communication skills Part_1

Asking for information:

Excuse me. Could you tell me where ... is?

Excuse me. Can you tell me...?

Do you know...?

You wouldn't know..., would you?

Do you happen to know...?

I'd like to know..., please.

And there's another thing I'd like to know...

I would be interested to know...

Please could you tell me...

Asking for directions:

Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to ... (place), please?

Which way is the ... (place), please?

Could you tell me where ... is, please?

Do you know where ... is?

Asking someone to repeat:

Could you say that again, please?

Would you mind repeating that, please?

Could you repeat that, please?

I'm sorry I didn't catch that.

I'm sorry, what was ... again?

I'm sorry?

I beg your pardon?

I'm sorry, what was that?

Checking that you've understood:

So, I / We have to...

Do you want me / us to...?

Am I / Are we supposed to...?

Should I...?

So, the (general/basic) idea is to...

Do you mean...?

Does this mean that...?

So am I right in saying...?

So, what you're saying is...

Expressing uncertainty:

I'm not really sure but I think...

I can't say for certain but...

It's difficult to say exactly but perhaps...

I couldn't say, really...

I'm not sure.

I don't know for sure but...

Giving yourself time to think:

Well, let me see...

Let me think...

Let me get this right...

Um, well, that's a difficult question / that's an interesting question.

I'll have to / Let me think about that for a moment...

I think it's difficult to answer that question...

How shall I put it?...

Now, how can I best say this...?

Interrupting politely:

Could I just say something?

Actually, I'd just like to say...

Sorry to interrupt, but...

Oh, while I remember / before I forget...

Excuse me...

May I interrupt?

Saying you don't know:

I'm afraid I can't help you.

I'm sorry, I don't know.

Showing interest:

Showing that you're listening:

Now, you mentioned...

So, that's how...?

Yes, I was going to ask you about that...

Could you give me / us an example of...?

Could you explain in more detail...?

Uh-huh!

Right!

Really?

That's interesting!

And?

What then?

Oh?

What happened next?

Thanking and responding:

Many thanks.

Thanks a lot.

Cheers!

That's very kind of you.

Thank you very much

Not at all.

It's a pleasure. / My pleasure.

You're welcome.

Don't mention it.

Any time.

That's OK / all right.

I'm glad to have been of some help.

Apologizing:

Sorry

I'm very/awfully/so/extremely sorry.

Excuse me.

Sorry, (it was) my fault.

I do apologise.

Please accept my apologies.

Accepting an apology

That's all right/OK.

Not to worry.

That's quite/perfectly all right.

No reason/need to apologise.

Don't worry about it

Giving instructions:

Make sure...

Remember... (to do).

Be careful... (not to do).

Don't forget... (to do)

Giving directions

Go straight on.

Take the first/second on the left / right.

Turn left / right.

Go along... as far as...

Take the number 7 bus / tram.

Get off (the bus / tram) at... (place).

Carry on until you see...

Look out for...

Checking someone has understood:

Are you with me?

Did you follow that?

Have you got that?

Is everything clear so far?

Does that seem to make sense?

Sequencing actions:

First of all, ...

Next, ...

Then, ...

After that, ...

Finally, ...

Making suggestions:

Shall I / we... (do)?

Let's... (do).

Why don't I / we... (do)?

How about... (doing)?

What about... (doing)?

I think we should... (do).

I suggest that we... (do).

It might be a good idea if we / you... (do).

I think the best way of dealing with this situation would be to... (do).

If you ask me, I think we / you should... (do).

We could...

Agreeing to a suggestion:

Yes, I think that's a good idea.

That's probably the best option.

Sure, why not?

Yes, definitely.

By all means.

Good idea!

Rejecting a suggestion:

Yes, but wouldn't it be better to... (do).

That's a good idea, but... (do).

Making invitations

What are you doing on... (day)?

Have you got any plans for... (day/time of day)?

Would you like to... (do)?

Do you fancy... (doing)?

What about... (doing)?

Accepting an invitation:

Yes, I'd love to.

Yes, that would be great.

Refusing an invitation

I'm afraid I'm busy on... (day). How about next... (day)?

I'm sorry I can't. I'm... (doing something else).

I'm afraid I can't make it. I'm... (doing something else).

I'd love to, but...

That's very kind of you, but...