Essential English

Here are some phrases that will help you while learning English. Memorize them and use them frequently.

I’m sorry, I don’t understand.
I don’t understand.
I don’t know.
I don’t understand. Could you explain that again using simpler words?

A: All you have to do is….blah…blah…blah.
B: I don’t understand.

A common mistake that many students make is saying “I don’t know” when they mean to say “I don’t understand.” Get in the practice of saying “I don’t understand” as most Canadians are happy to explain something to a visitor to Canada using simpler words if they know you don’t understand.

What does (word) mean?

A: Could you forward that e-mail to me?
B: What does forward mean?
A: Here it just means to send an e-mail you have received to someone else.
B: Ah, so that means you want me to send you the e-mail that Brian sent to me?
A: That’s right!

How do you spell that? or How do you spell (word)?
A: How do you spell ‘forward?’
B: F-O-R-W-A-R-D

How do you say (a word from another language) in English?
ex. Q: How do you say bonjour in English? A: Hello!
You can also use this phrase to ask questions about other languages.
Q: How do you say Hello in French? B: Bonjour

You can ask
How do you say this word? and How do you pronounce this word?
when you’re not sure about the pronunciation of a word.

Please speak up? or Could you (please) speak up? asks the speaker to speak more loudly.

When you didn’t hear what someone said you can say
Pardon me?, Pardon?, Excuse me?, What was that, What? or even Eh? but note that Eh? and What? can be a little rude, depending on the situation and your tone.

Finally,
Could you please speak more slowly, and Could you please write that (down) are easy to understand