Conversation Skills: Considering Possibilities 🤔 "For the sake of the argument" and more!

Hi everyone. It's Jennifer. I have some suggestions if you want your listener to consider different

possibilities during a conversation.

First, "assuming that.:

This is a sentence starter. I want you to consider a possible situation and imagine the result.

"Assuming that" has a similar use as an if-clause. Do you remember conditional sentences?

"Assuming that"

basically means... if we assume that this is true or if we assume that this is the case, then....

So if we assume that, it won't snow tomorrow then

yes, we can drive.

So you think that it's likely it won't snow. If it doesn't snow we can drive.

Assuming that it doesn't snow, we can drive into Boston tomorrow.

Second, "let's say that."

This is another way to start a sentence in order to propose a possibility.

You're speaking hypothetically.

It's similar to "let's imagine that"

or "let's suppose that."

Here's an example.

Someone is considering a possible trip. They're not ready to commit yet.

They just want to think out loud and consider the possibilities.

Third, "for the sake of the argument."

This useful when you want to consider another alternative.

Maybe you think this alternative is not possible or likely, but as part of this conversation

you still want to consider it.

"For the sake of the argument" combines well with our second expression.

This expression can also work well when you want to prove a point, and you know that what you're proposing

isn't possible or realistic.

For practice, imagine a situation

where you could use one of these expressions.Write a dialog of two or three lines and post it in the comments.

Well, let's end here. I'll see you again soon for another lesson.

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