|
A
|
Greeting
|
1.
Formal
2.
Informal
|
-
Good morning
-
Good afternoon
-
Good evening
-
How are you
today?
-
It’s very nice
to meet you
-
How nice to
meet you
-
How’s it goin’?
-
What’s new with
you?
-
What’s
happening?
-
What’s up?
|
|
B
|
Relax and Chat
|
1.
Typical conversation
starters
2.
Other questions
3.
Weather
4.
Making comment
on something present
5.
Opening
complaint
6.
Asking for a
small favor
|
-
Excuse me, but
is anyone sitting here?
-
Forgive me for
asking, but do you know when the train left?
-
I’m sorry for
troubling, but could I borrow your umbrella?
-
Have you got
the time, please?
-
Do you come
here often?
-
Have you heard
about …….. ?
-
Lovely day,
isn’t it?
-
Those are
lovely rose.
-
Can you believe
it? The price of …… has gone up again!
-
Could you
please, watch my suitcase for a moment?
|
|
C
|
By the way that reminds me
|
Changing the subject in a
conversation
|
-
Oh, by the way
…….
-
That reminds me
of …..
-
Speaking about
……
-
There is
something else I meant to say ……
-
I just thought
of something ……
|
|
D
|
Sorry to interrupt
|
Interrupting a conversation and then
returning to the topic
|
-
I’m sorry to
interrupt …
-
Sorry to break
in, but ….
-
Sorry, may I
interrupt you for a moment ….
-
Excuse me ….
-
Pardon me ….
-
Sorry, but did
I hear you say …
-
Hang on …
-
Hold on …
-
Sorry, but …
|
|
E
|
It was nice talking to you
|
Bringing a conversation to close
|
-
OK, then …
-
So …
-
Well, I suppose …
-
Well, anyway …
-
Hope you don’t mind, but …
-
I’ve got to go
now.
-
I guess I ought
to get back.
-
I must get back
to work.
-
I’d better let
you go.
-
Thanks for your
time.
-
Once again,
thank you very much.
-
So, I’ll see
you soon.
-
See you
sometime soon, I hope.
-
Look after
yourself.
-
Take care.
|
|
F
|
Telephone closing
|
Closing phrases for telephone
conversation
|
-
Listen, I can’t
talk now.
-
Someone’s just
come in.
-
Someone wants
to speak to me.
-
May I call you back
later?
-
I’ll have to
go.
-
Well, thanks
for calling.
-
Talk to you
later.
-
Well, it’s been
good talking to you.
|
|
G
|
Pardon?
|
Asking for repetition
|
-
I’m sorry I
didn’t catch the last part
-
Sorry, what did
you say?
-
Could you
repeat that, please?
-
Just a minute, say
that again.
|
|
H
|
Is that clear?
|
Questions to check whether the other
understands what you are saying
|
-
OK? / Right?
-
Is that clear?
-
Are you with
me?
-
Get it?
-
Do you see what
I mean?
-
Am I making
sense?
-
Do you
understand me?
|
|
I
|
In other words
|
Reformulating what you said
|
-
What I said was
…
-
Basically, what
I meant was …
-
In other words
...
-
That is to say …
|
|
J
|
Buying time: fillers
|
Common fillers and hesitation
devices
|
-
Well, …
-
Umm … / er …
-
Actually …
-
Sort of
-
What I would
say is …
-
Let’s say …
-
I see what you
mean
-
Let’s put in
this way …
-
Hang on
|
Some
other expressions can be seen at: Zoltan Dornyei and Sarah Thurrel (1992) Conversation and Dialogues in Action.
Prentice Hall International (UK)
As
handout of English for Nutrition Study Program, written by Nafisah Endahati,
M.Hum.
