EnPond Talks

Question 1

Agreeing / Disagreeing

Simple agreement

Answer 1

I agree.
I really agree with you.
I think you are right.
I couldn’t agree with you more.
You said it.
Can’t say I don’t agree.
I’m with you on this.
I partly agree.
I agree on this but not that.
It’s partly true.

Question 2

Agreeing / Disagreeing

Accepting / Declining / Expressing acceptance

Answer 2

I accept your point.
Please accept this on our behalf.
Sorry, I can’t accept this.
I’m 100% with you on this!
Great idea.
I’ll take it.
Sorry, I can’t take it.
Accept my apology.

Question 3

Agreeing / Disagreeing

Simple disagreement or refusal

Answer 3

I disagree with you.
Everyone has their own opinion, right?
I think you’re wrong on this.
I’m sorry but I have to refuse your request.
You’re wrong.
No way!
You’ve got to be kidding!
How can you even say that?
Where is your logic?

Question 4

Agreeing / Disagreeing

Strong disagreement

Answer 4

I completely disagree with you.
You are very wrong to say that.
I totally disagree with you.
I can’t find myself to agree with you.
You’re dead wrong.
You’re way wrong.

Question 5

Apologizing and Explaining oneself

Apologies

Answer 5

I’m sorry...
I’m very sorry...
I’m terribly sorry...
Excuse me...
Pardon me...
I apologize...
I’m afraid...

Question 6

Apologizing and Explaining oneself Explaining Oneself , Accepting Responsibility

Answer 6

...I wasn’t very well yesterday
...I didn’t see you
...It won’t happen again
...I’ll be more careful next time
...I’ll finish it before I go home
...It’s my fault
...It’s all my fault

Question 7

Asking people to be quiet:

Answer 7

> Less polite:
Shut up! [impolite]
Quiet! / kwaöWt / Be quiet!
Shh!
> More polite:
Could you be quiet, please?

Question 8

Conversation openers:

Answer 8

Excuse me, is anyone sitting here?
Sorry, have you got the time, please?
I think we’ve met before, haven’t we?
It’s really hot, isn’t it?
Are you going all the way to San Francisco?

Question 9

Permission and requests:

Answer 9

Could I use your pen?
Do you mind if I borrow your dictionary?
(‘Do you mind if I…?’ means ‘Is it a problem for you if I…?’)

Question 10

Getting somebody’s attention:

Answer 10

Excuse me, have you got a moment?
Sorry to bother you, but could I just ask you something?
Excuse me, can you spare a minute or two?
Excuse me, are you in a hurry?
Sure.Go ahead.
It depends what it is.
Sorry, I’m late already.

Question 11

Getting to know you!

Talking about your background

Answer 11

Originally I’m from....
I was (born and) brought up in...
I come from a (sporty/musical) family.
My proudest moment was...-ing
I’ve always dreamt of –ing/ wanted to +verb

Question 12

Getting to know you!

Describing your language ability

Answer 12

I’m not fluent enough in English.
I speak English reasonably well.
I can get by in English.
I speak French but it is a bit rusty.
I know a few words of Italian.
I wish I could speak English fluently.

Question 13

Getting to know you!

Showing a lot of interest

Answer 13

Wow!
Really?
(That’s) interesting!
(That’s) fantastic!

Question 14

Expressing Goodbyes and Farewells in English

Answer 14

> Simple good-byes (Formal)
Good-bye
Stay in touch.
It was nice meeting you.
I hope to see you soon.
> Simple good-byes (Informal)
Bye.
See you.
Talk to you later.
Catch up with you later.
Nice seeing you.

Question 15

Expressing Goodbyes and Farewells in English

Answer 15

> Leaving a place (Formal)
I have to leave here by noon.
Is it okay if we leave your home at 9pm?
What do you say we leave work a little earlier today?
Would you mind if I leave the dinner before it ends?
I need to depart for the airport in one hour.
Leaving a place (Informal)
I got to go now.
I’ll be leaving from the office in 20 minutes. How about we jet off to the shops now? I’m afraid I have to head off now.
Let’s get off work early.

Question 16

English Greeting Expressions
General greetings
(Formal and Informal)

Answer 16

> Formal:
Hello!
How are you?
How are you doing?
How is everything?
How’s everything going?
How have you been keeping?
I trust that everything is well.
> Informal:
Hi.
What’s up?
Good to see you.
How are things (with you)?
How’s it going?
How’s life been treating you?

Question 17

English Greeting Expressions

Greeting a person you haven’t seen for a long time (Formal):

Answer 17

;> Formal:
It has been a long time.
It’s been too long.
What have you been up to all these years?
It’s always a pleasure to see you.
How long has it been?
I’m so happy to see you again.

Question 18

English Greeting Expressions

Greeting a person you haven’t seen for a long time (Informal):

Answer 18

> Informal:
How come I never see you?
It’s been such a long time.
Long time no see.
Where have you been hiding?
It’s been ages since we last met.

Question 19

English Interrupting Expressions

Answer 19

Actually...
Excuse me...
I’m sorry, but...
I just want to say...
May I interrupt here?
Do you mind if I say something?

Question 20

Paraphrasing Expressions

Answer 20

So you mean....
What you mean is...
What you’re saying is...
So what you mean to say is...
Let me get this clear...
Let me get this straight,...

Question 21

Requesting Permission Expressions

Answer 21

...Could I use your phone?
...Might I possibly use your phone?
...Sorry to trouble you, but do you mind if I use your phone?
...Would you mind if I used your phone?
...May I use your phone?
...Can I use your phone?
...I wonder if I could use your phone.

Question 22

Telephone Expressions

Phone greetings:

Answer 22

> Identifying the listener
Is that Bruno Zola?
Could I speak to Bruno Zola, please?
> More informal:
Is that Bruno? Are you Bruno?
Is that you, Bruno?
> Saying who you are
(Yes,) speaking.
> More informal:
Yes (it is).
> Introducing yourself
My name’s Elena Luma.
> More informal:
It’s Elena. I’m Elena.
This is Elena. Here is Elena.

Question 23

Telephone Expressions

Asking people to speak slowly/speak up

Answer 23

Sorry, could you speak slowly, please? Yes, sure.

Could you speak up, please? Yes, of course.

Question 24

Telephone Expressions

Ending a phone conversation

Answer 24

> When you phone for information, you can often end with phrases like this: 
OK, I think that’s everything I need.
OK, I think I’ve got all the details
Thanks. You’ve been very helpful.
Thanks very much for your help.
Bye bye. Goodbye.

Question 25

Thanks and Expressions of Gratitude

Thanking someone:

Answer 25

Thanks.
Thank you.
Thanks a lot.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much indeed.
It was very kind of you.
I appreciate your help.
You’ve been very helpful.

Question 26

Thanks and Expressions of Gratitude

Thanking someone who tries to help:

Answer 26

Thanks anyway.
Thank you for (looking).
Thanks for (trying).
It doesn’t matter. Thanks.
Never mind. Thanks.

Question 27

Thanks and Expressions of Gratitude

Responding to thanks:

Answer 27

You’re welcome. (US)
Not at all. (formal, UK)
Don’t mention it.
(It’s) my pleasure.
It was nothing.
That’s alright/OK.
No problem.
Any time.

Question 28

Taking Turns in Conversations

Directing conversations:

Answer 28

What’s your opinion, Sam?
May I continue?
Let me finish.
Shall we continue?
Let’s go back to the point.
You haven’t said anything yet, Sam.
Do you want to add anything here?
I haven’t finished my point.
Please allow me to finish.
Does anyone want to say anything before we move on?

Question 29

Taking Turns in Conversations

Control strategies:

Answer 29

Let me finish / May I finish?
Excuse me, I haven’t finished.
Just a moment / Hang on a second.

Question 30

Hesitation Strategies - Conversation Time Fillers.
Often we want to give ourselves thinking time before we answer a question, especially if we don’t understand it!
(T=Technique E=Example A=Advantages D=Disadvantages)

Answer 30

(T)> Pretend you haven’t heard (E)> Pardon? / Sorry? / Eh? (A)> Simple – only one word to remember. (D)> Everyone does it.
(T)> Repeat the question (E)> You mean…what is forty-five divided by nine? (A)> Lots of thinking time. (D)> Can you remember the question?
(T)> Use delaying noises (E)> Well… / Um… / Er… (A)> You can use them several times in the same sentence. (D)> If you use them too often you sound stupid.
(T)> Use it depends (E)> It depends. / It depends on (the situation). / Sorry? You want to know what I think about this? Well…um…it depends, really. (A)> You will sound intelligent. (Stroke your chin at the same time). (D)> You can only use it when there is more than one possible answer.

Question 31

Weekends - Asking about what people did?

Answer 31

> How was…?
How was your weekend?
It was lovely. How was yours?
It was terrible.
It was nice.
A bit boring.
<> Link words: then / after that
We had a drink. Then we went to the cinema.
OR We had a drink, and then we went to the cinema.
I went shopping. After that I met my sister.
OR I went shopping, and after that, I met my sister.
Anyway, so anyway
In spoken English, you use anyway or so anyway when you want to begin the next part of the story, or go back to then main story.
Janet didn’t know about it. So anyway, we got in the helicopter, and…
We drank the champagne. Anyway, we landed and…
Realize, remember, find out
The past perfect is often used after the verbs realize, remember and find out.

Question 32

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Answer 32

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