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    Asking Explanation

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    Asking Explanation

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    TR Production
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    Asking explanation

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    Asking Explanation

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    You are on page 1of 3

    Apologising

    1. Phrase 1 is a general short apology. We use this when we bump into people on
    the street. At other times, it sounds too weak.

    2. In phrase 2, we use 'so', 'very' and 'terribly' to make the meaning stronger.
    'Terribly' is the strongest. If we use one of the words in brackets, it is stressed.

    3. Phrase 3 is quite formal but it's a stronger apology than just 'sorry'.

    4. We use phrase 4 to criticise ourselves and the mistake that we have just made.

    5. We use phrases 6 and 7 to take all the responsibility for what happened. Phrase
    7 is a little stronger.

    6. We use phrase 8 to apologise for our lack of knowledge or ability. We can


    replace the word in brackets with other nouns, e.g. carelessness, forgetfulness.

    7. Phrase 9 is asking the other person not to get angry. The tone is quite informal.

    8. Phrase 10 is often used in formal letters. The word 'sincerest' makes the apology
    very strong and very formal.

    Asking about Health/Life

    1. Phrase 1 is the best known phrase but English people don't use it every time so
    it's useful to learn some of the others on this page.

    2. Phrase 2 is a general inquiry about the other person's health and life. Your
    answer could be about your health, your work or your personal life.

    3. Phrase 3 is similar to phrase 2 but the 'incorrect' grammar makes it much more
    informal.

    4. Phrases 4 and 5 are asking about the other person's life (work or personal life).

    5. Phrase 6 is really asking about health but the other person may answer with
    general information about their life.

    6. Phrase 7 is really asking about what kind of activities the other person has been
    doing recently. It more often refers to their home life, not work.

    7. Phrases 8 and 9 are asking about health and life with a yes / no question. Phrase
    9 is much more informal than phrase 8.
    8. Phrase 10 is more formal but still sincere and friendly and is asking about the
    other person's health.

    Asking for Approval

    1. Phrases 1, 2 and 3 are quite informal ways of asking if another person agrees
    with an action that you are planning to do.

    2. Phrases 4 and 5 are hypothetical and so sound a bit more polite. Phrases 1 to 3
    suggest that speaker probably will do it. 4 and 5 suggest that the speaker won't do it
    if another person doesn't agree.

    3. Phrase 6 is asking another person for their feelings about an imagined action.
    The speaker doesn't actually say that she is thinking of doing it so is making the
    action more remote. This phrase is quite formal.

    4. In phrase 7, the action being described will seem more remote if the speaker
    leaves out the word 'me', in a similar way to phrase 6.

    5. In phrase 8, it is important that the intonation is falling on the first 'are' and is
    rising on the negative verb in the question tag 'aren't'.

    6. Phrase 9 is quite informal and is asking the listener's opinion about other
    people's reactions. You follow this phrase with a past tense.

    7. Phrase 10 is suggesting that the speaker expects that the other person will not
    agree but wants to know how strongly the other person disagress with the intended
    action.

    Asking for Information

    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'.

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