50+ Advanced Phrases For English Conversations

Summary

In this video, Emma from mmmEnglish! shares 50 useful phrases and expressions to help intermediate to advanced English learners improve their conversational skills. The video covers strategies for interrupting politely, changing topics, asking for opinions, and disagreeing, with both informal and formal examples. It also includes tips for navigating controversial topics and gracefully ending conversations. The aim is to provide learners with practical tools to maintain longer, smoother conversations in English, boosting their fluency and confidence.

Takeaways

• 😀 50 useful English phrases can help you navigate conversations smoothly and confidently.
• 😀 Asking for others' opinions is a great way to extend conversations (e.g., 'What do you think about that?' or 'How do you feel about it?').
• 😀 Polite interruptions are essential in conversations, with phrases like 'Sorry to interrupt' or 'Do you mind if I add to that?'.
• 😀 If you go off-topic, you can steer the conversation back with phrases like 'Where was I?' or 'So anyway, getting back to my story...'.
• 😀 Double-checking your understanding during conversations helps ensure clarity, using expressions like 'Do you mean?' or 'In other words, what you're saying is...'.
• 😀 Agreeing and disagreeing can be done politely with expressions like 'I completely agree with you' or 'I see what you mean, but...'.
• 😀 To respectfully disagree, use phrases like 'I'm afraid I don't agree' or 'Respectfully, I have to disagree.'.
• 😀 When changing topics, it’s helpful to use phrases like 'Speaking of that...' or 'Oh, by the way, did I tell you about this?'.
• 😀 For discussing controversial topics, use expressions like 'I know not everyone agrees with me, but...' to keep conversations open and respectful.
• 😀 Ending conversations politely can be done with expressions like 'Anyway, I'd better get back to it' or 'It's been great catching up.'

Q & A

What is the main goal of this video?

The main goal of the video is to help intermediate to advanced English learners improve their conversation skills by teaching them useful phrases and expressions for various situations, such as interrupting, changing topics, and ending conversations.

Why is it important to have a range of conversation tools in English?

Having a range of conversation tools is important because conversations often involve shifts and changes depending on the situation, the people involved, and the environment. These tools help you navigate conversations smoothly and naturally.

What strategy does Emma suggest for asking for other people's opinions?

Emma suggests using open-ended questions like 'What do you think about that?' or 'How do you feel about it?' to invite more interesting and detailed responses from others, instead of just asking 'Do you agree?' which is a more closed question.

How can you politely interrupt someone during a conversation?

You can politely interrupt by using phrases such as 'Excuse me,' 'Sorry to interrupt,' or 'Do you mind if I add to that?' These phrases allow you to enter the conversation without being rude.

What is a polite way to bring a conversation back on track if it goes off-topic?

To bring a conversation back on track, you can use phrases like 'So anyway, getting back to my story,' 'As I was saying,' or 'Where was I?' These expressions help refocus the conversation on the original topic.

Why is it useful to double-check what someone has said during a conversation?

Double-checking what someone has said is useful to ensure you understand their message correctly, which helps prevent misunderstandings and keeps the conversation flowing smoothly.

What are some phrases to use when agreeing with someone in a conversation?

Some phrases to agree with someone include 'Yes! Absolutely!', 'I completely agree with you,' and 'I couldn’t agree more.' These expressions show strong agreement with the other person's point of view.

How can you politely disagree with someone in a conversation?

To politely disagree, you can use phrases like 'I see what you mean, but...' or 'I understand your point of view, but...' These expressions show respect for the other person's opinion while introducing your own perspective.

What is the phrase 'I'm afraid' used for in English conversations?

'I'm afraid' is a polite way of making a statement or expressing a disagreement. It softens the tone of what you're saying, such as 'I'm afraid I can't help you' or 'I'm afraid I don't agree with you.'

What are some phrases for politely ending a conversation?

To politely end a conversation, you can use phrases like 'Well, I’d best be off,' 'I better get back to work,' or 'I’m so glad I ran into you. It’s been great catching up.' These expressions allow you to exit a conversation smoothly and respectfully.