8 phrases · B1 · B2

Making yourself clear in English

Every phrase below is a fixed shape you can fill in and use immediately, ordered from the simplest to the most advanced. Each one carries what it means in English and in Hindi, three examples that vary the slot, and the situations it actually gets said in.

The phrases

Simplest first. The braces mark the part you change.

  • What I mean is {CLAUSE}

    B1

    Say it again, more clearly, when the first attempt did not land.

    मेरा मतलब है कि ___।

    • What I mean is that we should test it first.
    • What I mean is, the problem is not the tool.
    • What I mean is that I need one more day, not one more week.

    Anywhere · say it as: What I mean is / that we should test it first · used at work, interviews

  • Just to clarify, {CLAUSE}

    B1

    Check your understanding before it becomes an expensive mistake.

    बस स्पष्ट करने के लिए, ___।

    • Just to clarify, we are talking about next Friday, not this one.
    • Just to clarify, I will send the draft and you will review it.
    • Just to clarify, the budget includes the licence fee?

    Polite — strangers, seniors, customers · say it as: Just to clarify, / we are talking about next Friday · used at work, on the phone

  • Can I add something here

    B1

    Get into a meeting without waiting to be invited.

    क्या मैं यहाँ कुछ जोड़ सकता/सकती हूँ?

    • Can I add something here?
    • Can I add something here, before we move on?
    • Can I add something here — we saw the same thing last month.

    Polite — strangers, seniors, customers · say it as: Can I add / something here · used at work, college

  • Are you saying that {CLAUSE}?

    B1

    Check that you have understood somebody correctly, before you react.

    क्या आप यह कह रहे हैं कि ___?

    • Are you saying that the whole thing has to be redone?
    • Are you saying that we will not get approval this month?
    • Are you saying that the price includes delivery?

    Anywhere · say it as: Are you saying / that the whole thing has to be redone · used at work, shops and services

  • Sorry to interrupt, but {CLAUSE}

    B1

    Get into a conversation that is already running.

    बीच में टोकने के लिए माफ़ी, पर ___।

    • Sorry to interrupt, but I think we have the wrong date.
    • Sorry to interrupt, but can I add one thing here?
    • Sorry to interrupt, but the client is on the line.

    Polite — strangers, seniors, customers · say it as: Sorry to interrupt, / but I think we have the wrong date · used at work, college

  • It's not so much {X} as {Y}

    B2

    Correct somebody’s idea of what the real issue is.

    बात ___ की नहीं, ___ की है।

    • It's not so much the cost as the time it takes.
    • It's not so much a technical problem as a communication one.
    • It's not so much that I disliked the job as that I had outgrown it.

    Formal — writing, presentations, officials · say it as: It's not so much the cost / as the time it takes · used at work, interviews

  • Could you elaborate on that

    B2

    Ask somebody to say more, without saying "I did not understand".

    क्या आप इस पर थोड़ा और बताएँगे?

    • Could you elaborate on that, please?
    • Could you elaborate on that last point?
    • Could you elaborate on that a little — I want to understand the reasoning.

    Formal — writing, presentations, officials · say it as: Could you elaborate / on that · used at work, interviews

  • Are we aligned on {NOUN}?

    B2

    Check that everybody actually agrees before the meeting ends.

    क्या हम ___ पर एकमत हैं?

    • Are we aligned on the deadline?
    • Are we aligned on who owns this after launch?
    • Are we aligned on the budget, or does it need another look?

    Formal — writing, presentations, officials · say it as: Are we aligned / on the deadline · used at work, messages and email

What goes wrong

The versions that get said instead, and why they land differently.

Commonly saidCorrect English

You are saying that the whole thing has to be redone?

Are you saying that the whole thing has to be redone?

The statement word order turns a check into an accusation. Starting with "Are" keeps it a question.

Where you will need these

The same phrases, sorted by the room you are standing in.

More phrase groups on the phrases index, or browse by situation on the speaking pages.

Reading it is not the same as saying it.

A phrase you have read is not a phrase you can reach for. CoCap makes you produce it, in a conversation, and corrects what comes out.

Practise these out loud →

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