Conversation Phrases

Question 1

SPEAKING UP

Answer 1

Could/Can I (just) ...
... say sth here?
... add sth here?
... come in here?
... make a point here?

Question 2

GIVING AN OPINION

Answer 2

The way I see things ...
I tend to think that ...
It seems to me that ...
It's my feeling/experience that ...
In my experience ...
---
ADDING INFORMATION
On top of that...
What's more...
And another thing is that ...
Not only that, but ...
---
EXPRESSING CONTRAST
But in fact, ...
In reality, ...
The fact of the matter is ...
But actually ...
On the one hand, ...; on the other hand, ...
When it comes to ..., however, ...

Question 3

ASKING FOR AN OPINION

Answer 3

(Person’s name), what’s your opinion of/about/on…?
(Person’s name), what do you think of/about…?
(Person’s name), what’s your feeling about…?
(Person’s name), could we have your input here?

Question 4

AGREEING

Answer 4

I agree with you.
I think you're right.
I tend to agree (with you/him, etc).
I'm with you on this one.
I agree to a certain extent.

Question 5

AGREEING STRONGLY

Answer 5

Absolutely!
Exactly!
I quite agree!
I totally agree with you!
I'm in complete agreement with you.
I couldn't agree more.

Question 6

DISAGREEING

Answer 6

I tend to disagree (with you/him, etc).
I’m afraid I don’t/can’t agree with you there.
I’m sorry, I don’t/can’t agree with you there.
I have to say, I disagree with you on this one.
I’m not sure I agree with you.
I’m not sure about that.
I’m not sure that’s true.
I take a (slightly) different view on this.
I see things from a different perspective.
I don’t know. I tend to think that the opposite is true.

Question 7

DISAGREEING STRONGLY

Answer 7

I’m sorry but I strongly disagree with you there.

I’m sorry but I just can’t agree with you on that.

Question 8

LISTENING TO SB’S OPINION

Answer 8

I see/get your point but …
I see/get what you mean but …
I see/get what you’re saying …
I see/get where you’re coming from …

OBS.: GET is more informal than SEE

Question 9

RESPONDING TO AN INTERESTING REMARK

Answer 9

Yes, that’s true.
That’s very true.
That’s a point.
Good point.

Question 10

REPEATING

Answer 10

FORMAL
If I could just go back to sth you said/mentioned earlier…
Going back to what you said/mentioned earlier…
Thinking about what you said/mentioned earlier…
As you said/mentioned earlier…

INFORMAL
Uou, back up, please! Are you saying that …
You’re going too fast. Can you back up a little and explain it again?

Question 11

NOT HEARING

Answer 11

FORMAL
(Sorry,) I missed that.
(Sorry,) I didn't catch that.
(Sorry,) Could you repeat that, please?
(Sorry,) Could you say that again, please?

INFORMAL
Sorry, what were you saying?
Sorry, (name), you were saying …
Sorry, (name), you were telling me about …

Question 12

NOT UNDERSTANDING

Answer 12

FORMAL
Could you say that again, please?
I'm not sure I understand what you mean by ...
Would you mind explaining that again?
Could you clarify what you mean by ...?

INFORMAL
Sorry, can you go over that, please?
I’m sorry but I didn’t catch that. Could you say that again, please?
I’m afraid I don’t follow you.
I’m sorry, you’ve lost me.
Sorry, but could you spell out your exact plan for us?

Question 13

ASKING FOR MORE INFORMATION

Answer 13

FORMAL
Could you say a little bit more about …?
Could you explain … in a bit more detail?

INFORMAL
Why’s that?
Why do you think that is?
I wonder why that is.

Question 14

MAKING SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTOOD

Answer 14

So, what you’re saying is that … Is that right?
Just to recap. You would like to … Is that right?
So, just to make sure I’ve understood this …
So, just to make sure I’ve got this right …
So, am I right in saying that you …?
Just checking for understanding: what you’re saying is …

Question 15

BEING MISUNDERSTOOD

Answer 15

That’s not quite what I meant.
I think you’ve misunderstood me.
Perhaps I didn’t explain this very clearly.

Question 16

NOT KNOWING

Answer 16

I don’t know what to think about this.
I’m in two minds about this.
I’m not sure where I stand on this.
I can see both sides of the argument.

Question 17

FORGETTING AND REMEMBERING STH IN A CONVERSATION

Answer 17

What was I saying?
I’ve completely forgotten what I was saying.
My mind’s gone blank.
I’m sure there was sth I meant to tell/ask you.
—
I was going to ask you …
I was meaning to ask you …
Oh, and while I think of it …
Oh, yes, now I remember what I was going to ask/tell you …

Question 18

JOINING TWO PARTS OF A CONVERSATION

Answer 18

Speaking/talking of …

While we’re on the subject, …

Question 19

REFUSING AN OFFER OF HELP

Answer 19

(to start a sentence)
OK/It’s all right …
Don’t worry, I’ll be ok.

(to end a sentence)
... but thanks anyway.
... but I appreciate the offer.
... but thanks for the offer.
... but it's very kind of you to offer.

Question 20

PREPARING TO MAKE A DECISION

Answer 20

You’ve put forward some very good arguments.
You’ve given me a lot to think about.
Now we must weigh up what was said here and make a decision.
The solution depends on what we will find out about this issue.
We have to deal with this issue now.
We need to face up to this problem now and make a decision.

Question 21

COMPROMISING

Answer 21

Let’s try to find a middle ground.
Why don’t we try to reach a compromise?
Would you be willing to compromise?

Question 22

TRAIN OF THOUGHT

Answer 22

You interrupted my train of thought—I totally forget what I was talking about!
Please don’t interrupt my train of thought when I’m speaking.
My train of thought is probably not as clear as it should be.
I cannot seem to follow your train of thought on this matter. Will you explain it a little more carefully, please?

Question 23

INVITING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION

Answer 23

Shall we go round the table and hear everyone’s opinion?
Let’s ask everyone for their opinions.
What are your thoughts?
What is your take on that?

Question 24

INTERRUPTING

Answer 24

FORMAL
I’m sorry to interrupt.

INFORMAL
Oh! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to barge in on you.
Please don’t interrupt me! You can’t just barge in like that!
Sorry for cutting you short but we’re running out of time.

Question 25

BRINGING THE DISCUSSION TO AN END

Answer 25

I’m afraid we’re running out of time.
Would anyone like to add anything before we finish the meeting/discussion?
We’re running out of time.

Question 26

SUMMARISING

Answer 26

Let’s try to wrap things up.
Let’s go over the main points.
So, to summarise we have decided to focus on …

Question 27

SCHEDULING A MEETING

Answer 27

Could we schedule a time TO meet (this/next) week?
I’d like to schedule a meeting as soon as possible.
Perhaps we could meet and go over the details in person?

Question 28

RESCHEDULING A MEETING

Answer 28

Shall we schedule a follow-up call in (ex.: 2 weeks)?
Let’s speak again next week/month.
Is it any good for you?

Question 29

SUGGESTING TIME AND PLACE TO MEET

Answer 29

FORMAL:
Would it be possible FOR us TO meet ON (day) AT (time) (this/next) week?
May I suggest (hour, ex: 7 pm) ON (day) (morning/afternoon)?
Would (time) suit you?
When would you like to meet?

INFORMAL:
Could we meet (this/next) week?
How about (day + part of the day) AT (time)?
How about sometime after (lunch/break/etc)?
What (day/time) do you have in mind?
How would (day) be FOR you?

Question 30

DISCUSSING THE LENGTH OF A MEETING

Answer 30

FORMAL:
Should we plan for the whole (morning/afternoon/etc.)?
How long should we plan on meeting for?

INFORMAL:
Let’s meet about (length of time). Does is sound good to you?
Let’s leave the length of the meeting open for now. How does it sound?

Question 31

ATTENDING A MEETING

Answer 31

FORMAL
Yes, that works for me.
Yes, that would be fine.
Yes, I can manage that.
Ok, I'll get the team together for the appointed time.

INFORMAL
(That/It) Sounds good (to me).
That’s fine.

Question 32

NOT ATTENDING A MEETING

Answer 32

FORMAL
I’m afraid I have another appointment then.

INFORMAL
Sorry, I can’t make it then. How about (another day/time)?
I’m a bit tied up then. How about (another day/time)?