Expressing Opinion and Attitude – 2
Asking to repeat something/ Asking for an explanation
- I am not sure what you meant by (…)
- Could you please, say that in other words?
- Could you please, repeat the question?
- Do you mean……….?
- I am sorry. Could you please, repeat that?
- I beg your pardon…
- Could you please repeat that…?
- Could you please explain it to me in another way?
- I did not quite get that. Did you mean…?
Examples:
1. I beg your pardon, I could not catch the last sentence.
2. I did not quite get that. Did you mean what social changes occurred during the past two decades?
Self-correcting
- I mean…
- Or, should I say…
- Or, rather…
- … would be more precise…
Examples:
1. Or should I say international movies have better quality than those of locally produced movies in such countries?
2. I mean we can implement the law but that should not be done too hastily.
Buying some time/ Stalling for time
- That’s an interesting/ difficult/ tough question…
- I have never really thought about it, but…
- I don’t know much about it but…
- I have not given enough thought on that…
- Well, not sure where should I start…
Examples:
1. That’s an interesting question and I would like to thank you for asking me this. I believe that waste recycling is not a choice but a mandatory task.
2. I don’t know much about it but from my personal experience, I can say that we should focus on more pressing issues rather than wasting money on things that are yet to bring any positive output.
3. I have not given enough thought on that but I feel the trend is not a good one.
Commenting on your own ideas
- I know this may sound obvious but…
- This may sound strange but…
- I am not sure if this is the correct example…
- Strange it may seem but…
- I am sorry to have to say this but…
- Though this is very sad, this is the reality…
Examples:
1. This may sound strange but who should we blame for the environmental degradation than ourselves?
2. I am sorry to have to say this but not all employers treat such employees with respects.
3. Though this is very sad, this is the reality that money and power exercise have made things worse.
Getting to the point
- To get to the main point
- Anyway, to get to the point…
- The main point I want to make is that…
- So, to turn to my original point…
Examples:
1. To get to the main point, enhanced life expectancy is basically the result of advanced medical research.
2. So, to turn to my original point, rich nations should help such poor nations to maintain the world peace.
Expressing certainty
- I am absolutely convinced that…
- There is no denying that…
- Nobody will deny that…
- It is a fact that…
- Undeniably…
Examples:
1. I am absolutely convinced that money may be important to purchase things but not to buy happiness.
2. It is a fact that many countries are struggling to fight corruption and citizens have a great role to play here.
3. Undeniably, education makes the difference and that’s why the government has to increase its budget allocation for this sector.
Introducing other ideas/contrasting ideas:
- On the other hand…
- On the contrary…
- To look at it another way…
- Then again…
- From a different perspective…
- From a different point of view…
Examples:
1. On the contrary, youngsters have fresh ideas and a much better understanding of the technology.
2. Then again, I think we should keep the CO2 emissions as low as possible.
3. From a different perspective, those tourists contribute a lot to the national economy.
Making a complaint or showing frustration about something
- Can’t something be done to/about…
- Forgive me for mentioning it, but…
- It really is terrible/ridiculous that…
- I wish someone did something about it…
- Something ought to be done about it…
Examples:
1. Forgive me for mentioning it, but people sometimes are careless enough to harm themselves.
2. It really is terrible that even after knowing the consequences, we are damaging the environment.
3. Something ought to be done about it and there could be no better time than right now!
To interrupt
- Sorry to interrupt…
- If I may interrupt…
Examples:
1. Sorry to interrupt but I would like to say that I come from a city which has better facilities than the one you mentioned just now.
2. If I may interrupt, I would like to finish by saying that this is what most of the ordinary citizens believe about our legislative system.
Drawing the conclusion/ Ending a point/ discussion
- In summary, I can say that
- So, that’s why I think that
- Anyway, that’s why…
Examples:
1. Anyway, that’s why we are the supreme being and we should act accordingly.
2. In summary, I can say that we still have to monitor this closely before taking any whimsical decision.
