Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Disagreeing Strongly
Offering
Asking for Opinions
Giving Opinions
Giving Advice
If I were in your place...
This page lists useful phrases for the language function of giving advice
and recommendations to other people.
Elementary
1. (I think/I really think) you need to/must/should ...
2. How about ...?
3. It is usually a good idea to ...
4. My suggestion/advice is (to) ...
5. Why don't you ...?
6. You could (try) ...
7. You probably/definitely/really should ...
Pre-Intermediate
1. Have you tried ...?
2. I (would) (strongly) suggest/advise that ...
3. If I was/were you, I'd ...
4. In my experience, ... works really well.
5. It's generally best/a good idea to...
6. One idea is to ...
7. One thing you could/should/have to do is ...
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May I...?
Pre-Intermediate
1. ...would really help (me).
2. ..., if it's not too much trouble.
3. Are you good at? ...
4. Can I request...?
5. Do you have a/an...that you could lend me?
6. Have you got a/an/any...that I could borrow?
7. Have you got time to...?
8. I don't think I can do...on my own.
9. I heard that you are good at.../know about...
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Intermediate
1. ...and I'll do the same for you some day.
2. ...said you were the best person to ask for/about...
3. ...if it's not too much trouble.
4. ...lend me a hand (with...)
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Upper-Intermediate
1. ..., will you?
2. Any assistance you could give me in this matter would be
gratefully accepted./Any help at all (with...) would be (very) much
appreciated.
3. Are you any good at...?
4. Can I leave it to you/hand all this over to you/leave it in your hands
(then)?
5. Help me (to)..., will you?
6. I could use some help, actually. ...
7. I have a request (for you). ...
8. I have a/another favour to ask you. ...
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You know you said you would...? / You remember I helped
you with...? / You remember when I asked for your help and you
said "Anytime"? / You know the problem/issue/project/deadline I
was telling you about? / You know I told you I might need your
help sometime? Well, (it just so happens)...
Advanced
1. A little bird told me you know all about...
2. About that favour you owe me,...
3. Do me/us a favour, will you? ...
4. Here's your chance to repay me for...
5. I could do with some help (actually). ...
6. I don't suppose you know.../you have.../you could..., do/have/could
you?
7. I need to call in a/that favour.
8. I was hoping you'd be here. ...
9. Is...asking too much?
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This needs a woman's touch. / This is a woman's job. / This
job needs a man. / You've got little fingers. / You're tall. / You're
strong. ...
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Apologizing
I really am most terribly sorry
This page lists useful phrases for the language function of apologizing.
Elementary
1. I apologize
2. I'm really sorry
3. I'm so sorry
4. I'm sorry
5. I'm sorry but...
6. Sorry
Pre-Intermediate
1. ...is/was my fault
2. (I'm) sorry if...
3. I (really) must apologize
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I regret...
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Pardon me!
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There is (really/absolutely) no excuse for my
actions/behaviour/inaction/laziness
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Advanced
1. (I know) I have let myself/you (all) down (by...)
2. (I know) it was thoughtless (of me)
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3. D'oh!
4. I can see how you might be annoyed (by...)
5. I can't believe I...
6. I don't know what came over me
7. I don't know what got into me
8. I just want the ground to swallow me up
9. I take (full) responsibility
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I messed up
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It was inexcusable
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Silly me!
Elementary
1. I'm sorry but ...
2. I'm afraid ...
Pre-Intermediate
1. Actually ...
2. Because of ...
3. I regret to inform you that ...
4. I tried ... but ...
5. I'm sorry to say (that) ...
6. I'm sorry to tell you (that) ...
7. In answer to your request, ...
8. It's not ... enough (for/to ... )
9. It's too ... (for/to be able to ... )
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Unfortunately, ...
Intermediate
1. ... won't be possible (at this stage/at this time).
2. Currently, ...
3. Due to ...
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In fact, ...
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Upper-Intermediate
1. After consulting with my colleague/colleagues/boss, ...
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If you look at the attached information, you will see that ...
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In reality ...
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Owing to ...
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Advanced
1. ... don't have the authority to be able to ...
2. Although we have been able to respond positively to similar
requests in the past, ...
3. Are you sure you want to hear this?
4. As you might have guessed, ...
5. As you suspected, ...
6. At this moment in time, ...
7. Brace yourself.
8. Despite my best efforts, ...
9. I can see why you might think that/ ... , but ...
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Initially, ...
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Realistically, ...
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Intermediate
1. (So, we are/that is) agreed.
2. (That) makes sense (to me).
3. Absolutely!/Exactly!/Precisely!
4. I couldnt agree with you more
5. I feel/think that way too.
6. I guess so.
7. I think everyone would agree with that.
8. Okay, I was wrong.
9. That answers all my questions.
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That is logical.
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Upper-Intermediate
1. (Okay,) youve convinced/persuaded me
2. I am/We are in complete agreement.
3. I can accept that.
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11.
I wholeheartedly agree.
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Its so nice to (finally) meet someone who thinks that way
too.
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Quite right.
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Advanced
1. Against my better judgment,
2. Come to think of it,
3. Damn right!
4. Fair enough.
5. I can see the logic/sense in that.
6. I cant find any holes in your argument.
7. I couldnt have said it better myself.
8. I might be coming round to your point of view.
9. I second that.
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I was worried that I was the only one who thought that way.
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If thats the case, I guess/If you put it that way, I
suppose
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Now I can see it from your point of view,/Looking at it that
way,
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So true, so true.
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This page lists useful phrases for the language function of disagreeing.
Elementary
1. I understand what you are saying, but...
2. Thats a good point, but...
3. You could be right, but...
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Pre-Intermediate
1. (But) dont you think that...?
2. (But) what about...?
3. I dont really agree.
4. I read something about this and...
5. I used to think that (way)..., but...
6. Id like to agree (with you), but...
7. That doesnt really make sense (to me).
8. You could say that, but...
Intermediate
1. (But) dont you feel that...?
2. ... thinks/ says that too, but...
3. Have you also thought about...?
4. I (initially) thought that way too, but...
5. I agree up to a point, but...
6. I dont know as much about this as you, but...
7. I have (very) limited experience of this, but...
8. I heard/ learnt/ read that too, but...
9. Im no expert on this, but...
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The (vast) majority of experts/ researchers agree (with me)
that...
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Upper-Intermediate
1. (But) didnt you say...?
2. (But) wouldnt you say that...?
3. (That sounds good) in theory, but...
4. ... (but) in reality,...
5. Although its difficult to argue with that,...
6. I can see a hole in that argument.
7. I thought wed (already) agreed...
8. I wish that was the case, but...
9. Im more convinced by...
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Advanced
1. (But) arent you forgetting...?
2. Although it is difficult to see a hole in that argument, ...
3. Arent you assuming that...?
4. Arent you jumping to conclusions?
5. Doesnt that opinion mean that...?
6. Have you taken... into consideration?
7. I can see how you might think that, but...
8. I can see where you are coming from, but...
9. I dont think youve taken... into consideration.
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My point was...
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Disagreeing Strongly
That is just not true!
This page lists useful phrases for the language function of disagreeing
strongly.
Elementary
1. I (really) dont think so.
2. I (strongly) disagree.
3. I dont/cant agree.
4. Thats not right.
Pre-Intermediate
1. Absolutely not.
2. Do you really believe/think that (...)?
3. I dont agree at all.
4. I totally disagree.
5. That makes no sense (to me).
6. Thats (totally) wrong.
Intermediate
1. I cant accept that.
2. Im surprised that you would say that.
3. Nonsense!
4. Ridiculous!
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5. Rubbish!
6. That is just not true/right.
7. There is no way I can accept that.
8. You dont really think that, do you?
9. You must be joking.
Upper-Intermediate
1. (I think) you are mistaken.
2. Are you honestly/seriously saying...?
3. Are you out of your mind?
4. Are you pulling my leg?
5. Does anyone (seriously) think that nowadays?
6. I cant see any (possible) reason why...
7. Im sure youre (just) saying that to shock me.
8. Ive never heard such rubbish/nonsense!
9. It has been proven that...
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There is no way...
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Advanced
1. (You may as well) stop right there.
2. Are you having a laugh/having me on?
3. Are you on something?
4. Do you genuinely believe that?
5. For someone with your background, perhaps, but for the rest of
us...
6. I can see no merit in that view at all.
7. I cant go along with that.
8. I completely fail to see the logic in...
9. I dont know what world you live in, but...
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In your dreams!
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Keeping talking.
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Seriously?
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That is a fallacy.
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Tosh!
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Yeah, right.
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You think?
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This page lists useful phrases for the language function of offering (to
do something).
Elementary
1. Can I help (you) (with...)?
2. Do you want me to...(for you)?
3. Would you like me to...(for you)?
Pre-Intermediate
1. Can I offer (you) (some help with)...?
2. Help yourself (to...)
3. Id like to offer (some help with)...
4. Ill... (for you) (if you like)
5. If you have any problems,...
6. If you like, I can... (for you)
7. If you need..., just/please...
8. Shall I...(for you)?
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Intermediate
1. (Do you) need some help (with...)?
2. (Dont worry,) Ill sort it out.
3. (Please) let me... (for you).
4. Can I give you a hand (with...)?
5. Can I help (you) at all (with...)?
6. I often help with..., so...
7. Id like to help (in any way) (with...) if I can.
8. If you liked, I could...
9. Is there anything I can do to help (with...)?
10.
Upper-Intermediate
1. (Do you) need a hand (with...)?
2. (Do you) need someone/me/us to...?
3. (Do you) want me to have a look (at...)?
4. Are you having problems (with...)?
5. Can I be of (any) assistance?
6. Can I get you anything (for...)?
7. I dont have anything else to do, so...
8. I guess/think/heard that you need some help with...
9. Id be glad to...
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Advanced
1. (It) sounds like you could do with...
2. Can I assist you with...?
3. I guess/think you might need some help with...
4. I guess/think/heard I might be able to help you with...
5. I guess/think/heard I might be the person to help you with...
6. Ill handle this.
7. Im just over here if...
8. Im the person to ask if...
9. If..., (just) say the word/give me a shout.
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It would be my great pleasure if you would accept my
assistance (with...)
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Upper-Intermediate
1. What do you reckon?
2. Any (initial) thoughts on ?
3. Are people right in thinking ?
4. Are you in agreement with ?
5. Do you have any particular views on ?
6. Do you have any thoughts on ?
7. From your point of view, ?
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I know you havent had much time to think about this, but
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Advanced
1. Am I justified in saying ?
2. Am I right in thinking ?
3. Any objections to the statement ?
4. Are you convinced by the argument that ?
5. Are you of the opinion that ?
6. Does tally with your experience?
7. I imagine you will have strong opinions on
8. Id guess your view on this is
9. Is it in fact the case that ?
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Im positive that
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It seems to me that
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Obviously,
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Without a doubt,
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Upper-Intermediate
1. After much thought,
2. After weighing up both sides of the argument,
3. Although I can see both points of view / Although I can understand
the opposite point of view,
4. As I see it, ...
5. Correct me if Im wrong, but
6. For me/ From my point of view,
7. Frankly,
8. I am not very familiar with this topic, but
9. I do believe/ feel/think
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I reckon/suppose
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Im not sure Im the right person to ask, but / I have very
limited experience of this, but
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My initial reaction is
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To be (perfectly) frank,
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What I think is
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Advanced
1. After giving this matter some (serious) thought,
2. As far as I'm concerned,
3. As the old saying goes,
4. Having given this question due consideration,
5. I am of the opinion that
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11.
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If I must come up with an opinion / If you (really) want my
opinion,
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In my limited experience,
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Plainly,
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Quite frankly,
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Youd have to be crazy not to agree that / Any idiot can see
that
Criticism
Present and future
Can, could, might and should/shouldn't + infinitive are used to express criticism or
disapproval with reference to present or future time:
You can be really annoying, you know!
You shouldn't be sitting here just doing nothing!
You might be more polite.
George could really help you!
Past
Could, might and should/shouldn't + perfect infinitive are used to express criticism or
disapproval with reference to past time:
I should have booked a table in advance.
Of course, you feel sick. You shouldn't have eaten so much chocolate.
You might have told me you weren't coming!
George could really have helped you!
Formation
(IF Clause)
(Main Clause)
or...
(Main Clause)
(IF Clause)
Note! We never use would have, or wouldn't have etc in the if clause.
For example:
- See more at:
http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/conditional3.html#sthash.0JVEZkT6.dpuf
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