How to Express Disbelief in English

Summary

In this English lesson, the instructor teaches eight ways to express disbelief in everyday situations. These include phrases like 'You sure?', 'No way!', 'I find that hard to believe', and 'Really?'. The lesson offers relatable examples to help learners understand how to use these phrases in different contexts, such as questioning a friend's claim or responding to surprising news. With simple and direct expressions, learners can enhance their conversational English and effectively convey doubt or skepticism. This video provides practical phrases to use in both informal and formal settings.

Takeaways

• 😀 Expressing disbelief can be done in various ways in English.
• 😀 One way to express disbelief is by asking 'You sure?', especially when you doubt someone's statement.
• 😀 A casual, strong expression of disbelief is saying 'No way!'
• 😀 In formal situations, you can express disbelief by saying, 'I find that hard to believe.'
• 😀 'Get out' or 'Get outta here' are phrases used to express surprise or disbelief, especially in situations that seem unbelievable.
• 😀 When someone tells you something surprising, asking 'Who told you that?', 'Where did you read that?', or 'Where did you hear that?' can express disbelief.
• 😀 'Really?' is a simple, one-word way to question if something unbelievable is true.
• 😀 'You gotta be kidding me' is used to indicate disbelief, implying that what was said seems like a joke.
• 😀 The phrase 'I don’t believe you' is a direct and sometimes rude way to express disbelief, often used by parents toward children.
• 😀 Learning these phrases helps you engage in more natural and varied English conversations, especially when responding to surprising information.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the lesson in the transcript?

The main theme of the lesson is teaching how to express disbelief in English, using different phrases in various contexts.

What does the phrase 'You sure?' mean and when is it typically used?

'You sure?' is a question used to express doubt about what someone has just said. It is typically used in informal situations when you're not convinced by someone's statement.

How does the phrase 'No way!' differ from other expressions of disbelief?

'No way!' is a very casual and emphatic response used to express strong disbelief, often in situations where the statement is extraordinary or surprising.

When would someone use the phrase 'I find that hard to believe'?

'I find that hard to believe' is used in more formal situations when someone expresses doubt or disbelief, particularly in a professional setting or when explaining why something doesn't seem true.

What is the difference between 'Get out!' and 'Get outta here!'?

Both expressions are used to express disbelief in response to surprising news, but 'Get outta here!' is a more casual, informal variation of the phrase 'Get out!'.

Why might someone ask 'Who told you that?' or 'Where did you read that?' when expressing disbelief?

These questions are asked when someone doubts the truth of a statement and wants to know the source of the information to assess its reliability.

What does the question 'Really?' express in the context of disbelief?

'Really?' is a simple, direct way to express doubt or surprise when someone tells you something that seems hard to believe.

How is 'You gotta be kidding me' typically used in conversations?

'You gotta be kidding me' is used to express disbelief, often in response to something that sounds like a joke or is so surprising that it seems unbelievable.

In what situations is it appropriate to use the phrase 'I don’t believe you'?

'I don’t believe you' is a direct way to express disbelief, often used by parents to children, but it can sound rude if used inappropriately in other contexts.

How can someone decide when to use informal or formal expressions of disbelief?

Informal expressions like 'No way!' or 'You sure?' are used in casual conversations with friends or family, while formal expressions like 'I find that hard to believe' are used in professional settings or when maintaining a respectful tone.