I Dont Understand What You Say Can You Please Say Again

Today we deal with a confusing situation: how to say 'I don't understand' in English language.

When yous accept problems with understanding – it is usual, and you shouldn't be agape of that. It happens all the time with native speakers too. But for English learners, it is quite emotional because it could show you are not fluent enough, and we don't want to look stupid.

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Only the matter is: it is in your caput. At that place are existent situations when it's just…you didn't hear or maybe it'southward also hard to hear or possibly yous communicate in some complicated context.

Don't be afraid to ask people to repeat what they said or what they meant. There is nothing shameful about this situation. There are many factors which can interfere with understanding: noises, stress, unclear idea, dissimilar background, thinking about something else, a bad twenty-four hour period… really many reasons! Information technology'due south non always about your bad English language. Don't start with blaming yourself immediately! At that place is no problem with asking to repeat.

So, which phrases to use when yous don't understand or didn't hear something?

Many people say 'Excuse me' or 'Sorry' in this state of affairs. Nosotros have a special word in English for this. It's 'Pardon'.

Delight, be careful about pronunciation. It is spelt P-A-R-D-O-N. People say information technology in all the possiиду manners, but the correct pronunciation in English is: /ˈpɑː(r)d(ə)n/.

And if you lot use to inquire to repeat what the person just said, you lot volition pronounce it with a rising intonation.

In the formal style, nosotros volition say: 'I beg your pardon?' Please remember it's quite formal.

Also, you can say some set phrases:

• Pitiful, I didn't (quite) catch that.
• Sorry, I didn't hear what yous said.
• Sorry, I didn't get that.
• Could you please repeat that? (more formal)
• Tin can y'all please repeat? (breezy)

And it is besides very of import when people repeat what they said, when they are kind to you lot, so to say, delight ostend that yous understood.

• Now I see, thanks.
• Got information technology.
• Now I understand, thank you lot very much.

How to enquire for clarification

Sometimes, you need to ask people for description (when you don't sympathize what the person wanted to say, when you lot didn't understand the idea).

Again, it doesn't e'er happen because your English is bad. People don't always express their ideas clearly. It'due south not always your mistake!

Be certain you are non too hard on yourself, and just stay calm because your ultimate goal is to get a practical result from this state of affairs.

So, if you lot need some clarification for what you only heard, you can apply phrases similar

• Sad, what did yous mean by that?*
• Could you please be more specific?
• Could I enquire for description on…? *this is very polite)
• Can you explicate what you mean?

*It's better to use Past, not Present. 'What practice yous mean?' is quite a direct question so it will be more informal. If you want to sound polite, you lot volition use Past Simple instead of Nowadays Unproblematic.

How to clarify

If y'all see that people don't sympathize y'all about something you lot said or they are confused, you lot also tin can give the clarification yourself. Say your idea once more starting with:

• Let me explicate…
• To put it differently,
• What I hateful is…
• What I was trying to say is…

These are very popular phrases when you make some kind of short speeches when yous explain some concept. Nosotros call them signal phrases because people take not very long attention span and sometimes you want to drive attention to what y'all are saying. If yous desire to give a point to the person that you are going to say something important, you also tin commencement with this 'What I am trying to say is'. Brand a little pause, make certain that people are looking at you lot now and then explain your idea.

'To put it differently', let's come up dorsum to this phrase. To put means 'to express', 'to say'. 'To put it differently' will mean 'In other words' (which is also a good phrase to use).

I hope yous got the idea that information technology's not always your English which is bad merely nosotros communicate in different kind of situations, backgrounds and don't start with blaming yourself first.

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Free English Learning Guide

If you want to sympathise real-life conversations in English, you demand to know phrasal verbs. They are an of import part of everyday English speaking.

Download our Guide '55 Mutual Phrasal Verbs' to expand your vocabulary for complimentary

This Guide is for those who:

• take already studied English language and are at A2-B2 level;
• want to expand their English language vocabulary;
• want to sympathise native speakers, films and Tv set shows.

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Source: https://www.stordar.com/figure-out-english-i-dont-understand/

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