MARIAM BELLAMI
Unit 1: Making & Responding to a
Request
 Making a request:
 I wonder if you’d be kind
enough to...?
 I wonder if you’d be so
kind as to...?
 I wonder if you could/
would...?
 Would you be kind enough
to...?
 Would you be so kind as
to...?
 Do you think you could...,
please?
 Would you..., please?
 Will you..., please?
 Could you ..., please?
 Would you mind +
(gerund)..., please?
 If you don’t mind would
you please...?
 If it is no trouble, would/
could you..., please?
 Responding to a request
(accept & refuse):
 Sure!
 Yes! Why not!
 Certainly!
 I don’t mind at all!
 With pleasure!
 Of course I would/ could!
 It would be an honour!
 I’m sorry! I won’t!
 I’m afraid it won’t be
possible!
 Actually! I do mind!
 Certainly not!
Unit 2: Expressing lack of
understanding & Asking for
clarification:
1. Expressing lack of
understanding :
- I don’t understand!
- I don’t quite follow you!
- It is not clear enough!
- I’m not sure I understand what
you mean!
2. Asking for clarification:
- Could / would you clarify,
please?
- What do you mean (by…)?
- Can / could you explain please?
- Could you be more explicit?
- Do you mean …?
- Meaning?! (informal)
Unit 3/4: Complaints/ Apologising
1. Making a complaint:
- Sorry, I have a complaint.
- I just don’t know how to say this,
but…
- I’m afraid I have to make a
serious complaint.
- Oh! I’ve got a bit of a problem
here; you see…
- I’m sorry to say this but …
- I hate to mention this but …
- I’ve been patient long enough, but
…  I don’t agree
- I’m not satisfied with the way you
…  I don’t think so (too)
2. Accepting a complaint/
Apologising:
- Oh! I’m sorry about that.
- I can’t tell you how sorry I am.
- Oh dear! I’m really sorry.
- I’m terribly sorry.
- Really! I’m awfully sorry.
- I do apologise.
3. Accepting an apology:
- Don’t worry!
- No problem!
- It’s nothing!
- Apology accepted!
- It’s not a big deal!
- Forget about it!
- Never mind!
4. Rejecting a complaint:
- Well! I’m afraid there is nothing
we/I can do about it actually.
- Well! There isn’t much we can do
about it.
- I see no reason why I should.
(impolite)
Unit 5/6: Expressing Opinion,
Agreeing, Disagreeing & Partly
Disagreeing
 Asking for opinion:
 In your point of view,
what/why/ who/where...?
 According to you,
what/why/ who/where...?
 Don’t you believe that...?
 What is your viewpoint
on...?
 Giving opinion:
 I don’t think that...
 I don’t believe that...
 If you ask me, ...
 I reckon...
 In my viewpoint, ...
 Agreeing:
 I agree
 I think so (too)
 I share the same idea /
opinion as…
 I couldn’t agree more.
 Disagreeing:
 I disagree
 I don’t share the same idea
/ opinion as..
 I have a completely
different view/ opinion on
the issue.
 partly disagreeing:
 I don’t totally agree /
disagree with you.
 You are right but…
 Possible but…
 Not totally true. I believe
 It is true to some extent,
but…..
Unit 7: Regret
- I feel sorry...
- If only I had..., I could have + past
participle...
-I wish I had + past participle...
- If only I had + past participle...
- What a pity!
- Oh! Why did/ didn’t I...
- I would rather/ sooner have...
- I would have preferred to...
Unit 8: Advice
 Asking for /seeking advice:
 What’s your advice on...?
 What should I do?
 If you were me, what
would you do?
 MARIAM BELLAMI

 If you were in my position,  Great news!

what would you do?  Expressing Bad News:
 If you were in my shoes,  I don’t know how to say it
what would you do? but…
 Giving advice:  I feel I ought to…
 (You) should...  I’m really sorry to say
 Shouldn't... that…
 Ought to...  Responding to Bad News:
 If I were you, I'd...  Just go ahead. What is it?
 If I were in your position,  Oh dear!
I’d…  You’re in my thoughts!
 You’d better…  I’m sorry for your loss!
 I advise you to… (said in death)
 My advice is that you…  My deepest sympathy with
 Don’t you think it would be you!
better if…?  My sincerest condolences!
(said in death)
Unit 9: Expressing Certainty &
Uncertainty
 Expressing certainty:
 I’m certain.
 I’m sure.
 I do / strongly believe…
 It must be…
 Without a doubt
 It / I’m certainly …
 Definitely / unquestionably
/ absolutely
 undoubtedly
 Expressing uncertainty:
 I doubt it …
 I’m doubtful
 It is possible
 It may / might / could …
 Possibly / probably
 I’m unsure /uncertain
 I’m not sure /not certain
 May be / perhaps
Unit 10: Expressing & Responding
to Good & Bad News
 Expressing Good News:
 I won first prize …
 You won’t believe what
just happened! You won!
 Responding to Good News:
 Wow! That sounds great /
marvellous/…!
 Congratulations!
 Terrific! I’m so happy for
you!
 Fantastic!
 Magnificent!
 Nice/ I am thrilled to hear
that!