Useful phrases

 

EMPEZAR LA CONVERSACIÓN (¡Empieza fuerte!)

• Shall I start?
• I’ll start
• Let’s talk about … first.

DAR TU OPINIÓN

• I think that…
• In my opinion …
• In my view …
• I reckon …
• I consider...
• If you ask me…
• As far as I am concerned…
• The way I see it..
• From my point of view
• For me personally..

ESTAR DE ACUERDO

• That’s what I think, too.
• That’s a good point.
• You are absolutely right.
• I’ll go along with that.
• Absolutely.
• I agree / disagree
• I see where you’re coming from….(but..)
• I understand what you mean….(but..)
• Well, actually..
• I couldn’t agree more..
• I totally agree / disagree
• I think you’re right / wrong there..

ESTAR PARCIALMENTE DE ACUERDO

• I’m not so sure about that.
• I sort of agree.
• I take your point, but …
• I see what you mean, but …
• I see where you are coming from but…

TOMAR TIEMPO PARA PENSAR

• Let me see.
• It depends …
• Give me a second to think about that
• That’s an interesting question.
• That’s a tricky question, really.
• Well, it’s difficult to say, really.

ESTAR DESACUERDO

• I completely disagree.
• No, you are missing the point.
• Sorry but I don’t agree
• I don’t think so
• I can’t see your point at all.

PEDIR UNA ACLARACIÓN

• So what you are saying is….
• You mean …
• I don’t really see what you are getting at
• I don’t quite follow you

PROPONER / SUGERIR

• Let’s go to (the cinema).
• Why don’t we go to (the art gallery).
• Shall we go and see (this photography exhibition).?
• How about going to (the zoo).?
• Do you fancy going to see (this photography exhibition)?
• How does that sound?
• Well, I’m quite keen on going to (the park)

REACCIONAR con interés

(You could also use expressions from ‘agreeing’ above)

• Great!
• What a great/brilliant/fantastic idea!
• How interesting!
• What a pity!
• Wow!
• Cool!

REACCIONAR con desinterés

• I don’t find (museums) very interesting.
• I am not really into (modern art).
• (Cinemas) aren’t really my cup of tea.
• (Modern art) isn’t really my thing.
• I am not a big fan of (modern art).

CERRAR UNA CONVERSACIÓN Y RECAPITULAR

• I think we need to make a decision.
• Shall we try to come to an agreement?
• Let’s go with…
• Let’s choose…
• Ok, so let’s choose…

Prepositions For Part 3

• On / In / At
• On top of
• Above
• Below
• Under
• Next to
• Beside
• Opposite
• In front of
• Behind
• Between
• Among
• Nearby
• Near to
• Close to

Don’t forget to describe the location of objects, if possible in the time allowed!

Easy To Use Expressions For Part 4

(and maybe part 1)

• Once in a blue moon; (I only go swimming once in a blue moon)
• Keen on; (I’m really keen on boxing)
• Piece of cake; (I find learning English a piece of cake!)
• My cup of tea; (Football isn’t really my cup of tea)
• Between jobs; (I have finished university and right now I’m between jobs)
• There’s a frog in my throat
• A good egg; (My brother and I get on well, he’s a good egg)
• To drive one up the wall; (Bad weather drives me up the wall!)
• Can’t Bear / Stand; (I really can’t stand basketball!)
• To be fed up with; (I am really fed up of this rain!)

Getting Out Of A Jam

• Sorry, I meant..
• I wanted to say..
• I don’t know the word, but it’s a type / kind of..
• The word escapes me, but..