISAGREEING:

Informal Yes, but what do you think of……..

I’m sorry, but I don’t see it that way.
I’m afraid that’s easier said than done.
I can’t agree with that!
That’s interesting but I think ________was wrong when he said…
I’m not sure I can go along with you (agree with you) on that.
Don’t you see that without…….it’s impossible to…

EXPRESSING AN OPINION & INTRODUCING IDEAS

Formal: Let’s look at the problem objectively, shall we?;

Personally, I feel / believe/ think…. I’m certain that…. I’m convinced that….
I think you were right to emphasize that…but, as far as I am concerned,…
Not everyone will agree with me , but….
The basic / essential point, in my view, is…
Before we go any further, I’d like to be quite clear about…
Let’s look at the whole question from a realistic point of view.
In my opinion,……

Informal: I think / feel ,…; If you ask me…; As I see it…; I’m (not) sure that…
I’m positive that…..; I’m pretty sure that…..; I have an idea that…..
My feelings about /opinion on that? Well, to be honest…

NEGOTIATING / BARGAINING

Formal: Perhaps if we both…; If you would consider/reconsider……I’m sure that I could…;

Maybe we could mutually agree to……..
Informal: Look, you/I could just…; How about if I…; Why don’t I/you…

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