13. Saying yes, no

• when you want to emphasize that the answer is definitely yes

Definitely! Of course!

• when the answer is yes

Yes That’s right Yeah (informal) I’m afraid so (use this when the person asking the question is hoping for a different answer)

• when you think that the answer is yes, but you are not sure

I think so Probably I guess so (Am)

• when you want to emphasize that the answer is no

Definitely not! Of course not! No way! (use this when you are talking to friends or people you know well)

• when the answer is no

No Not really I’m afraid not

• when you think that the answer is no, but you are not sure

I don’t think so Probably not I doubt it

Conversations

1. - Are you going to Ann’s birthday party?

- Definitely! She’s invited me already.

2. - Are you going to the disco tonight?

- Yeah. And you?

3. - Have they already gone home?

- Yes, I guess so.

4. - Are you going to go out with Pete?

- No way! He’s horrible.

4. - Do you think Mary will come with us?

• I doubt it. She’s very busy at the moment.

4. –Was she very sorry?

- I'm afraid so.

14. Having a conversation

• when you want to start a new subject or go back to the main subject

So... (use this to continue what you were saying before, or to

introduce a new subject): So, have you decided what you are

going to do yet?

Anyway (use this to go back to the main point of what you were

saying): Anyway, in the end I decided to buy the black one.

• asking someone to repeat what the said

Sorry?/Pardon? Could you repeat... I didn’t quite catch...

I didn’t quite catch the number. Could you say it again, please?

• when you want to give yourself more time to think

Um.../Er.../Uh.../Well... Er... I don’t really know.

• checking that someone understands or agrees with you

Do you know what I mean? ..., you know? I want to get one of

those big leather bags, you know. One with a shoulder strap.

• when someone is talking and you want to say something

When you want to interrupt someone, you usually show this by leaning forward, making a movement, or taking a breath.

Um.../Well... (use these to show that you want to interrupt, and then leave a pause to see whether the person is going to stop or not)

Sorry to interrupt, but ... (use this when you are interrupting a conversation, which you were not involved in before) Sorry to interrupt, but I have an urgent message for you

Yes, but.../I know, but... (use these when you want to interrupt in order to disagree)

• showing that you are listening to what someone is saying

Yes/Yeah/Right/Mm/Uh-huh

Conversations

1. - So, if you come over to my place, we’ll be having great fun.

- Um...

- What?

- Well, I’m not sure if I can come after all.

2. - You know my friend Sam was going to buy a new car.

-Yeah...

- Well, she went to this place where you get them cheap.and got a really good one.

- Oh, right.