Asking & Giving Explanations

A.

Sometimes, things happen that we would like explanation and we must demand explanations. For example, if you have just bought a new computer and there is a problem but the shop assistant says that the guaranty does not cover the problem. There are a number of formulas used when demanding explanations in English. Here are some of the most common:

Can you tell me why….?

Can you tell me why it has taken you so long to respond?

I don’t understand why…

I don’t understand why it has taken you so long to respond?

Can you explain why…?

Can you explain why it has taken you so long to respond?

Why is it that…

Why is it that it has taken you so long to respond?

How come…

How come it has taken you so long to respond?

Does this mean…

Does this mean that it has taken you so long to respond?

Do you really expect me to believe…?

Do you really expect me to believe that you weren’t able to finish on time?

B. Asking for explanations

 

• What does that mean?
• What’s the meaning of that word?
• Does that mean yes or no?
• I’m afraid I don’t understand.
• Could you explain the first part please?

• If it becomes clear, use:
• I see/ I understand.
• Thank you, I see now.

• If it’s still not clear, use:
• I still don’t see/understand.

• To be more formal, use:

• I’m afraid I still don’t understand/follow.

C. Giving explanations

 

• When people don’t understand you, use:
• I mean this
• I’m trying to say this
• In other words, on Thursday
• What I mean is this…

To check if people understand, use:

• Do you understand?
• Is that the right word?
• Am I making myself clear?

To rephrase something, use a different order:

• There’s something wrong with my car.
• I’ll be out on Friday.
• In other words, on Friday I won’t be here.

D. Actions and processes

To explain an action or process, use:

 

• We do it like this because it’s quicker.
• That was because we were late.
• It’s to prevent people from parking here.
• The reason for this is money.
• It’s caused by the hot weather.

To ask for explanations, use:

• Why?
• Why did he do that?
• What’s the reason for this?
• Can you explain this?

Describing People

A. Describing physically

 

• What does she look like?
• Is the grey-haired?
• What sort of clothes does she wear?
• She’s tall/slim.
• She’s the younger one/the one with brown hair.
• She’s got straight hair.
• She’s wearing a green coat.
• She usually wears a hat.
• She’s not good-looking/pretty.
• Is he heavily built?
• What does he wear?
• He’s medium height.
• He’s thin.
• He’s the older one.
• He’s the one with the fair hair.
• He’s got wavy hair.
• He hasn’t got much hair/He’s bald.
• He’s got a (brown) moustache/beard
• He’s wearing a brown jacket.
• He usually wears a hat.
• He’s (not) good-looking/handsome.

B. Describing by qualities

 

• What is he like?
• What sort of person is he?
• He’s friendly/pleasant.
• He’s usually rather quiet.
• He’s not easy to get on with.
• He’s good at listening to people.
• His main quality is his honesty.
• What sort of person is she?
• She’s sociable.
• She’s a calm person.
• She’s not easy to get on with.
• Her main quality is her friendliness.

C. Describing by position

 

• Is she married?
• Does she have any children?
• What’s her job?
• What does she do?
• She’s not married.
• She’s married to an engineer.
• She has two children.
• She doesn’t have any children.
• She works for the bank as (a cashier).
• She’s a (senior sales assistant).
• What does he do?
• He lives in our street.
• He’s married to a teacher.
• He works for the garage as a mechanic.
• He’s a senior sales assistant.
• He works under/over me.
• His job is something political.

D. Discussing feminism

 

• I think women are not oppressed.
• Women are well treated/badly treated.
• I agree/don’t agree with the feminists’ ideas.
• Women should/shouldn’t have more power.

E. Describing Children by age

 

• How old is he/she?
• It’s a baby.
• He’s/She’s about six?
• He’s a schoolboy/She’s a schoolgirl.
• They’re schoolchildren.
• They’re in their teens/They’re teenagers.
• The eldest is 20 and the youngest is 5.

F. Talking about school

 

• Where does he/she go to school?
• How are they getting on at school?
• He/She goes to school in the city.
• They (don’t) like/enjoy school very much.
• She gets on well at school.
• He’s good at mathematics.

G. Talking about hobbies

 

• Does he have a hobby?
• What does she like doing?
• He likes drawing.
• She’s very keen on modeling.
• She’s mad about football.
• She likes/loves pop music.

H. Talking about the future

 

• What’s she going to do/be?
• What’s he going to be when he grows up?
• Is he going to follow in his father’s footsteps?
• Are they going to university?
• He’ll leave school at 16.
• (I think) he’s going to be a chemist.
• She wants to be a vet.
• They’re hoping to go to university.
• She’s studying to be a teacher.

GETTING A CAR REPAIRED

A. To explain that something is wrong.

 

• It isn’t working.
• It’s not running properly.
• It’s broken down: It won’t start.
• There’s something wrong with the ignition.
• My car won’t start.
• Could you change the battery, please?
• Could you look over my radiator?

B. To say what you think is wrong.

 

• I think it’s the fuel pump.
• It may be the electrical wiring.
• The dynamo has gone wrong before.
• The battery is dead.
• The tyre’s flat.

C. To find out if it’s the right garage.

 

• Do you handle this type of car?
• Do you keep spares for this type of car?
• Can you do anything with it?
• Can you have a look at it?

D. To ask for recommendations.

 

• Is there a garage near here, that can do it?
• Is there a service station for this type of car near here?
• Can you recommend a garage/mechanic nearby?
• Do you know a garage/mechanic near here?

E. To ask how much and how long it will be.

 

• When can you do it?
• When will it be ready?
• Can you give me an estimate?
• How much do you think it will cost?
• How long do you think it will take?
• Can you give me an idea how much/how long?

F. To tell the garage when you need it.

• Can you do it immediately?
• I need the car tomorrow.
• I must have it by the weekend.

G. Car Repairs: Dialogue

• Could you look over my car?
• What’s the matter?
• Well, I don’t know.
• I can look at it now if you can wait.
• My car won’t start.
• Press the starter button.
• Nothing happens when I press the starter.
• Then your battery is dead.
• Could you help me for a moment, please?
• What can I do for you?
• Could you look over my radiator?
• I’ll check it after I help that other man?
• What’s your brother doing?
• He’s fixing the motor of the car.
• Does he need any help?
• I don’t think so.
• Could you look over my car?
• What’s the matter?
• Well, don’t know.
• I can look at it now if you can wait.
• Could you change my right tyre, please? It’s flat.
• Certainly. Do you want us to fix it too?
• Would you please?
• We’ll have it ready for you tomorrow morning.

H. Driving a Car

• Why don’t we park the car there?
• That’s a no-parking zone.
• There are parking meters in the next block.
• Let’s see if we can find a space there then.
• You’d better turn left at the next corner.
• I can’t – no left turn.
• Then we’ll have to drive around the block.
• It looks like it.
• You’re driving too fast.
• What’s the speed limit?
• It’s fifty miles per hour.
• Then, I’m under the limit.
• How do you like your new car?
• Great! I really like the automatic shift.
• Does it have power steering?
• Yes, and it’s got power brakes too.
• You drive very well.
• Thanks. I always try to be cautious.
• You are, but best of all, you drive very smoothly.
• Steady pressure on the accelerator and brakes is important.

Talking About English Speaking

A. Talking about yourself

·       

             want to learn English.

·         I’m trying to learn English.

·         I’ve been learning it for three years.

·         I did some at school.

·         I need it for my work.

·         I’m going to stay with an American family.

·         We have to learn English.

·         It’s useful/important/necessary.

B. Talking about difficulties

·         

S    Speaking is easy/difficult.

·         The vocabulary is not simple/easy.

·         I (don’t) find it very difficult to understand.

·         There are too many prepositions.

C. Talking about learning

·         

      What is the best way to learn?

·         How can I improve my vocabulary?

·         How do you think I can learn it?

·         I think the best thing is to read and listen.

·         You should try and speak to English people.

·         You should practice.

·         Do you want to learn English?

·         Yes, I do-very much.

·         Why do you want to learn English?

·         Because it’ll be useful in the future.

·         Then you must speak it.

·         Why must I speak it?

·         Because you want to learn it.

·         Do you understand the sentence?

·         I don’t understand it completely.

·         Did you understand what I said?

·         No, I didn’t. Would you please say it again?

·         Of course. I’ll say it again slowly.

·         That will help a lot.

·         Please write down what I say.

·         All right, but would you please speak very slowly?

·         Yes. Do you want me to spell each word too?

D. Talking about needs

·        

      I want to be more fluent.

·         I want to work on my pronunciation.

·         I’d like to get my grammar better.

·         I want to improve my reading.

·         My (reading) is all right, but not my accent.

·         My basic vocabulary is weak.

E. Talking about types of English

·        

       Is this good/correct English?

·         That’s too formal/informal.

·         That sounds polite/rude.

·         Is that friendly/rude?

·         Can I use this to a customer?

F. Do you Speak English?

·         

       Do you speak English?

·         Only a little, and not very well.

·         Do you know many words?

·         No, I don’t. Only the important words.

·         Does your brother speak English?

·         Well, he speaks a little English.

·         Do your sisters speak English?

·         Yes, they do. They speak it very well.

·         Can I help you?

·         What’s the matter?

·         I don’t speak English.

·         Do you need some kind of help?

·         Yes, but I can’t explain it in English.

·         Do you think English is easy?

·         No, I don’t.

·         Why don’t you think so?

·         Because I don’t understand it.

·         English is the hardest language in the world.

·         Why do you say that?

·         I can’t understand it or speak it.

·         But this is only your first day in the English class!

·         How do you pronounce this word in English?

Office Conversation

A. Talking about Jobs

• I’m a trainee.
• I work for a large company.
• I do the sales ledger.
• I’m in the accounts section.
• I’ve been there for six years
• I don’t like my job.
• It’s a good job/interesting/well paid.
• What do you do?
• What’s your job?
• What do you do for a living?
• Who do you work for?
• Is it interesting/hard work/well paid?

B. Talking about work routines

• We start at 8:30 and finish at 4:30
• We normally work from 8 till 5
• We don’t work on Saturdays
• We have forty minutes for lunch
• I do a lot of travelling.
• I spend a lot of time on paper work.
• We are busy at the end of the month.
• We get four weeks holiday a year.
• Where do you work?

C. Talking about personnel

• My boss is the sales manager.
• I work under him.
• There are six of us in my department.
• The others are mostly women.
• It’s a (friendly) department/section.
• There are 600 people in all.
• The company has 600 employees.
• (He’s) out of work/unemployed.
• There are a thousand skilled workers here.
• She’s looking for a job.

D. Talking about Quitting and Finding Jobs

• How did you find your new job?
• I went to an employment agency
• Was it worth it to do it that way?
• Yes. They were able to get me something good right away.
• I think I’m going to change jobs.
• What do you want to do that for?
• There’s not enough chance to get ahead here.
• But don’t forget you’re getting a pretty good salary.
• Did it take you long to apply for a job?
• Too long in my opinion.
• What did you have to do?
• Speak to people, fill out forms, and wait.
• Is Mary going to quit  her job next month?
• No. She’s going to quit next April.
• Are her parents going to support her then?
• No. She isn’t going to ask them for any money.

E. Office Conversations

• Do you receive many enquiries about your product?
• Yes. There are a good number every day.
• You can’t answer all of them personally, can you?
• No. Unless they’re obviously important, we send back a formal letter.
• What did you spend all your time on today?
• Checking the annual report.
• Was everything in it all right?
• No. I discovered several errors.
• How is the mail handled?
• The executive secretary opens it and sorts it out.
• Is any record kept of incoming mail?
• Yes. Everything is entered in the mail register.
• I’d like to dictate a letter to the Reliance Company.
• Just a moment please, while I get my shorthand notepad.
• Would you also bring me the previous correspondence with them?
• I’ve already placed the file on your desk.