Documentos de Académico
Documentos de Profesional
Documentos de Cultura
Part II CLASSROOM
LANGUAGE
Formal Formal
That is most good of you. You're looking extremely glamorous.
Thank you very much indeed. My compliments on...
Thank you so very much for.... May I say how elegant you look?
Much appreciated. If I may say so, ... is quite delicious.
I'm very much obliged. If I may say so, ... is quite charming.
I'm much obliged. If I may say so, ... are excellent.
I'm immensely grateful to you for.... I really must express my admiration for...
I should like to say how deeply grateful I am. I must say ... is really very good.
I should like to express my gratitude. I must congratulate you on....
I should like to express my appreciation for...
I do appreciate ... very much. 13. Responding to compliments
I'm very grateful to you.
or congratulations
10. Responding to thanks
Informal
Informal Oh! ... is nothing special really.
That's all right. Flattery'll get you nowhere!
That's 0. K.
Thank you. Less Formal
Any time. You seem very well yourself, as a matter of fact.
Thank you.
Less Formal Oh, thanks.
You're welcome. Oh, not really.
Not at all. It's nice of you to say so.
My pleasure. I'm glad you think so.
It's a pleasure. I'm glad you like....
Don't mention it.
Delighted I was able to help. Formal
Thank you very much for saying so.
Formal It's very good of you to say so.
You would have done the same in my place.
No trouble at all.
It was the least I could do.
I'm glad to have been able to help.
I was glad to be of help to you.
PRACTICAL EXPRESSIONS 139
14. Saying sorry Formal
Would you excuse me, please...?
Informal Will you excuse me for a moment, please?
Sorry for... I wonder if you'd excuse me...?
Sorry about...
I feel bad about... 17. Expressing good wishes
Less Formal Informal
My fault. Say hello to John for me.
I'm very sorry. Have fun!
I'm very sorry about... Good luck!
I'm sorry...! Have a good time!
I'm really awfully sorry for... Give my love to Mary.
I beg your pardon. Enjoy yourselves!
I am terribly sorry... All the very best!
How stupid of me... All the best!
Formal
Goodbye
B. COMMUNICATION
TECHNIQUES
I don't understand this sentence. Can you help
me?
Does.....mean ... or...?
1. Finding out about Does it make sense if I say...?
appropriateness Does ... sometimes mean...?
Does ... have more than one meaning?
Do ... and ... mean the same thing?
Less Formal
Can you use ... to mean...?
Would it be too formal to say...?
What does this mean?
What should I say if I want to...?
What should I say...?
Should I use ... if...? 3. Finding out about correctness
Is ... a neutral sort of word?
If I want ..., what should I say? Informal
If I say ... is it more polite than...? When do you use..?
If ..., should I say ... or...? Can you give me an example for …?
How do you say that in English?
Less Formal
Formal Can I say …?
When is it appropriate to say,...? Is that the right word?
Is it appropriate to say ... if...?
Formal
2. Finding out about meaning Will you tell me how to use ..., please?
Will you correct me if I make a mistake, please?
Which is correct: ... or...?
Less Formal
Is this sentence correct?
When would you use the word...?
Is it correct to say…?
When would you use the expression...?
What's the difference between ... and...?
What other words are there for...? 4. Finding out about spelling
What is the opposite of...?
What is another word for...? Less Formal
What is another way of saying...? Can you check my pronunciation for me, please?
What is a/the word to describe someone who …? Do you spell ... with...?
What does ... mean? How do you spell...?
What do you call someone who...? I'm not sure if I've spelt this word correctly?
What do you call ... that...? Is this the correct spelling...?
Is there a difference in meaning between …? Will you check my spelling, please?
What is the word for...?
Less Formal
2. Asking if someone knows
That means .... Right? about something
Sorry, I'm not quite with what you've said.
So is the basic idea that ...? Less Formal
So am I right in saying ...? You know about ... don't you?
So ...? Have you heard about ...?
Just to be quite certain about this ... Have you got any idea about ...?
In other words .... Right? Has Mary told you ...?
I'm sorry, I'm not sure I understand. Do you realize ...?
If I've understood right, ... Did you know about ...?
If I've got it right, then ... Did you know ...?
If I understand ... Did Mary tell you ...?
Does this mean ...?
Does that mean ...? Formal
Do you mean...? I wonder if you could let me know ...?
Excuse me, do you know anything about ...?
Formal
Sorry to bother you, but do you know ...?
Would I be right in supposing...?
Could you give me any information about (on) .....
Would I be correct in saying ...?
please?
So, if I take your meaning rightly, ...
If I've followed you ... Are you aware of ...?
Formal
Will you kindly tell me something about the latest
developments?
I'd appreciate some more information
concerning ...
Could you possibly tell me more about ...?
144 PRACTICAL EXPRESSIONS
10. Asking to clarify Do you mean to say that ...?
Do you believe that yourself?
circumstances Could you remember what you said last time?
Can you repeat what you've just said?
Less Formal Can you prove it?
What's the actual cause of ...? Are you sure ...?
What do you think about...?
I don't believe he could just... Formal
Why did he ...? Would you mind saying it again?
Who was he influenced by? Pardon?
What did he require that for? I am sure you didn't mean that ....
Did he assert that?
11. Saying the information is not Can you confirm the fact?
Am I right to understand that ...?
correct
14. Expressing doubt about the
Informal
Nothing of the kind! source of information
I've never heard anything like that.
I don't think you are right. Less Formal
I don't believe a single word of what you are say- I'm really in two minds ...
ing. I think he doesn't tell us the truth.
I don't think we should believe him.
Less Formal I don't think I can rely on his information.
You are wrong. I can hardly believe that.
You are not telling us the truth. How could you believe (rely on) such news?
It's not right. How can he know that?
It's not correct. He would never say such a thing.
I can't rely on it, I'm sorry. He is not the man to ...
And still I don't feel confident ...
Formal
Your information is not correct. Formal
I'm sorry, but you must be mistaken. There's still an element of doubt about what you
I'm of the opinion that it's not true. say.
I might have misunderstood you, but ...
Are you sure you are correct? 15. Reminding and informing at
12. Saying the information is the same time
correct Less Formal
Do you remember that you are to ...?
Informal I'm sorry to remind you of ...
You've hit the nail on the head. Excuse me, didn't you forget to ...?
That's where the shoe pinches. You remember you had to ...?
Right you are! I'd like to mention ...
My request was ...
Less Formal Do you happen to remember that ...
You are on the right track.
It's true. 16. Adding more information
I can't help believing this.
Exactly!
Less Formal
To go on with ...
Formal
So far as you ...
You can rely on this.
I'd like to add ...
The information is most reliable.
By the way ...
It cannot be otherwise.
As far as ...
I'm sure this information is correct.
Formal
13. Verifying the information To continue ...
To conclude ...
Informal To avoid any misunderstanding ...
I didn't quite catch what ...? To add ...
Regarding ...
Less Formal In connection with the above said ...
Will you say it again, please? In connection with ...
Sorry? Concerning ...
Is it true that ...? As regards ...
Is it definite ...?
I don't quite get the idea, I think.
Do you really mean that?
PRACTICAL EXPRESSIONS 145
17. Asking if something is 21. Asking if someone is sure
correct about something
Informal
Anything wrong with ...? Less Formal
You're absolutely sure about ...?
Less Formal Really?
Is that right? Is there any doubt about ...?
Is it true that ...? Do you mean to say ...?
Is ... right, please? Definitely?
Is ... correct, please? Are you sure about ...?
I'd like to check that I've got it right. Are you sure ...?
Have I got ... right, please? Are you quite sure about ...?
Could you tell me if ... is right/correct, please? Are you certain about ...?
Am I right?
Formal
Formal Perhaps I misunderstood, but are you quite sure ..
Am I right in thinking/supposing ...? Forgive me, but are you really certain about ...?
Would you mind telling me if it is correct?
22. Saying you are sure
18. Saying something is correct Informal
Informal I'm a hundred per cent certain ...
That's fine.
That's all right. Less Formal
That's 0. K. You can be sure ...
Nothing wrong with that. Yes, really ...
There can't be any doubt about ...
Less Formal It's quite possible (probable) ...
Yes, you're right. It's quite certain ...
Yes, that's right. It's likely ...
Yes, that's quite right. I'm sure ...
Yes, that's correct. I'm quite sure ...
Yes, ... I'm quite convinced ...
Exactly. I'm fairly sure ...
I'm absolutely sure ...
Formal I'm absolutely certain ...
Yes, I should like to confirm ... I think it is possible or probable ...
I should say it is perfectly correct. I have no doubt ...
I expect ...
19. Saying something is not He must be ...
correct Formal
Informal There's very little doubt in my mind ...
It's all wrong. There's no little doubt in my mind as to ...
I'm sorry, there has been some misunderstanding. It's my conviction ...
If I may say so, you are mistaken. I don't think there can be any doubt about ...
I think this information is incorrect.
I really do have to correct you. 23. Saying you are not sure
Less Formal Informal
Sorry, it is not right. You see, if ...
I'm not sure you're right about ... You never know ...
I don't think ... You know, it's not so easy to trust...
I am afraid this is not quite right. I'm not a hundred per cent certain...
I am afraid it's wrong. I wonder if it's him ...?
How can I believe ...?
20. Correcting someone Less Formal
Less Formal It depends ... you know.
Well, in fact ... I'm not sure, really ...
Well, as a matter of fact, ... I'm not sure ...
Surely, ...? I may be mistaken ...
But ... I don't think he could ...
As far as I know, ... I don't think ...
He may ...
Formal And still it's unlikely that ...
In my opinion you should correct it.
If I may, I'd like to correct one thing you said .. Formal
If I may correct you ... I have some doubt about...
I think it might be more accurate to say ... I can't say definitely ...
I am not convinced ...
Formal
Well, while I agree with you on the whole, ...
There's some truth in what you say. However, ...
I agree with much of what you say, but ...
I agree in principle, but ...
Formal
With the greatest of pleasure.
152 PRACTICAL EXPRESSIONS With pleasure.
31. Declining an offer of 34. Asking for someone's opinion
something
Informal
I don't think much of ..., do you?
Less Formal
That's very kind, but I won't, thank you.
Less Formal
Thanks all the same, but I won't/couldn't.
What would you say to ...?
Not this time, thanks.
What do you think of/about ...?
Not for me, thanks.
What are your feelings about ...?
Not for me, thank you.
What about ...?
No, thanks, really.
How would you react to ...?
No, thank you.
How do you see...?
No, thank you very much.
How do you feel about ...?
No, I really won't, thank you.
Have you got any comments on ...?
I'm not sure I can.
Can you comment ...?
I won't, thanks.
What do you feel about ...?
Formal
Formal
If it's all the same to you, I won't.
What's your opinion of ...?
What is your reaction to ...?
32. Accepting an offer of help I'd be grateful to have your opinion on ...
Do you have any particular views on ...?
Informal Do you have any opinion on ...?
Lovely! Could I know your reaction to ...?
Just what I needed ...!
35. Expressing your opinion
Less Formal
That's very kind of you.
Informal
Thanks very much!
You know what I think?
Thank you.
Well, I must say ...
Oh, yes, please.
I'd say ...
I'd like to say ...
Formal
Don't you think ...?
You are most kind.
That's extremely good of you ...
Less Formal
If you're sure it's no trouble ...
What I reckon is, ...
I'd be delighted if ...
The way I see it, ...
It's my feeling...
33. Refusing an offer of help It seems to me ...
I'm convinced that ...
Informal If you ask me, ...
No, it's 0. K., thanks. I think ...
No, don't worry. I should say ...
No, don't bother, really. I reckon ...
I feel ...
Less Formal I believe...
That's very kind of you, but ..... From my point of view, ...
Thanks a lot, but ...
No, thank you. Formal
No, really, I can manage, thanks. Personally, I consider ...
No, it's all right, really. Personally, I believe ...
I don't think so, thank you. My own view of the problem is ...
It's my opinion ...
Formal In my view ...
That's extremely kind of you, but ... In my opinion ...
Thank you for offering, but ... I'm of the view ...
Please don't trouble yourself about ... I'm of the opinion ...
It's very good of you to offer, but ... If I may say so ...
I consider ...
From where I stand, ...
As I understand it ...
As I see it, ...
As for my point of view ...
To my mind, ...
Less Formal
Informal
You can do it.
You're not going to let me down, are you?
Well done! Now ...
Just this once!
That's most encouraging!
Don't be like that!
That's better than I could do.
I wish I could do as well.
Less Formal
Don't worry, I'm sure you'll do better this time.
Won't you ..., please?
Why don't you ...?
Formal
Please, let me ...
There's no reason to feel discouraged.
I really think you'd do well to ...
Are you really sure you can't ...?
74. Requesting
Formal
Won't you reconsider ...? Informal
How can I persuade you to ...? You couldn't ..., could you?
Couldn't I persuade you ...? Don't ..., will you?
Could you be persuaded ...? Do me a favor and ...
Can't I persuade you ...? Any chance of ...?
But it's in our own interests to ...
The best course of action would be to ... Less Formal
Can you ...?
72. Complaining
Formal
Would you mind ..., please?
Informal
Would you be so kind as to ...?
You've got to do something about ...
Would you ..., please?
You can't possibly ...
Would there be any possibility of ...?
Really I've just had about enough of ...
Would it be possible for you to ...?
Really I'm fed up with ...
We should be most grateful if ...
Look here! You can't go around ...
I'm sorry to trouble you, but ...
Honestly, you're always ...
If you could ..., I'd be very grateful.
... just won't do.
I'd be very grateful if you'd ...
I hope you don't mind my asking, but ...
Less Formal
Do you think it would be possible ...?
Something must be done ...
Could you possibly ...?
I'm afraid ... it’s just not good enough.
Could you ..., please?
I want to complain about ...
Could I ask you to ...?
Can you do anything about ...?
Do you think you could ..., please?
STUDENT'S GUIDE
3. While learning
Can you help me, please?
Could I take the dictionary?
Could you explain again, please? I missed the last word.
1. Being late Could you explain the pattern once again, please?
I missed my bus. Could you kindly slow down a bit?
I overslept this time. Could you repeat the first section?
I'll be more careful next time. Could you repeat the instruction, please?
I'm sorry, I'm late. Could you repeat the last bit?
I've been to see the doctor. Could you say it again?
Something's wrong with my watch. Do you mean that we should ...?
I am not sure about this word.
2. Being absent I missed the beginning of what you said.
Anyway, I'll try to find out. I'm sorry, I didn't understand.
He has gone for a medical examination. Is it right that I should ...?
He has got a cold. It must be an idiom. I can't make out anything in this
He has got a high temperature. sentence.
He has got the flu. May I look up the dictionary?
He is at the dentist's. May I see it in my workbook?
He is ill. May I take the dictionary?
He is not well. Shall we do the exercise in our workbooks?
He isn't here but it's so unusual. He's always so exact. Shall we hand the worksheets in when we've finished?
He wasn't feeling very well, so he went home. Well, this phrase doesn't seem familiar to me.
He wasn't here yesterday, either. What do we have to do next?
He's at the doctor's. What shall we do when we've finished?
Which tense should I use here?
You are speaking too quickly. I didn't get that down.
162 PRACTICAL EXPRESSIONS
4. Using media Do you have to have an article?
Do you have to put the particle "to" after "to help"?
Could you kindly slow it down?
Do you have to use an auxiliary verb here?
Could you reproduce it once again?
Is it an irregular verb?
Could you show it once more?
Is it appropriate to use the Past Perfect in this context?
Could you spell the word, please?
Should I add "-s" here to form the plural?
Could you write it up on the board, please?
Should I change the tense here?
I can't follow, it's too fast.
What's the preposition after "to depend"?
I can't hear, it's too soft.
Which form should I use here?
I can't see anything.
Which tense do I need here?
I'm sorry, it's too loud.
I'm sorry, it's too soft.
C. Vocabulary
Can I look up the dictionary?
5. Taking turns Can we say "a moot point"? Does it sound English?
Am I next? Could you explain the difference between "..." and "..."?
Is it my turn? Could you explain the meaning of this word?
May I interfere? Could you kindly repeat the second sentence?
Shall I proceed? Could you make a hint that I should guess what it
Shall I start? means?
Which number are we on? Could you repeat the last word in the sentence?
Will you be next? Does this English idiom mean the same as the Turkish
"..."?
6. Asking about correctness Does this word mean the same as ...?
I didn't understand what the last sentence meant.
Be sure to correct it.
I don't understand the first word.
Can I say that?
I don't understand this word.
Could this one be correct?
I'm sorry, I've made a slip. I meant something different.
Could you explain why it's wrong?
Is "funny" an antonym of "dull"?
Could you prompt me the right thing?
Is "in a nutshell" an idiom?
Could you read out the answer to No. 5?
Is "to rip" a synonym of "to tear"?
I can't see anything wrong in the sentence.
Is it a derivative form of "..."?
I don't think it's wrong.
Is there a better way of saying the same thing?
I think you've made a mistake on the board.
Is there a shorter way of saying this?
Is this a mistake?
Is there a word in English that means the same as...?
Isn't there a mistake in sentence 5?
Is there any difference between the meanings of the
It depends. I think you may use either.
word "..." and the word "..."?
Should I correct it?
Is there any difference in meaning between "..." in
Sure, you've made a mistake.
English and "..." in Turkish?
Was the answer to No. 6 "A" or "B"?
Is this word polysemantic?
What was the answer to No. 3?
It still isn't clear to me what this means.
What would be the right answer instead?
I've never heard that word before.
What's wrong with ...?
No, I can't. I need your help badly. Do help me, please.
Which is the right version?
Well. I can't guess. Do give me a helping hand.
Which of these could be the right answer?
What does the idiom "..." mean in this context?
Why did you mark this wrong?
What part of speech is "..."?
Why was what I wrote wrong?
What's the English for ...?
Will it be 0. K. if ...?
What's the meaning of "emancipation"?
What's the Turkish for ...?
7. Asking about language Will it be appropriate to say...?
Will it be better to say ...?
A. Pronunciation and spelling Will it be more appropriate if I replace "..." with "..."?
Are there two "r" or only one?
Aren't there two accents in this word? 8. Requests
Do I need a full stop here?
Could I ask you a question?
Do I need a hyphen before this word?
Could I change seats with ...?
Do I pronounce the right diphthong here?
Could I have another copy?
Have the noun and the verb different accents?
Could I leave some minutes earlier?
How do you pronounce the next word?
Could I look for my pen?
How do you spell ...?
Could I take a seat over there?
I'm not sure how to say the next word.
Could you correct my mistakes if any?
I'm not sure if I pronounce the right sound.
Could you help me, please?
Is my intonation appropriate in this sentence?
Have you got an extra sheet?
Shall I pronounce the sound /r/ here?
I'd like to correct the mistakes. Could I?
Shall I put a comma here?
May I go out?
What's the next word?
May I have a try?
Where's the accent in this word?
May I open the book?
May I take a dictionary out of the bookcase?
B. Grammar
May I take my workbook from ...?
Could you use the future here?
Could you use the passive here?
PRACTICAL EXPRESSIONS 163
9. Offering help Say it once more.
Say that so that we can hear you.
Can I help?
Shall I explain it once again?
Do you want a hand with the books?
So much for the time being.
Do you want a hand with the table?
Softer, please.
Shall I collect the sheets?
Sorry, I can't hear you.
Shall I draw the curtains?
Sorry? What did you say?
Shall I fetch the readers?
Speak more clearly, please.
Shall I help him with the sentence?
Speak up.
Shall I help you with the handout?
Stop for the time being.
Shall I pass them on?
That's enough for now.
Shall I turn the lights out?
That's fine, thank you.
The whole sentence, please.
This is how we shall do it.
This time we shall ...
TEACHER'S GUIDE Three students in each group, please.
Try it again from the very beginning.
Try to do it exactly the same way as I'm doing it.
1. Attracting attention Try to work independently.
Attention, please! Wait a little, please. Stop now.
Could I have your attention, please? Watch me doing it.
Face the front, please. Watch me first.
I hope, you follow me? Will you form groups, please?
I'm sorry for interrupting you, but ... Work by yourselves.
Look at me. Work in groups of four.
Look over here. Work in pairs.
Look this way for a moment. Work in threes.
Look up for a moment. Work on your own.
Pay attention now. Work together with your friend.
Settle down, all of you, please. You will have to finish soon.
Stay in your seat, please. You'll have to stop in a minute.
Try to concentrate now.
Watch me, please! 3. Assessing students' work
Will you stop talking, please? 0. K.!
Almost right.
2. Organising students' learning Better than ever.
Come on, you can do better.
activity Congratulations!
Again, please. Congratulations! You got right!
All right, thank you. Could be.
Begin with a question word. Couldn't have done it better myself!
Copy me. Exactly right.
Do it like this. Excellent!
Do it this way. Fantastic!
Do what I'm doing. Fine!
Do you need my help? First class work.
Do you understand the way I do it? Good for you .
Don't disturb your neighbor. Good remembering.
First I'll explain what and how we should do it. Good work!
Here's an appropriate example. Good!
I didn't quite catch what you said. Great!
I'm sorry, I can't hear you. Have another try.
Let's start working. I couldn't give a better answer myself.
Like this, not like that, please. I hope you do it better next time.
Not so loud, please. I was not very satisfied with that.
Not so quickly, I can't follow, I'm afraid. I'm afraid that's not quite right.
OK, that's enough. In a way, perhaps.
Once again but louder. It depends.
Once again but not fluently, please. It's good to see you working like that.
Once again, please. Keep it up.
Once more. Keep up the good work.
Pardon? What was that? Keep working on it ,you have been improving.
Please, work individually. Magnificent!
Say it a bit louder. Marvellous!
Say it again, but this time louder. Much better.
Say it again, please. Nice going.
Say it louder, please. Not exactly.
Not really.
Nothing can stop now.