
If you're reading this post, you probably want to improve your English conversation skills, and the best way to do that is by having actual conversations. Try These Expressions in a Real Conversation!
Could you break that down for me? How much money did he steal and who are all the victims?. I think I know what you mean, but could you break that down for me?. So if you ask someone to "break down" something they said, you ask them to explain it part by part. If you "break something down," you separate it into its parts. Could you elaborate on that for me? I'm not sure I follow. When you ask someone to "elaborate on" something, you're asking them to explain it in greater detail, which is another good way to ask for clarification. You'll also hear native speakers say "If I understood you correctly." Both the past and present tense are acceptable. You're saying that this policy would create 10 million new jobs? So in the end, you still don’t know their opinion. Let me see if I understand you correctly. Scenario 1: When Someone’s Opinion Isn’t Clear Sometimes, a person may respond to a question and discuss several details without clearly stating their opinion. So if I understand you correctly, you feel that you were unfairly fired from your job?. " is a slightly more formal way to check your understanding. Telling your conversation partner what you think they meant is an effective way to ask for clarification. I'm a little confused about what you just said.Īnother way to say "I don't understand" is to say "I don't follow" or "I'm not following.". Should I take this medicine three times a day or four?
Instead of saying "I don't understand," you can also just say "I'm (a little) confused." Sorry, I don't understand your question.You can do this by saying "I don't understand" or "I'm not sure I understand."
I'm not sure what you mean by "formal dress code." Could you show me some examples?Īnother way to ask for clarification is to let the other person know that you didn't understand them.?" A slightly more polite version of this phrase is "I'm not sure what you mean by …." Sometimes, the best way to ask someone for clarification is to directly ask them, "What do you mean by. Today, we'll introduce 10 polite English expressions for requesting clarification. Whether you're meeting with a foreign client, seeing a doctor, or taking an online English lesson, there will be times when you don't understand what the other person just said. Try These Expressions in a Real Conversation!.