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 Sometimes you want to ask

English people for information.
In English it is not very polite to
start a conversation with a direct
question.
For this reason, we have a number
of phrases.

10 EXPRESSIONS TO ASK FOR INFORMATION

1. Can you tell me...?

2. Could you tell me...?
3. I'd like to know...
4. D'you know...
5. (Got / Have you) any idea...?
6. Could anyone tell me...?
7. (Do / Would) you happen to know...?
8. I don't suppose you (would) know...?
9. I wonder if you could tell me...?
10.I wonder if someone could tell me...?

HOW TO USE THESE PHRASES IN YOUR

ENGLISH
1. Phrases 1 - 10 are all followed by indirect questions. So
'What's the time?' becomes 'Can you tell me what the
time is?'.
2. Phrase 2 is a little more formal and polite than phrase
1.
3. Phrases 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are polite and are good to
use if you are asking a stranger or you are asking at a
public information desk.
4. Phrase 4 is more informal.
5. Phrases 5 and 7 are more informal if you say them with
out the part in () brackets.
6. Phrases 9 and 10 are very formal and in an informal
situation some people may react strangely if they think
that you are being sarcastic.
7. By using phrases 1 to 10, we make it easier for the
listener to say 'Sorry I don't know'.

ASKING SOMEBODY'S OPINION

1. What
2. What

do
do

you
you

think
think

of...?
about...?

3. How d'you feel (about...)?

4. What d'you reckon (about...)?
5. What's your opinion of...?
6. (What do think about) that?
7. What are your views on...?
8. Where do you stand (on...)?
9. What would you say to... / if we...?
10.Are you aware of.....?

HOW TO USE THESE PHRASES IN YOUR

ENGLISH:
1. Phrases 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are followed by a noun or gerund (-ing
form).
2. Phrases 1 and 2 are general phrases for asking for an opinion. We can
use them both formally and informally. In informal speech, 'do you'
becomes 'd'you?'.
3. Phrases 3 and 4 are more informal. We can use them with 'about' and a
noun or gerund phrase e.g. 'How d'you feel about having a class outside
in the garden?'
4. We use phrase 6 (with that) after another sentence (e.g. They're going to
build a new supermarket here. What do you think of that?).
5. Phrases 7 and 8 are more formal. You could use them in a business
meeting and you might hear them on interviews on the news.
6. Phrase 9 is asking the other person's opinion of an idea or proposal. We
follow 'to' with a noun or gerund and follow 'if we' with a sentence with a
past verb.
7. Phrase 10 is an indirect way of asking for an opinion. We ask if the other
person knows about the situation. They are then are expected to react
with an opinion.

GIVING AN OPINION
1. I reckon...
2. I'd say...
3. Personally, I think...
4. What I reckon is...
5. If you ask me...
6. The way I see it...
7. As far as I'm concerned...
8. If you don't mind me saying...
9. I'm utterly convinced that...
10.In my humble opinion...

HOW TO USE THESE PHRASES IN YOUR

ENGLISH:
1. We follow all the phrases with a sentence or clause that shows the
speaker's opinion.
2. Phrases 1 - 3 are really quite informal. You can use these phrases
when you are discussing something with friends or people who you
know well.
3. In phrase 1, 'reckon' is a very common word in the UK. It means 'I
think' but British people use the word 'reckon' much more often than
'think'.
4. Phrases 5, 6 and 7 are all quite polite and show clearly that the
statement is only an opinion.
5. Phrase 8 is more polite because it says to the other speaker that
they might not agree with what you are saying.
6. Phrase 9 shows a very strong opinion. The speaker has no doubt at
all that it is true.
7. Phrase 10 is the most polite expression of the ten. It is often written
on the Internet as the abbreviatoin 'IMHO' or 'imho'.

PHRASES TO USE WHEN SOMEONE HASN'T STARTED YET.

You can say these phrases to someone who's trying to decide whether to do
something that seems difficult or risky:

1. Give it a try.
Example: Your friend has never driven a car with a manual
transmission. You offer to let her drive your car, which has a stick shift.
2. Go for it.
Example: One of your students is thinking of applying to a university in
the U.S. and asks if you think it's a good idea.
3. Why not?
Example: Your friend asks if you think she should take an acting class.
4. It's worth a shot.
Example: Your brother likes a really beautiful woman who lives nearby.
He asks if he should ask her on a date. You think she might say no, but
you encourage him anyway.

 What are you waiting for?

Example: Your friend has been talking about quitting his
job and starting his own company. You think he should do
it soon.
What do you have to lose?
Example: Your roommate sees a job opening. She seems
like she wants the job, but she's hesitating to apply for it.
You think she should go ahead and apply.
You might as well.
Example: Your sister will be able to finish school a year
early if she takes a few extra difficult classes, but isn't
sure if she should. You think it's a good idea.
Just do it.
Example: Your friend is thinking about asking his
girlfriend to marry him, but he's not sure. You want him
to stop worrying and make a decision

PHRASES TO USE WHEN SOMEONE IS ALREADY DOING WELL

You can "encourage" someone to continue doing what they were
already doing:
There you go!
Example: You're teaching your daughter to swim. You told her to
kick her legs. She's doing a good job.
Keep up the good work.
Example: You are a coach for your daughter's soccer team. Your
team won a match and everyone played well.
Keep it up.
Example: One of your employees is doing a great job, so you
encourage her to continue.
Good job.
Example: A student that you tutor got a good grade on her test.
I'm so proud of you!
Example: Your friend's band was just featured in a magazine story.

PHRASES TO USE WHEN SOMEONE IS HAVING TROUBLE

These phrases are ways to tell someone to keep trying:
Hang in there.
Example: Your sister is in medical school. She tells you about
how hard her classes are and the number of hours she has to
spend studying.
Don't give up.
Example: You're teaching your friend how to shoot a bow and
arrow. He keeps missing the target and seems frustrated.
Keep pushing.
Example: You're at the gym with your friend, who's out of
shape. He seems tired and ready to stop, but you want him to
continue.
Keep fighting!
Example: You're at a baseball game and your team is losing, so
you yell this out.

PHRASES TO USE WHEN SOMEONE IS HAVING TROUBLE

Stay strong.
Example: Your friend has cancer and is very sick. You want him
to keep having hope that he will recover.
Never give up.
Example: You're playing chess with your nephew. You're
winning, but you want to teach him that he should keep trying
to win, even when it seems hard.
Never say 'die'.
Example: You're playing a soccer game. Your team is losing
badly, but you want your teammates to keep trying to win.
Come on! You can do it!.
Example: You're watching your friend play a video game. He's
almost at the end of the level, but the time is running out.

PHRASES TO USE WHEN SOMEONE IS

FACING A HARD DECISION
These phrases are ways to tell someone to keep trying:
I'll support you either way.
Example: Your sister is thinking about divorcing her husband.
You don't want to give her advice, but you want her to feel that
you support her.
I'm behind you 100%.
Example: One of your employees wants to change a policy in
the department that he manages. You agree with the change.
It's totally up to you.
Example: You're helping your girlfriend shop for a used car. She
finds a car that she might want to buy, but she's not sure if it's
a good choice. She can't make up her mind.
It's your call.
Example: You're helping your girlfriend shop for a used car. She
finds a car that she might want to buy, but she's not sure if it's
a good choice. She can't make up her mind.

PHRASES TO INSPIRE PEOPLE

You wouldn't use these phrases often in regular
conversation, but in writing or speeches they sound
very inspirational:
1. Follow your dreams.
2. Reach for the stars.
3. Do the impossible.
4. Believe in yourself.
5. The sky is the limit.

DISCUSSION SESSION!

WORK IN PAIR.
DISCUSS ON THE FOLLOWING SITUATION
SITUATION ONE
Mike is having trouble in losing weight. He tried to
reduce his food intake but it is not working. Lily,
who is Mikes best friend, advises him to also
exercise regularly on top of that.
Discuss in pair on how their conversation will be
like.
Include at least FIVE (5) phrases mentioned in the previous
slides, to ask for information and/or giving encouragement.
Then, act out your role play.

SITUATION ONE
Mike:(Asking opinion 1) What do you think about my
body weight? I feel heavy.
Lily :(Giving opinion 3) Personally I think that you
gained more weight that the last time we met. What
happened?
(Asking opinion 10) Are you aware that exercising
regularly can help reduce weight?
Mike :(Giving opinion 6) The way I see it is that I can
lose it by just reducing my food portion. But it is not
working. Im giving up. Just going to leave it as it is.
Lily: (When some one is in trouble) No Mike, Dont give
up. Well, not yet. Why dont you try to exercise
regularly aside from reducing your food intake. You
can do it. (to inspire) Believe in yourself.

WORK IN PAIR.
DISCUSS ON THE FOLLOWING SITUATION
SITUATION TWO
Mary is big-sized. She is not happy with her body
image. Her classmates always tease her. Ms
Helen is planning to talk to Mary on this issue.
Discuss in pair on how their conversation will be
like.
Include at least FIVE (5) phrases mentioned in the previous
slides, to ask for information and/or giving
encouragement.
Then, act out your role play.

WORK IN PAIR.
DISCUSS ON THE FOLLOWING SITUATION
SITUATION THREE
Amy is a bulimic. She is always haunted by the
image of being fat; as her close friends are all
pretty, tall and lean. She is fearful of being teased
by her close friends if she gained weight. Her
mother is planning on addressing this with her.
Discuss in pair on how their conversation will be like.
Include at least FIVE (5) phrases mentioned in the previous
slides, to ask for information and/or giving encouragement.
Then, act out your role play.

1. Mike is having trouble in losing weight. He tried

to reduce his food intake but it is not working.
Lily, who is Mikes best friend, advises him to
also exercise regularly on top of that.
2. Mary is big-sized. She is not happy with her
body image. Her classmates always tease her.
Ms Helen is planning to talk to Mary on this
issue.
3. Amy is a bulimic. She is always haunted by the
image of being fat; as her close friends are all
pretty, tall and lean. She is fearful of being
teased by her close friends if she gained
weight. Her mother is planning on addressing
this with her.