HOW TO ASK TO COMMENT

Helpful Phrases:


Could I make a point here?
Could I make another point here? Apart from high price, the space is too small.
I’d like to add
I'd like to add that Marlon has generally been right in his forecasts.
Could I say something?
Could I say something about Hugh's proposal?
May I interrupt?
May I interrupt you for a minute, Jess?
I’d like to make a comment.
I'd like to make a quick comment. We need to submit this in ten minutes.

HOW TO ASK FOR CONFIRMATION

Helpful Phrases:


Do you actually mean that?
Do you actually mean that CDB will be taken over?
Is it true that?
Is it true that Jonas is leaving?
Are you certain about this?
Are you completely certain that these numbers are correct?
Is it sure?
Is the takeover sure?
Are you positive?
Are you positive? If so, we'll buy the system.

HOW TO ASK FOR SOLUTIONS

Helpful Phrases:


What should we?
What should we do now?
How can we work it out?
How can we work it out? Do you think we can overcome this?
What’s the way?
What's the best way to contact you?
What is the solution?
What is the solution? Shall we change the system?
How do we?
How do we allow the people to enter?

HOW TO ASK FOR REPETITION

Helpful Phrases:


Sorry, I didn't catch that
Sorry, I didn't catch your last sentence. It's too noisy here.
I missed that. Could you repeat it, please?
I missed your explanation. Could you repeat it, please?
Pardon?
Pardon? I didn't get what you said about Harvey.
Excuse me
Excuse me. Could you read that once again please?
What did you say?
What did you say? I think I understood you wrongly.
What was that again?
What was that again? I'm afraid I'm a bit deaf.

HOW TO ASK FOR AN EXPLANATION

Helpful Phrases:


Could you explain?
Could you explain your reasons for being late?
How can you justify?
How can you justify this increment in price?
I don't understand why
I don't understand why we always have problems with Mark.
Why is it that?
Why is it that you're charging us a commission?
How come?
How come your cheque always gets returned?

HOW TO ASK FOR A SUBSTITUTE

Helpful Phrases:


Could you replace me?
Could you replace me tomorrow? I've got an appointment with the dentist.
Would it be possible for you to take over?
Would it be possible for you to take over from me? I don't feel well.
You might have to stand in for
You might have to stand in for Ben. He has to go to Head office.
We need a substitute
We need a substitute teacher for a few days. Could you come in?
Can you take my place?
Can you take my place for an hour? I'm meeting a client at the station

HOW TO ASK ABOUT THE FUTURE

Helpful Phrases:


What are your plans?
What are your plans for next five years?
What’s your projection?
What's your projection on developments in the field?
What’s your forecast?
What's your forecast for this coming Christmas season?
What do you expect?
What do you expect will happen once the loan is approved?
What do you anticipate?
What do you anticipate? Will the new model outsell the old one?

HOW TO ASK ABOUT PRESENT ACTIVITIES

Helpful Phrases:


What's up?
What's up? Why have the lines stopped production?
What's happening?
What's happening in Glasgow?
What are you working on?
What are you working on now? Still on the CDB project?
Anything new?
Anything new in the Chelsea branch?
What’s the current situation?
What's the current situation in the sales department?

HOW TO ASK ABOUT JOBS

Helpful Phrases:


What do you do?
What do you do? I'm a lawyer.
What business are you in?
What business are you in? IT? Sales?
What’s your line of work?
What's your exact line of work? All I know is that you're a manager.
What’s your job?
What's your job? Are you in the IT world too?
Where do you work?
Where do you work? At City Bank?

HOW TO ASK FOR THE PURPOSE

Helpful Phrases:


Why?
Why do we need to open another branch? We already have forty-one!
What can you use this for?
What can we use this product for?
What does it do?
What does this new software do that makes tasks more efficient?
What the purpose?
What's the purpose of manufacturing bags if demand is slow?
Could you explain the object?
Could you explain the object of calling for yet another meeting?