English · B1 · Speaking · about 5 min
Never nod along again: repeat, define, check, paraphrase, and ask for examples.
Kateryna joins a video call with a client in London. People speak fast, use internal terms, and the connection drops for a second. Instead of guessing, she uses six clarification tools: ask for a repeat, ask what a word means, check a specific detail, paraphrase to confirm, ask for an example, and say which part she missed. Asking is normal in English meetings — it shows engagement, not weakness.
MomentYou ask for a repeat.
Say thisSorry, could you say that again, please?
Why'Could you …?' + please: a polite request.
MomentYou ask about a term.
Say thisWhat do you mean by 'phase two'?
Why'What do you mean by + noun?' targets one word.
MomentYou check a detail.
Say thisJust to clarify, is the deadline this Friday or next Friday?
Why'Just to clarify' + either/or question.
MomentYou paraphrase to confirm.
Say thisSo, if I understand correctly, you need three options, not one?
Why'If I understand correctly' + your version as a question.
MomentYou ask for an example.
Say thisCould you give me an example?
Why'Could you give me …?' a polite request for something concrete.
MomentYou say what you missed.
Say thisSorry, I didn't catch the last part.
Why'I didn't catch' = I didn't hear.
| Moment | Say this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You ask for a repeat. | Sorry, could you say that again, please? | 'Could you …?' + please: a polite request. |
| You ask about a term. | What do you mean by 'phase two'? | 'What do you mean by + noun?' targets one word. |
| You check a detail. | Just to clarify, is the deadline this Friday or next Friday? | 'Just to clarify' + either/or question. |
| You paraphrase to confirm. | So, if I understand correctly, you need three options, not one? | 'If I understand correctly' + your version as a question. |
‘Could you …?’ is a polite request. ‘What do you mean by + noun?’ targets one term. ‘Just to clarify, …’ introduces a closed question with two options (this or next). ‘If I understand correctly, …’ + statement with rising intonation checks your paraphrase. ‘I didn't catch …’ = I didn't hear.
Start with ‘Sorry’ to soften the interruption. Be specific: ‘the last part’ or ‘the deadline’ is easier to answer than ‘I don't understand.’ On video calls, blaming the connection is fine: ‘Sorry, you broke up a bit.’
Related topics: /topics/english/b2/meetings/disagreeing-politely, /topics/english/b1/work/requesting-more-time. To keep going, continue with the English course on MyAnya.
Ask for a repeat, define a term with what do you mean by, check a detail with just to clarify, paraphrase with if I understand correctly, request an example, and name the part you missed.
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You didn't understand the whole sentence. What do you say?
Sorry, could you say that again, please?
'Could you …?' + please: a polite request.
The client spoke very quickly.
What do you mean by 'phase two'?
'What do you mean by + noun?' targets one word.
The client uses an internal project name.
Just to clarify, is the deadline this Friday or next Friday?
'Just to clarify' + either/or question.
'Friday' could mean two different dates.
So, if I understand correctly, you need three options, not one?
'If I understand correctly' + your version as a question.
She wants to be sure before agreeing.
Could you give me an example?
'Could you give me …?' a polite request for something concrete.
The idea is still abstract to her.
Sorry, I didn't catch the last part.
'I didn't catch' = I didn't hear.
The audio cut out at the end.
| You ask for an example. |
| Could you give me an example? |
| 'Could you give me …?' a polite request for something concrete. |
| You say what you missed. | Sorry, I didn't catch the last part. | 'I didn't catch' = I didn't hear. |