For questions related to conversation or speech
12
votes
4answers
593 views
What are exchanges like “How are you,” “I'm fine,” and “See you later” called?
Some verbal/written exchanges convey almost no meaning but are part of the protocol of conversation. For example, somebody greets you with "How are you?" and they're not usually not listening for ...
7
votes
4answers
3k views
Proper answer to “excuse me”
What is a proper reply for excuse me? Like for thank you, you can say no problem or welcome.
I don't know what a proper reply for excuse me would be.
4
votes
1answer
305 views
How can I describe preparing before travel?
If I am preparing before my travel and I pack my things, how can I better describe this process in conversational speech, "packing up one's things" or "I pack up one's things"?
4
votes
4answers
806 views
How to say I may mislead you again?
How to say I may mislead you again:
because of my poor English,
in a good manner
the responsibility is mine (no need to speak out, just let she surely know this).
i.e., I'm afraid of my poor ...
4
votes
2answers
3k views
What is a “high-level conversation”?
Recently I was told by a potential interviewer for a job that we would be having a "high-level conversation" soon.
I assumed at the time that she just meant a conversation with a higher-up, e.g., ...
7
votes
3answers
146 views
“Well” as an introduction to an argument
Say a child says:
I want some ice cream!
The parent's response is:
Well, you can't have ice cream right now, we need to have dinner first.
Why is the word "well" used as a conversational ...
1
vote
4answers
568 views
Decent way to say “I would have gone to say XXX if you didn't mention YYY'”
I need help from a native speaker on this question A hypothetical scenario is as below:
A friend comes to you and says, "Coffee?". However, before he asked me, I was thinking of saying "Have a coffee ...
1
vote
1answer
4k views
Are there different tones in which to say “How are you?” that reflect different situations?
I was wondering how many ways/tones to speak "How are you?"
Which tone/way to use in different situations:
when seeing somebody you don't expect
to have a conversation after?
when seeing your ...
7
votes
7answers
2k views
Is it redundant to append “bye” to “speak to you later”?
Are the closing greetings "see you later", "talk to you later", and the like sufficient to end a conversation (especially a phone conversation) or must they be succeeded by "bye" or another word of ...
2
votes
5answers
273 views
In what context or situation (if any) would the words “try to see me” make sense?
If there is such possible situation, please, describe it.
Please don't insert any punctuation between those words and keep their order intact.
2
votes
4answers
311 views
What is this Dad going to say?
Here is a situation: Dad is talking to his 5-year-old son
while watching TV:
Dad: I really like this movie.
Son: But I don't like this movie.
Dad: I am a bit hungry.
Son: But I am not hungry.
...
5
votes
3answers
866 views
Why do like loads of girls my age like saying “like” so much, like? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is Valley Girl speak like entering the language?
Please can you explain the origins of where the annoying over-use of the word "like" came from?
Does this have anything ...
5
votes
2answers
4k views
How do I ask for advice politely?
I came across the following phrase:
I was wondering if you might be able to give me some advice.
Is it a natural construction for a conversational context?
Can I use the following instead in ...
9
votes
7answers
2k views
How do you decide which phrase to use when asking people to repeat what they said?
There are many different ways to ask people to repeat what they have just said. For example:
Huh?
What?
Sorry?
Pardon?
What's that?
Say that again, please
I beg your pardon?
I've ordered them ...
3
votes
4answers
2k views
How can I speak as though I were from the Victorian era?
I think that it would be really cool to be able to speak as though I was from the Victorian era. How can I learn to do this?
12
votes
6answers
4k views
When is it appropriate to use “Yeah” and “Yep” as variants of the word “Yes”?
As a learner of English I know that yes is a standard variant and other two are informal, spoken words. I know nothing more about it, and try always use the yes variant, just not to sound ...
2
votes
3answers
323 views
Finding out the proper word out of book-learned vocabulary
I've been learning English for many years already, using many ways available for me. It is mostly reading, as I have very few opportunities to use English in real communication. Due to this fact my ...
3
votes
3answers
2k views
What does aw mean?
I have heard somebody saying aw, shucks.
What does that mean?
In which other cases is the word used?
57
votes
11answers
3k views
Which is correct: “could care less” or “couldn't care less”?
What's the deal with the phrase "could care less"?
Whilst growing up, I've always known people (parents etc) to use the phrase "couldn't care less", but I've also come across people who use the ...
4
votes
3answers
16k views
Does the phrase “fine with me” have a negative connotation?
I have always thought that you could answer "it's ok with me" or "it's fine with me" when you agree with something that somebody proposed, like a meeting time.
But apparently the phrase can have a ...
6
votes
9answers
16k views
Is there a more modern way to say “it's a pity”?
Is it okay nowadays to use the phrase "it's a pity" in the everyday conversation in the contexts like in following example:
"Please how do I get to airport?"
"It's a pity, I don't know."
If ...
7
votes
2answers
1k views
“Also” and “as well” for conversational context
"Also" and "as well" seem to be quite similar in meaning, but I'd like to know shades in its meaning and usage, especially for everyday conversational language. What one will sound more natural and ...
4
votes
2answers
694 views
Introductory phrases like “to tell the truth”
What is the difference between the following introductory phrases?
To tell the truth
Frankly speaking
To be honest
Is any of them more old-fashioned or formal than the others or are ...
12
votes
2answers
2k views
When is it OK to use OK?
I often use "OK" in business and personal emails and phone conversations. But I often feel uncertain if it is appropriate to use it in every type of context.
Please tell how universally I can use ...
