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5.3 A public meeting

Useful language
Stance markers and adverbials Emphasising a point
by and large we do recognise
to be honest what I don’t understand
to tell you the truth what really bothers me
I dare say a very small rise
if I’m not mistaken I totally appreciate ...
if I’m correct one thing I love ...
as a rule the thing is ...
for what it’s worth for one thing ...
more’s the pity what I’d like to say ...
to be frank
if I dare say so myself

Pronunciation
Rising and falling pronunciation in stance markers and adverbials
When you use a stance marker or adverbial, it’s To be honest, I’m not sure.
important to know the correct intonation.
If you use a stance marker or adverbial at the end of
If you use a stance marker or adverbial at the a sentence, you use falling intonation:
beginning of a phrase, your voice usually falls until
just before the last word, when it goes up. This is I’m not sure, to be honest.
called fall-rise intonation:

Check my progress
Are these statements true for you? If not, go back and do some activities
from the unit again.
Yes No
I can moderate a public meeting.
I can convey my opinions or emotions more clearly.
I can emphasise particular points I want to say.

© British council 2018. The British council is the United Kingdom’s international organisation for
cultural relations and educational opportunities.
5.3