Lets Talk:Conversation INDEX 1. Opinions: a. Speaking up b. Giving an opinion c. Asking for an opinion 2. Agreeing a. Agreeing strongly 3. Disagreeing a.

Disagreeing strongly 4. Listening: to someones opinion a. Listening and interested 5. Responding to an interesting remark 6. Repeating and explaining 7. Not hearing 8. Not understanding 9. Asking for more information 10. Making sure that you understand 11. Meeting someone by chance 12. Being misunderstood 13. Not knowing 14. Before saying goodbye 15. During a conversation 16. Remembering and forgetting something in a conversation 17. Use these phrases when you forget what you wanted to say: 18. Joining two parts of a conversation 19. Making arrangements 20. Use these phrases to decide a date : 21. Understanding 22. Showing amusement 23. Showing surprise or shock 24. Sympathizing

25.

26. 27. 28. 29. drink 30. Refusing more food or drink 31. Dealing with apologies 32. Of course 1.Opinions: 1.a Speaking up 1. Could / can I (just) say something here? 2. Could / can I (just) add something here? 3. Could / can I (just) come in here? 4. Could / can I (just) make a point here? 1.b Giving an opinion 5. The way I see things 6. I tend to think that 7. It seems to me that 8. Its my feeling that 9. In my experience 10. Its my experience that 1.c Asking for an opinion 11. Sidney, whats your opinion of /about / on? 13. Sidney, what do you think of / about? 14. Sidney, whats your feeling about ? 15. Sidney, could we have your input here? 2. Agreeing 16. Youre (absolutely) right. 17. Absolutely! 18. True! 19. Thats true! 20. Thats exactly how I feel.

Phrases to show sympathy for someone who has a serious problem: Dealing with an interruption Conversational softeners Refusing an offer of help Refusing an offer of food or

21. 22. 23.

I agree (with you). (I think) youre right. I tend to agree. / I tend to agree with Sidney. 24. Im with Sidney on this one. 2.a Agreeing strongly 25. Absolutely! 26. Exactly! 27. I quite agree! 28. I totally agree with you. 29. Im in complete agreement with you. 30. I couldnt agree more! 3. Disagreeing 31. Im afraid I dont / cant agree with you there. 33. Im sorry, I dont agree with you there. 34. I have to say, I disagree with you there. 35. Im not sure I agree with you. 36. Im not sure about that. 37. Im not sure thats true. 38. I take a (slightly) different view on this. 40. I dont know. I tend to think that the opposite is true. 3.a Disagreeing strongly 42. Im sorry but I cant agree with you. 43. Im sorry but I just dont think its a good use of our time. 45. Im sorry but the point you make simply 4. Listening: to someones opinion 46. I see / get your point but 47. I see / get what you mean but 48. I see / get what youre saying but 49. I see / get where youre coming from but 4.a Listening and interested

51. Ah! 52. Really? 53. Yes? 54. Is that right? 5. Responding to an interesting remark 55. (Yes,) thats true. 56. Thats very true. 57. Thats a point! 58. Good point! 6. Repeating and explaining 59. If I could just go back to something Sidney said 60. Going back to what Sidney said/mentioned earlier 62. Thinking about what Sidney said /mentioned earlier 64. As Sidney said earlier 7. Not hearing 65. (Sorry,) I missed that. 66. (Sorry,) I didnt catch that. 67. (Im sorry,) could you repeat that, please? 69. (Im sorry,) could you say that again, please? 8. Not understanding 71. Im sorry, could you explain that again, please? 73. Im not sure I understand what you mean (by) 75. Could you run that by me again, please? 76. Im afraid I dont follow you. 77. Im sorry, youve lost me. 9. Asking for more information 78. Sidney, could you say a little bit more about? 79. Sidney, could you explainin a bit more detail? 80. Whys that? 81. Why do you think that is? 82. I wonder why that is?

83. Why, what, when, where ,how 10. Making sure that you understand 84. So, what youre saying, Sidney, is thatIs that right? 86. Just to recap you would like to ? Is that right? 87. So, Paul, just to make sure Ive understood this / got this right 88. So, am I right, Paul, in saying that you want to? 11. Meeting someone by chance 89. Hello / Hi! I havent seen you in ages! 90. Hello / Hi! I was just thinking about you the other day. 92. Hello / Hi! I thought I might see you here. 94. Hello / Hi! What a nice surprise to see you here. 96. Hello, stranger! (humorous) 97. Long time, no see. 12. Being misunderstood 98. Thats not quite what I meant. 99. I think youve misunderstood me. 100. Perhaps I didnt explain this very clearly. 13. Not knowing 101. I dont know what to think about this. 102. Im in two minds about this. 103. Im not sure where I stand on this. 104. I can see both sides of the argument. 14. Before saying goodbye 105. (It was) nice / good to see you. 106. Im afraid I have to go now, but its been really nice seeing you. 107. Im sorry, I have to dash

108. busy. 109.

161. What a shame! 162. What a nuisance / hassle! Anyway, Ill let you get on./ Id 133. 163. Thats awful / terrible! better let you get on 164. What a pain! 111. Anyway, I wont take up any 134. 165. What a drag! more of your time. week. 166. Tell me about it 15. During a conversation 135. That weeks good / fine / OK for 25. Phrases to show sympathy for 16. Remembering and forgetting me. someone who has a serious something in a conversation 136. That weeks a possibility. problem: 113. I was going to / meaning to ask 137. I dont have anything / much on 167. I am sorry. you that week. 168. Im (very / so) sorry to hear 114. I know what I wanted to ask 20. Use these phrases to decide a that. you date : 26. Dealing with an interruption 115. Oh, and while I think of it 138. Lets say Friday 16th. 169. Sorry, Sidney, what were you 116. Oh yes, I remember what I was 139. OK, lets make it Friday 16th. saying? going to ask / tell you 140. Friday 16th it is then. 170. Sorry, Sidney, you were saying? 17. Use these phrases when you 141. Shall we pencil in Friday 16th 171. Sorry, Sidney, you were telling forget what you wanted to say: 142. Lets say Friday 16th for now me about your mother. 118. What was I saying? Oh yes 143. Lets say Friday 16th and Ill get 27. Conversational softeners 119. Ive completely forgotten back to you if theres a problem. 28. Refusing an offer of help 120. what I was saying. 144. Are you / we still on for this 172. Youre all right 121. My minds gone blank. Friday? 173. Its all right / OK 122. Im sure there was something I 21. Understanding 174. Dont worry, Ill be OK meant to tell / ask you. 145. I see. (to end a sentence) 18. Joining two parts of a 146. Right! 176. but thanks anyway. conversation 147. Now Im with you 177. but I appreciate the offer. 124. Ive had this jacket for almost 22. Showing amusement 178. but thanks for the offer. ten years. 148. Thats hilarious! 179. but its very kind of you to 125. Speaking / Talking of clothes, I 149. Thats really / very funny! offer. like that sweater youre wearing. 150. How funny ! 29. Refusing an offer of food or 126. He takes really good photos. 151. Thats made my day! drink While were on the subject, did 23. Showing surprise or shock 180. (No,) Im all right, thanks. you get the photos I sent you 152. No! 181. (No,) Im fine, thanks. last week? 153. Never! 182. Not for me, thanks. 19. Making arrangements 154. Youre joking! 183. No thanks, Ive just had lunch. 128. Is the week starting Monday 155. Youre kidding! 30. Refusing more food or drink 12th any good for you? 156. Youre not serious! 184. Ive had plenty, thank you / 129. How does the week starting 157. Thats unbelievable! thanks. 130. Monday 12th sound? 158. I dont believe it! 185. No, that was delicious but I 131. How are you fixed for the week 24. Sympathizing couldnt manage any more, starting Monday 12th? 159. Oh no! thanks. 160. Poor you! 31. Dealing with apologies

Anyway, I can see that youre

132.

That week might be a bit tricky / difficult. Ive got a lot on that week. (= I am busy) Actually, Im a bit busy that

186. Thats all right. 187. Not to worry. 188. Dont worry (about it). 189. It doesnt matter. 32. Of course Used to say politely that someone can do or have something: 190. A: Can I borrow your pen? 191. B: Of course (you can). Used to state a fact that most people already know: 192. The Second World War ended of course, in 1945. 193. Of course you shouldnt eat too much fat. Used for saying that something that 194. happened was not surprising: 195. We got to the station half an hour late so, of course, we missed our train. Used to mean certainly when someone asks you a question or asks you to do something: 196. A: Do you love me? 197. B: Of course I love you! 198. A: Could you help out on Saturday? 199. B: Of course! Used for disagreeing with something that someone says. 200. A: Your mother doesnt even like me! 201. B: Of course she likes you! 202. A: Im too fat to wear anything like that. 203. B: Of course youre not! Used when someone tells you that they or someone else felt angry or sad and you want to show you understand how they feel: 204. A: My mother was upset because my brother wasnt there. 205. B: Of course. 206. A: I just feel so angry with her. 207. B: Of course.