Core Idea: Keeping conversation alive

This exercise will help you perform below functions in everyday life in English

• asking follow-up questions
• reacting to statements
• continuing conversation
• saying you understand / don’t understand
• asking “what happened?” / “why?”

Instruction to do the exercise:

1. Hear all reflexes in general way.
2. Pick reflexes one by one and utter it aloud 4 to 5 times.
3. Use correct pronunciation of word.
4. Use weak form while pronouncing function word.
5. Apply word linking technique.
6. Apply rhythm exercise technique. (Applicable for advanced learners only)

Group 1:

I understand.

I understand how you feel.

Yes, I get the point.

A five-storey building, yes.

Okay, I get the picture now.

I think I’ve got that.

I can imagine what you felt like.

I must press this button, right?

I think I’ve got the hang of it.

Fine. So I’ll have to take the second turning on the left.

Yes, I can picture the scene.

Right. I think I’ve got the idea now.

I can understand Tamil, but I can’t speak it.

Yes, I get the hang of your argument now.

I see your point, but I don’t agree.

Group 2:

What does it mean?

I’m sorry, I don’t follow.

I can’t understand Telugu.

I don’t quite get the hang of your argument.

You’re speaking rather too quickly for me to understand.

I just can’t make out why they quarrelled.

I can’t quite make them out.

I didn’t quite follow what you said.

What she said doesn’t make sense to me.

Can you speak a bit more slowly? I can’t understand you.

I don’t understand what you’re driving at.

I can’t make any sense out of it.

Group 3:

Pardon?

How’s that?

I beg your pardon. Could you repeat that, please?

What did you say the measurements were?

Sorry, I didn’t get that. Can you say it again, please?

Excuse me, but what’s your name again?

What did you say?

I’m sorry, I didn’t hear that.

What was that?

I didn’t get it.

I’m sorry. What did you say?

I’m afraid I didn’t quite get that.

Sorry. What was that?

Could you say that again, please? — I didn’t quite understand.

I didn’t quite catch what you said.

I’m afraid I didn’t understand. Could you explain it again, please?

My work is going well.

It’s going well.

It’s finished.

It’s almost finished.

We’ve only started now.

The report is only half finished.

It won’t take long to finish the job.

We’re making steady progress.

The work is going quite smoothly.

A lot of things still remain to be done.

I haven’t completed it, but I’m working on it.

I’m just adding the finishing touches.

There’s still a lot of coding to be done.

I’ve reached the end of the book.

The hardest part of the work is over.

Our business has come a long way since we set it up.

We’ve done a lot in a short time.

We’re beginning to make a profit.

So far, we haven’t been able to do much.

We have to go a long way with this yet.

I’ve only to add a few of the details.

Only a few more pages remain.

Up to now, things have been easy.

We’ve hit some problems.

The talks have made very little progress.

They haven’t agreed yet, but I’m working on them.

At this stage, it’s too early to say when we can finish it.

No problems. Things are going very well.

Up till now, they haven’t been able to solve the problem.

I haven’t reached the end of the book yet.

I’ve got halfway through the work.

Things were going really well until we hit this problem.

He isn’t ready for the test — he hasn’t had enough lessons, you know.

I feel a bit better today.

I’m feeling so much better today.

She’s completely better.

The doctors say he’s quite better.

She’s getting worse. I asked the doctor.

Her eyesight is worse.

He got worse in the night.

I’m going to the cinema with my cousin.

I haven’t got anything on this weekend.

I’ve got no plans.

I’m thinking of visiting a friend.

I’m leaving it to chance.

I was planning to take a month’s annual leave, but everything has fallen through.

I don’t have any plans.

I’m planning to arrive by the G.T. Express.

I can’t manage Friday. I have meetings all day. How about Thursday?

I haven’t got any plans.

I’m planning on having a holiday in December.

I’m leaving it open.

You go, and I’ll follow on.