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Useful Language - Conversations - Asking for Clarification & Getting More Info

Listen! Listen to these sentences at the Talking People Podcast: Useful Language. Communicative Strategies 1

Asking for Clarification & Getting More Info

What do you mean?
What exactly do you mean?
What did you mean when you said…?
Would you mind explaining that? (I’m afraid I didn’t get it!) (I’m afraid I tuned out!)
I didn’t understand the part/idea about…
I didn’t understand what you meant when you said …
What sort of thing?
What kind of thing?
What does that involve?
Why do you say that?

Excuse me, I didn’t hear what you said.
Sorry, I missed the last bit
Sorry, I missed the last thing you said.
What did you say? I couldn’t hear.
Can you speak a bit louder, please?
Sorry, I tuned out a sec. What were you saying?

So what you are saying is…
(paraphrase, to check you got it!)

Do you know what I mean?
Do you see my point?
No, I don't mean that. I meant/was saying...
No, I didn't mean that. I was referring to ... /It's more like...
What I said/meant was…
Excuse me. I think you must have misunderstood my point. I meant…

How was (whatever)? (general question)
What was it like? (specific - descriptions)
What are you doing?
What are you up to?
What happened then?
What happened in the end?
What did you do?
How did you/they react?
What did you say, then?
How did you feel?
How come? / Why?
Why not?
What for?
Who with?
When was that?
When's that?
Where to?
Where at?
Really?
Are you serious?
Are you kidding?
(Is it) for real?
Is that so?
What are you going to do, then?
cf. What will you do?

For language to overcome language problems check out "Checking for comprehension"
More on "Making Comments & Showing You Follow"

Check out also "Agreeing", "Defending a Position", and "Disagreeing"