200 CONNECTORS & PHRASES FOR IMPROVED CONVERSATION Flashcards
LAMENTO DECIRTE (sorry) - ENTIENDO/YA VEO
A: ___ that we’re out of stock on that item.
B: Ah, okay ___. Well, not to worry.
LAMENTO DECIRTE (sorry)- ENTIENDO/YA VEO
A: I’M SORRY TO SAY that we’re out of stock on that item.
B: Ah, okay I SEE. Well, not to worry.
DISCULPA QUE TE MOLESTE (bother) - NO ES NECESARIO
A: ___ again Rick!
B: No, __ to be sorry! What’s up?
DISCULPA QUE TE MOLESTE (bother) - NO ES NECESARIO
A: SORRY TO BOTHER YOU again Rick!
B: No, NO NEED to be sorry! What’s up?
ME ALEGRA ESCUCHAR (hear) - ¿QUÉ SIGUE?/¿CUÁL ES LO PRÓXIMO?
Ah, I’m ___ that’s all sorted. So, ___ then?
ME ALEGRA ESCUCHAR (hear) - ¿QUÉ SIGUE?/¿CUÁL ES LO PRÓXIMO?
Ah, I’m GLAD TO HEAR that’s all sorted. So, WHAT’S NEXT then?
¿TE IMPORTARÍA? (mind) - SEREMOS 4 (there)
___ if we changed the numbers for Thursday? ___ now.
¿TE IMPORTARÍA? (mind) - SEREMOS 4 (there)
WOULD YOU MIND if we changed the numbers for Thursday? THERE WILL BE 4 OF US now.
ME PREGUNTABA (wonder) - POR LO QUE PUEDO VER (tell)
A: ___ how everything is going.
B: ___, it’s all going great.
ME PREGUNTABA (wonder) - POR LO QUE PUEDO VER (tell)
A: I WAS WONDERING how everything is going.
B: AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, it’s all going great.
CON RESPECTO A (regards) - MÁS TARDE (on)
A: What shall we do ____ Mr Smith’s account?
B: I’m not sure yet. Can I get back to you ___ today?
CON RESPECTO A (regards) - MÁS TARDE (on)
A: What shall we do WITH REGARDS TO Mr Smith’s account?
B: I’m not sure yet. Can I get back to you LATER ON today?
(Soft and inoffensive phrase that shows you’re unhappy about something) - (make a great effort to think of or remember something)
A: Oh sh___t I can’t remember.
B: No, me neither. I’m r___king ___ ___ but my mind is blank too.
(Soft and inoffensive phrase that shows you’re unhappy about something) - (make a great effort to think of or remember something)
A: Oh SHOOT I can’t remember.
B: No, me neither. I’m RACKING MY BRAIN but my mind is blank too.
PARA PODER (order) - A CARGO DE (charge)
___ do that, you’ll need to speak to Claire. She’s ___ production.
PARA PODER (order) - A CARGO DE (charge)
IN ORDER TO do that, you’ll need to speak to Claire. She’s IN CHARGE OF production.
PARA SER HONESTA - SOY TERRIBLE EN
___, I’m ___ math.
PARA SER HONESTA - SOY TERRIBLE EN
TO BE HONEST, I’m TERRIBLE AT math.
CONSEGUIR (hands) - SI NO ME EQUIVOCO (mistaken)
A: Do you know where I can ____ a copy?
B: ____, I believe that Darcey has one.
CONSEGUIR (hands) - SI NO ME EQUIVOCO (mistaken)
A: Do you know where I can GET MY HANDS ON a copy?
B: IF I’M NOT MISTAKEN, I believe that Darcey has one.
HASTA NUEVO AVISO - (an exclamation of irritation, frustration, or surprise)
A: All schools have been closed ___.
B: ___, it’s pretty serious then?
HASTA NUEVO AVISO - (an exclamation of irritation, frustration, or surprise)
A: All schools have been closed UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
B: GOOD GRIEF, it’s pretty serious then?
SERÍA POSIBLE - TODO EL AÑO (round)
A: ___ to book during winter?
B: Yes, we’re open ___.
SERÍA POSIBLE - TODO EL AÑO (round)
A: WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE to book during winter?
B: Yes, we’re open ALL YEAR ROUND.
QUÉ HAY DE LO ÚLTIMO EN (latest) - PARECE QUE (as though)
A: ___ the negotiations with Sunex?
B: Well, it ___ the deal is going through, which is great news.
QUÉ HAY DE LO ÚLTIMO EN (latest) - PARECE QUE (as though)
A: WHAT’S THE LATEST ON the negotiations with Sunex?
B: Well, it LOOKS AS THOUGH the deal is going through, which is great news.
NO PUEDO DEJAR DE (help) - NO VALE LA PENA (worth)
A: I ___ wondering whether it was the right decision or not.
B: ___ worrying about it, Han.
NO PUEDO DEJAR DE (help) - NO VALE LA PENA (worth)
A: I CAN’T HELP wondering whether it was the right decision or not.
B: IT’S NOT WORTH worrying about it, Han.
EN ESE TEMA - INFORMADA (loop)
Whilst we’re ___, can you make sure that Mary is ___ about changes to the contract…
EN ESE TEMA - INFORMADA (loop)
Whilst we’re ON THAT SUBJECT, can you make sure that Mary is KEPT IN THE LOOP about changes to the contract…
LO QUE QUIERO DECIR ES QUE (mean) - ENTENDIDO (got)
A: No, ___ it isn’t advisable, not that it’s prohibited.
B: Ah, okay. ___.
LO QUE QUIERO DECIR ES QUE (mean) - ENTENDIDO (got)
A: No, WHAT I MEAN IS THAT it isn’t advisable, not that it’s prohibited.
B: Ah, okay. GOT IT.
¿CÓMO HAS ESTADO? - UN POCO ENFERMA (weather)
A: ___ Lucy?
B: I’ve been a bit ___ actually.
¿CÓMO HAS ESTADO? - UN POCO ENFERMA (weather)
A: HOW HAVE YOU BEEN Lucy?
B: I’ve been a bit UNDER THE WEATHER actually.
PREFERERÍA NO (rather) - (something funny and surprising)
A: ___ focus on that now though.
B: ___ I had been thinking exactly the same.
PREFERERÍA NO (rather) - (something funny and surprising)
A: I’D RATHER NOT focus on that now though.
B: FUNNILY ENOUGH I had been thinking exactly the same.
DIGAMOS - A MI SABER Y ENTENDER (knowledge)
A: For a budget of €5000 ___, what would the options be?
B: ___, the only option would be…
DIGAMOS - A MI SABER Y ENTENDER (knowledge)
A: For a budget of €5000 LET’S SAY, what would the options be?
B: TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, the only option would be…
FAMILIAR CON - PARA NADA
A: Are you ___ hindsight bias?
B: No, not ___. Please, tell me more.
FAMILIAR CON - PARA NADA
A: Are you FAMILIAR WITH hindsight bias?
B: No, not AT ALL. Please, tell me more.
¿CÓMO VA TODO? - CONFÍO EN QUE
A: ___?
B: Yeah, good. ___ we’ll be finishing on time.
¿CÓMO VA TODO? - CONFÍO EN QUE
A: HOW’S EVERYTHING GOING?
B: Yeah, good. I’M CONFIDENT THAT we’ll be finishing on time.
SIN IMPORTAR (matter) - NO PODRÍA ESTAR MÁS DE ACUERDO
A: We should stick to the plan, ___ what.
B: I ___.
SIN IMPORTAR (matter) - NO PODRÍA ESTAR MÁS DE ACUERDO
A: We should stick to the plan, NO MATTER what.
B: I COULDN’T AGREE MORE.
A JUZGAR POR - SUENA COMO SI
A: ___ recent events, I’d say the answer is unclear.
B: ___ we’ll have to have some patience then.
A JUZGAR POR - SUENA COMO SI
A: JUDGING BY recent events, I’d say the answer is unclear.
B: IT SOUNDS AS IF we’ll have to have some patience then.
BAJO LAS CIRCUNSTANCIAS - MÁS ALTOS QUE NUNCA (all time)
A: I think it was justified ___.
B: Yes, well, prices are ___.
BAJO LAS CIRCUNSTANCIAS - MÁS ALTOS QUE NUNCA (all time)
A: I think it was justified UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
B: Yes, well, prices are AT AN ALL TIME HIGH.
YA NO (longer) - DE TODOS (out)
A: We ___ manufacture that product I’m afraid.
B: That’s a shame, ___ of your products that was the one I liked best.
YA NO - DE TODOS
A: We NO LONGER manufacture that product I’m afraid.
B: That’s a shame, OUT OF ALL of your products that was the one I liked best.
DE VEZ EN CUANDO - A PARTIR DE AHORA
A: That happens ___.
B: Perhaps then ___ we ought not use that platform.
DE VEZ EN CUANDO - A PARTIR DE AHORA
A: That happens EVERY NOW AND AGAIN.
B: Perhaps then FROM NOW ON we ought not use that platform.
LO QUÉ QUIERES DECIR ES (mean) - POR DECIR
A: So, ___ you think we should send people out a test first?
B: Yes, ___.
LO QUÉ QUIERES DECIR ES (mean) - POR DECIR
A: So, WHAT YOU MEAN IS you think we should send people out a test first?
B: Yes, SO TO SPEAK.
CÓMO SE PREVIO - MIENTRAS QUE (long)
The initial results are ___ and ___ next week’s results come back similar to these, I’d say we’re all good.
CÓMO SE PREVIO - MIENTRAS QUE (long)
The initial results are AS PREDICTED and AS LONG AS next week’s results come back similar to these, I’d say we’re all good.
SIN MENCIONAR - COMO MÁXIMO
A: It’s going to be very laboursome. And ___ complicated.
B: But it’ll only take a few weeks, ___.
SIN MENCIONAR - COMO MÁXIMO
A: It’s going to be very laboursome. And NOT TO MENTION complicated.
B: But it’ll only take a few weeks, AT THE MOST.
EN GENERAL (speaking) - AL FINAL/(the most important fact in a situation) (bottom)
A: ___ the president’s assessment was accurate.
B: So, ___ is that encryption does work?
EN GENERAL (speaking) - AL FINAL/(the most important fact in a situation) (bottom)
A: GENERALLY SPEAKING the president’s assessment was accurate.
B: So, THE BOTTOM LINE is that encryption does work?
TE DESEO TODO LO MEJOR - CASILLAS POR MARCAR (boxes)
A: It was great speaking to you Rob, I ___ with your product launch.
B: Thanks! Only a few more ___ before the big day.
TE DESEO TODO LO MEJOR - CASILLAS POR MARCAR (boxes)
A: It was great speaking to you Rob, I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST with your product launch.
B: Thanks! Only a few more BOXES TO TICK before the big day.
EN OTRAS PALABRAS - SI HE ENTENDIDO BIEN (correctly)
So, ___, it affects some petrol cars too… ___?
EN OTRAS PALABRAS - SI HE ENTENDIDO BIEN (correctly)
So, IN OTHER WORDS, it affects some petrol cars too… IF I’VE UNDERSTOOD CORRECTLY?
COMO SI - CADA VEZ (single)
A: It’s not ___ this is a unique event.
B: You’re right. This happens ___ time.
COMO SI - CADA VEZ (single)
A: It’s not AS IF this is a unique event.
B: You’re right. This happens EVERY SINGLE time.
UN GUSTO VERTE (lovely) - SEGUIDOS (row)
A: It was ___ again Claire.
B: Yes, you too. It’s been 3 days ___ that we’ve seen eachother!
UN GUSTO VERTE (lovely) - SEGUIDOS (row)
A: It was LOVELY TO SEE YOU again Claire.
B: Yes, you too. It’s been 3 days IN A ROW that we’ve seen eachother!
EN TÉRMINOS DE - Y POR ESO (which)
It may seem like a modest fee, but ___ a Chilean income, it isn’t… ___ so many students drop out of university.
EN TÉRMINOS DE - Y POR ESO (which)
It may seem like a modest fee, but IN TERMS OF a Chilean income, it isn’t… WHICH IS WHY so many students drop out of university.
CON RESPECTO A - ADEMÁS DE (well)
Savings-___ I have a pension and an ISA ___ an account at HSBC.
CON RESPECTO A - ADEMÁS DE (well)
Savings-WISE I have a pension and an ISA AS WELL AS an account at HSBC.
(When you invite the next person to speak) (over) - RETOMAR DONDE NOS QUEDAMOS (pick up)
A. ___ Chris.
B: Cheers Valery, well let’s ___ from last week.
(When you invite the next person to speak) (over) - RETOMAR DONDE NOS QUEDAMOS (pick up)
A: OVER TO YOU Chris.
B: Cheers Valery, well let’s PICK UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF from last week.
COMO ESTABA DICIENDO - (used to admit that something is reasonable or acceptable) (fair)
A: ___, that’s why it works that way.
B: ___. Makes sense.
COMO ESTABA DICIENDO - (used to admit that something is reasonable or acceptable) (fair)
A: AS I WAS SAYING, that’s why it works that way.
B: FAIR ENOUGH. Makes sense.
CON ANTICIPACIÓN - SI ES QUE/SIEMPRE QUE
A: You’ll need to book ___. ___ the trip is still going ahead.
CON ANTICIPACIÓN - SI ES QUE/SIEMPRE QUE
A: You’ll need to book IN ADVANCE. PROVIDED THAT the trip is still going ahead.
SIGUE ASÍ (keep) - EN CONVERSACIONES/(to be in discussion about something)
A: I regularly put money into my pension. B: ___, you won’t regret it. My company is ___ to introduce a pension scheme which will be good.
SIGUE ASÍ (keep) - EN CONVERSACIONES/(to be in discussion about something)
A: I regularly put money into my pension. B: KEEP IT UP, you won’t regret it. My company is IN TALKS to introduce a pension scheme which will be good.
