Complaining:
 I have a complaint to make. ...  Wow, that sounds exciting !
 Sorry to bother you but...
 I'm sorry to say this but...
 I'm afraid I've got a complaint
about...
 I'm afraid there is a slight problem
with...
 Excuse me but there is a problem
about...
 I want to complain about...
 I'm angry about...
make a request by using:
 can you ...?
 could you ...?
 will you ...?
 would you mind ...?
lack of understanding
 I beg your pardon?
 I beg your pardon, but I don't quite
understand.
 I'm not quite sure I know what you
mean.
 I'm not quite sure I follow you.
 I don't quite see what you mean.
 I'm not sure I got your point.
 Sorry, I didn't quite hear what you
said.
 Sorry, I didn't get your point.
 I don't quite see what you're getting
at.
ask for clarification
 What do you mean by...?
 Do you mean...?
 Could you say that again, please?
 Could you repeat please?
 Could you clarify that, please?
 Would you elaborate on that , please?
 Could you be more explicit?
 Could you explain what you mean
by...?
 Could you give us an example?
 I wonder if you could say that in a
different way.
 Could you put it differently, please?
 Could you be more specific, please?
Responding to good news
 That’s great !
 How fantastic !
 What fantastic / good / brilliant / great /
wonderful / splendid news!
 That's good / brilliant / great / wonderful /
splendid news!
 That sounds like great news!
 Congratulations!
 That’s wonderful / fantastic!
 I’m glad to hear that!
 Great news!
 Incredible!
 Superb!
 Sounds great!
 Lucky you!
 Oh, how wonderful!
 I can’t believe that!
Responding to bad news
 I’m awfully sorry that…
 I’m sorry to hear that..
 I’m sorry to hear such terrible news.
 My goodness!
 I can’t believe it!
 Poor you!
 I do sympathize with you.
 Please, accept my deepest sympathy.
 I know how you must be feeling.
 That must be awful
 Oh, dear !
 Too bad !
 That’s awful / a pity / unfortunate.