Grammar Teacher

Sometimes you can only ask questions at the end of a presentation. In that case, you need to refer back to the point in the talk you need clarification on. Here are some useful expressions to help you do that:

First focus on the point you want to discuss

You talked about

You talked about the problems with the Glasgow office.

You told us about

You told us about the success of the new Singapore plant.

You dealt with

You dealt with the difficulties with the new system quite quickly.

You described

You described the reaction of the workers to the changes as ‘broadly positive’.

You commented on

You commented on the problems with the euro.

You referred to

You referred to the poor economic outlook.

You mentioned

You mentioned the drop in sales in Europe.

Then ask for clarification

Could you tell us

Could you tell us why you did that?

Could you tell us if you think that was the right thing to do?

Could you explain

Could you explain why you said that?

Could you explain the thinking behind that?

These set phrases can be very useful

Could you be a bit more specific?

Could you give us more details?

Could you elaborate on that?

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When we are talking to somebody, we don’t always understand everything they say.

There are two useful techniques for dealing with this.

Firstly, we can simply ask them to repeat what they said.

• Could you say that again please?
• I didn’t follow that. Could you repeat it?

Secondly, we can ask them to say again a specific piece of information.

• What time did you say?
• Where exactly are we to meet?

This is a very simple idea but we find that our students have a lot of problems doing it.

So the explanation is very short but we are giving a lot of practice activities.

If you use a negative adjective, it can sound aggressive and insulting.

You are small.

It’s dirty.

He is stupid.

It is often much better to use not very plus a positive adjective.

You are not very big.

It is not very clean.

He is not very intelligent.

As I said, a simple idea that can make you sound much more professional.

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Sometimes you want to soften the impact of what you are saying and give it less importance. Here are some ways to do that:

Little

The quality could have been a little better.
The speaker should have spoken a little louder.

Slight

There is a slight problem we need to deal with.
I have a slight doubt about John’s suitability for the job.

Minor

I have a minor reservation about this plan.
There are a few minor problems still to be dealt with.

Fairly

There are some fairly important changes still to be made.
I think that I have a fairly good understanding of your problems.

Quite

I quite like it but no more than that.
This is quite a good way to do this.

Not quite

He isn’t quite as good as he thinks he is.
I’m not quite sure that we are on the right lines.

Partially

He has been partially successful with his demands but he didn’t get everything he wanted.
It is partially finished but there is still a lot to do.

Occasional

There are occasional errors in his work.
Everybody makes occasional mistakes.

Rather

He is rather aggressive.
This is rather too complicated. It is difficult to understand.

More or less

The report is more or less finished. I just need to read through it again.
He is more or less useless. Cannot get anything right.

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About

We can use about to mean ‘concerning’

I have heard all about it.
There is nothing we can do about it.
The great thing about her is that she never gives up.

We can use about to mean ‘approximately’. We can also use around for this but about is less formal.

About six hundred people were present.
About half the people agreed.
Come round at about six.

We can use How about and What about to make suggestions.

What about asking Tom?
How about leaving that for the time being?
What about a break?

We can also use What about ( but not How about) for more genuine questions.

What about the workers? Have you thought about them?
What about the dog? What do we do with her?

We use about and on to talk about the subject of a discussion. We use on for more formal situations..

They talked about the bad economic situation.
He gave a lecture on the economy.

About can mean ‘here and there’.

She is always out and about.
He sits about doing nothing.
They go about interviewing the public.

Just about means ‘almost’.

I have just about finished.
I have had just about enough of him and his patronizing tone.
The money we get will just about pay for the new equipment.

Be about to means that something is on the point of happening.

I am about to change jobs.
He is about to give in his resignation.
Please listen carefully. i am about to say something important.

Here are some useful expressions using about

no doubt about

There is no doubt about his ability but he doesn’t work well with other people.

bring about change

We need to bring about change quickly or the company will go bankrupt.

everybody is talking about it

Everybody is talking about the argument they had.

be asked about

I am often asked about how I became so successful.

speak to them about

You need to speak to them about this and make sure they never do it again.

anything I can do about it?

Is there anything I can do about my financial situation?

concerned about

i’m concerned about Simon. He is acting very strangely.

speculate about

We can only speculate about what happened. We will never know for sure.

about to change

I am not happy with what has been happening. I must warn you that things are about to change around here.

know a lot about

Ask Sally. She knows a lot about that.

talking about

What are you two whispering about?

known about

Little is known about what happened.

hear about

I know you have just been to Hawaii. I want to hear all about it.

keep your wits about you

Be very careful. There are lots of thieves around. Keep your wits about you.

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Here are some more word partnerships that you can use to emphasize your point.

openly admit

I openly admit that I have made mistakes.
If they openly admit that they were at fault, they may get the public back on their side.

totally agree

I totally agree with what Susan said.
I totally agree with the previous speaker.

strongly recommend

I strongly recommend that we invest in the Beijing project.
The consultants strongly recommend  that we pull out of the US completely.

firmly believe

We firmly believe that this company has an excellent future ahead of it.
I firmly believe that I am the best candidate for the job.

positively encourage

I would like to positively encourage you to apply for the post.
I want to positively encourage you to continue with what you are doing.

fully appreciate

I fully appreciate that investing in the current economic climate is a risk.
We fully appreciate the efforts you have made on our behalf.

categorically deny

I categorically deny that I did anything wrong.
My client categorically denies all the charges.  

absolutely refuse

I absolutely refuse to continue with this.
I absolutely refuse to consider the possibility of failure. 

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You often need to emphasize  a point you are making. Here are some useful word-partnerships you can use to do that.

 a total disaster

The whole project was a total disaster from beginning to end.

extremely good

We have an extremely good chance of getting the contract.

a terrible mistake

It wasn’t a minor error. It was a terrible mistake and cost us millions to put right.

much cheaper

Even if we had taken five per cent off our prices, we wouldn’t have got the contract. They were much cheaper than us.

one hundred per cent certain

There is not the slightest doubt. I am one hundred per cent certain that that is what happened.

highly competitive

This is a highly competitive market. I am not sure we should enter it.

far too expensive

The Chinese and Koreans can offer much lower prices. We are far too expensive.

even better

Their previous smart phone was good but this is even better.

fully aware

I am fully aware of all the risks but I still think we should do it.

absolutely no chance

There is absolutely no chance that we will lose the contract. They love our work.

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