How to ask for clarification in English

15,395 views ・ 2021-12-21

Learn English with Cambridge


Please double-click on the English subtitles below to play the video.

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Hello, hello guys.
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I don’t know about you, but for me, even after
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all these years studying English, sometimes I feel confused when some
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people are expressing, or telling me something.
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And literally, I need to ask for clarification,
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just to make sure I understood what they were saying.
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Today, let me tell you about some expressions
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you can use when you need to ask for clarification,
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or the other way around, when you need to give clarification.
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Of course everything starts with you explaining that you didn’t understand
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the message very well.
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And for that you can say...
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I’m not quite sure I follow.
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I’m not quite sure I follow. I don’t see what you mean.
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I don’t see what you mean. Wait, I’m not sure I got your point.
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Wait, I’m not sure I got your point.
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What are you getting at or what are you trying to say?
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What are you getting at?
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What are you trying to say?
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There is also the possibility of asking for clarification
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straight away, for which you can say...
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Ah, I’m sorry, could you say it another way?
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Ah, I’m sorry, could you say it another way?
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When you say...?
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Here you repeat what they said.
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Do you mean...? Here you explain what you understood.
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So, wait, when you say you know that place,
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do you mean that you’ve been there before?
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What do you mean by that?
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What do you mean by that?
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Could you give me an example? Could you give me an example?
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Would you mind elaborating for me?
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Would you mind elaborating for me?
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The opposite can happen, where someone doesn’t understand
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you very well and asks you for clarification.
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To which you can respond with the following expressions to
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explain yourself.
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Okay, let me put it another way...
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Okay, let me put it another way... What I mean is...
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What I mean is... My point is...
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My point is... I mean...
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I mean... In other words...
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In other words...
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That’s all for today, guys.
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Last but not least never forget to be polite.
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And to thank the person for taking the time to explain to you what they meant.
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It’s been fun speaking with you once again.
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Don’t forget to subscribe, and to click on the bell button.
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If you want to see more videos with different alternatives,
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I’ll recommend you a couple more from the channel in the description box.
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Bye.
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