Useful language Speaking

Asking for repetition Giving reasons and explanations

Could you say that again, please? The reason is….
I’m sorry, could you repeat that? (that’s) because…..
I’m afraid I didn’t catch that. …..so…..
Sorry, what dis you say after….? What I mean is….
Pardon? That’s to say……
Sorry? In other words…..
Sorry, could you speak louder, please? The point I’m making is….
Sorry, could you speak slower please? I mean……
Sorry, could you speak more slowly?

Giving examples Trying to change someone’s opinion

For example,…. But don’t you think that….?
For instance,…. Yes, but isn’t it true that….?
Such as…. Though wouldn’t you agree that….?
Like….. Yes, but on the other hand….
….say….. But isn’t it possible that…?
A case in point is…… Perhaps another way of looking at it would be….
A good example of this is…..

Asking for opinions

Asking for reasons What do you think?
Any particular reason? Do you agree with that?
Could you tell me why? What’s your opinion?
Is that because…? What are your feelings about this?
Why do you think so? How do you feel about….?
What do you reckon?
Describing similarities and Saying which picture
differences you’re taking about
The top picture shows…..
This picture shows…, but that one….
In both pictures there’s…., though in this one….. In the other photo there are…..
One difference between the pictures is that….. In the one below it looks as if….
In one respect the pictures are quite similar because…..
The two situations are completely different because….. In the one above…..
They are similar in that they both show…. In the first picture……
The biggest difference between them is that this one Both pictures show…..
shows…. But the other one….
In both photos there are….

Comparing Giving your opinion

This looks far more…. than that In my opinion…..
The…. In this picture look much more….. than those I’d say that…..
What’s happening in their picture is just as…… as Well I think….
what’s going on there It seems to me…
Doing….. like that isn’t so….. as…. Well, my own feeling is that…
These people are… a lot more…. Thant those are. I’m convinced that…..
My own view is that….

Adding points of similarity and difference

Another similarity/difference is….
And something else that’s different is….
Another thing that’s not quite the same is…. Getting started
They also differ in that…
They’re alike in another way in that…. Which one shall we start with?
What do you think, Bob?
Bob, I think you know a lot about (topic).
What’s your opinion on it?
Do you want to start?
Shall I start?
 Keeping going
Reaching a decision Shall we move on to the next one?
Which do you think would be best? What about this one?
Well, I think it’s definitely not…. Let’s go on to the next one
We can eliminate (topic) right away. Don’t you What do you think of this idea?
think? How do you feel about that one?
So which shall we choose? Right, those are the ones we’ll choose.
Are we both in favour of that one? I don’t think we agree, so let’s leave
Shall we have these two, then? it at that
OK, we’re agreed Let’s just agree to disagree
Right, those are the ones we’ll choose So, what about….?
I don’t think we agree, so let’s leave it at all I wonder if we can compare (current
Let’s just agree to disagree topic) to (new topic)?
I guess you think we should choose (topic? What do you think about this idea?
I don’t think were going to agree on this! (topic) is pretty similar to the last
one- maybe we can skip it for now?
How do you feel about that one?
Adding points
Ending your turn
And another thing is….
Apart from that,…. What do you think?
As well as that,…. Don’t you agree?
Even better,… Do you have anything to say about that?
Just as importantly,… DO you have anything to add to that?
Not only that,…. Did I forget anything?
Then there’s….
Worse still,…..
There’s also the fact that….. Giving reasons for
disagreeing
Interrupting politely That’s because….
Well, the thing is….
Could I say something here? The problem with that one is…
Do you mind if add to that? The main reason is that….
If I could just make a point here For one thing,…….. And for another,….
I’d just like to say something about
that
Yes, I’d like to comment on that.
Politely disagreeing Agreeing
Perhaps, but what about…? Right. Yes, I agree with that.
I’m not so sure. Don’t you think….?
Good point
I think I’d rather….
I think so, too.
It might be better to….
That’s a great idea.
I’m not really that keen on…
I don’t really agree….. Yes, you’re absolutely/totally right
Maybe, but what about….? That’s just what I was thinking
I think it would be better to…… I was just going to say that
I don’t really agree with you there I get what you mean
Well, maybe but…
I couldn’t agree more
Yes, but the thing is…
I think so, too
The problem with that you said is….
Absolutely
I have to disagree with you
I don’t think so That’s so true
I take your point but That’s for sure
I’m not so sure about that Exactly
I see what you mean but….. I have to side with (name) on this one
I disagree
No doubt about it
I totally disagree (strong)
That’s exactly how I feel
I’m afraid I disagree
I feel the same way
I beg to differ
Not necessarily
That’s not always true/the case
No way (strong and informal)
I’d say the exact opposite (strong)