4 Tips for Natural English Conversation Responses - Improve English Speaking

自然英文對話回應的4個訣竅 — 英文口說進階

Hello, I’m Daniel.

您好，我是Daniel。

Welcome to Oxford Online English!

歡迎來到Oxford Online English！

In this lesson, you can learn to respond naturally in conversations in English.

在本節課裡，您可以學到在英文 對話里自然地回應問題。

If you simply stare at the other person when they’re talking to you, your conversations

如果您在其他人與您交談時茫然地 盯住他們，您的交談

might not go so well.

可能不太順利。

We’re partly joking, but when you’re speaking a second language, you often need to concentrate

我們有部分是在開玩笑，但是， 當您在講第二語言時，您通常

on understanding what the other person is saying.

需要集中精神去理解另一個人 正在講什麽。

This means you might forget to respond naturally, but natural responses are important to keep

這意味著您或許忘記自然地 回應，但是，自然回應對保持

your conversation going, and also to show the other person that you care about what

您的對話繼續是重要的， 也向對方表明您留意

they’re saying.

他們正在講什麽。

This lesson will show you natural conversational responses which you can use to express interest,

本節課會告訴您可以用來表達 感興趣、吃驚、同意、困惑

surprise, agreement, confusion, and much more!

以及更多的自然對話回應。

When someone’s telling you a story, it’s important to show interest in what they’re

當某人正在告訴您一個故事， 表明對他們正在講的感興趣

saying.

是重要的。

First, let’s see what not to do.

首先，我們看看什麽不要做。

The other day, I met up with an old friend from high school.

The other day, I met up with an old friend from high school.

It was great to catch up with him!

It was great to catch up with him!

Mmm-hmm.

Mmm-hmm.

He’s had such an interesting life.

He’s had such an interesting life.

At the moment, he’s working in an orangutan sanctuary in Borneo.

At the moment, he’s working in an orangutan sanctuary in Borneo.

Mmm-hmm.

Mmm-hmm.

Next, he told me he’s planning to develop a spaceship which can take humans to Mars!

Next, he told me he’s planning to develop a spaceship which can take humans to Mars!

Mmm-hmm. Of course, you can nod your head and say mmm-hmm or hmm, but that doesn’t sound

嗯哼。當然，您可以點您的頭， 說嗯哼或嗯，但是，那聽起來

like you’re very interested.

像是您不是很感興趣。

There are other ways to show that you’re engaged.

有其他的方式來表明您感興趣。

Let’s look at a better way to do this.

我們來看看做這個的一個比較好的方式。

I had a chat with my boss the other day and he’s putting me on this great new project.

I had a chat with my boss the other day and he’s putting me on this great new project.

Really?

Really?

That’s great!

That’s great!

So I visited my family last Sunday and we had a lovely barbecue.

So I visited my family last Sunday and we had a lovely barbecue.

Sounds nice!

Sounds nice!

The exam was really hard, I’m not sure if I’ve passed it.

The exam was really hard, I’m not sure if I’ve passed it.

Is that right? Of course, you can’t be interested in everything that someone

那是正確的嗎？當然，您不能 對某人正在對您說的

is saying to you.

每一件事情都感興趣。

But, it’s still helpful to show that you’re listening, and that you understand what the

但是，那對表明您正在聽， 您理解對方正在說什麼

other person is saying.

仍然是有幫助的。

Let’s see some useful phrases you can use to do this. My car broke down last week, so

我們來看一些您可以用來做這個的 有用的片語。 My car broke down last week, so

I had to get it repaired.

I had to get it repaired.

Oh, yeah?

Oh, yeah?

It seemed like it was leaking oil.

It seemed like it was leaking oil.

I see.

I see.

They told me it wasn’t too bad, they could get it fixed easily.

They told me it wasn’t too bad, they could get it fixed easily.

Uh-huh.

Uh-huh.

Some situations need stronger responses, for example if you hear something surprising.

一些場景需要更強烈的回應， 例如，如果您聽到某些吃驚的事情。

My sister broke up with her boyfriend.

My sister broke up with her boyfriend.

Seriously?

Seriously?

Yeah, it turned out he was seeing someone else.

Yeah, it turned out he was seeing someone else.

You must be joking!

You must be joking!

It was her best friend!

It was her best friend!

No way! In this section, you saw how to show interest,

No way! 在本單元，您看到了 怎樣表明感興趣、

understanding and surprise.

理解和吃驚。

How many of the responses can you remember?

您記得多少回應？

Take a look, and pause the video if you need more time to read.

看一下，如果您需要更多時間 來閱讀，暫停影片。

I think we’re done here, right?

I think we’re done here, right?

I don’t think so, actually.

I don’t think so, actually.

That last episode of Game of Thrones was amazing!

That last episode of Game of Thrones was amazing!

For sure!

For sure!

I really like Sarah’s new haircut.

I really like Sarah’s new haircut.

It looks great on her.

It looks great on her.

Absolutely!

Absolutely!

People shouldn’t be so negative, especially if they don’t have anything to contribute

People shouldn’t be so negative, especially if they don’t have anything to contribute

themselves.

themselves.

I couldn’t agree more! Of course, sometimes you might NOT agree with the other person.

I couldn’t agree more! Of course, sometimes you might NOT agree with the other person.

How could you respond then?

那麼，您怎樣回應呢？

I’m glad Eric got the promotion to be our team leader.

I’m glad Eric got the promotion to be our team leader.

He’s such a great guy!

He’s such a great guy!

I’m not so sure about that.

I’m not so sure about that.

I think I’m going to take my husband to a spa.

I think I’m going to take my husband to a spa.

I’m sure he’ll enjoy it.

I’m sure he’ll enjoy it.

You really think so?

You really think so?

The media should stop talking about celebrities getting together and breaking up.

The media should stop talking about celebrities getting together and breaking up.

Who cares?!

Who cares?!

I don’t see it that way; if people want to read about it, why not let them? In this

I don’t see it that way; if people want to read about it, why not let them? 在本單元，

section, you’ve seen three phrases you can use to agree, and three phrases to disagree.

您看到了可以用來表明同意的三個片語， 以及表明不同意的三個片語。

Can you remember them all?

您可以記得它們全部嗎？

Next, how about some language to respond to suggestions?

接下來，那一些回應建議的 說辭是怎樣的？

Great idea!

Great idea!

Whenever you want to make plans with friends, decide on a place to have dinner or plan a

Whenever you want to make plans with friends, decide on a place to have dinner or plan a

meeting with colleagues, you’ll need to respond to other people’s suggestions.

meeting with colleagues, you’ll need to respond to other people’s suggestions.

Let’s see how you can do this. Why don’t we go for a bike ride this Saturday?

Let’s see how you can do this. Why don’t we go for a bike ride this Saturday?

Sorry, I can’t on Saturday.

Sorry, I can’t on Saturday.

What about Sunday?

What about Sunday?

Ok, Sunday it is!

Ok, Sunday it is!

It’s Rita’s birthday tomorrow.

It’s Rita’s birthday tomorrow.

How about we buy her a bottle of wine from the team?

How about we buy her a bottle of wine from the team?

I’m not sure if she likes wine.

I’m not sure if she likes wine.

Maybe we can get her some flowers and chocolate?

Maybe we can get her some flowers and chocolate?

That sounds good!

That sounds good!

What do you think of this colour for the living room?

What do you think of this colour for the living room?

I don’t know…

I don’t know…

It looks quite dark.

It looks quite dark.

I think it’ll make the room feel gloomy.

I think it’ll make the room feel gloomy.

Can we try a lighter shade?

Can we try a lighter shade?

Yeah, sure. Here, you saw three phrases you can use to reject a suggestion, and three

Yeah, sure. 在這裡，您看到您可以 用來拒絕一個建議的三個片語，

phrases to accept.

以及接受建議的三個片語。

Can you remember any of them?

您可以記得它們嗎？

Here are the phrases you saw; pause the video if you need more time to read:

這裡是您看到的片語：如果您需要 更多的時間來閱讀，暫停影片：

You can see that it’s common to use a vague phrase to reject a suggestion, like I’m

您可以看到用一個含糊的片語來 拒絕一個建議是常見的，像是

not sure or I don’t know.

I’m not sure or I don’t know.

This is important as a non-native speaker of English: people are often more indirect

作為英文非母語人士，這一點 是最重要的：在對某些事情說“no”

when saying ‘no’ to something.

時，人們常常是更不直接的。

Of course, this depends on the culture you’re in, and the people you’re with.

當然，這取決於您所處的文化， 以及和您在一起的人。

However, it’s a good idea to remember that if you make a suggestion, and people reply

然而，如果您提出了一個建議，會常常 對您的主意是說“no”的

in very vague ways, they will often be saying ‘no’ to your idea. I’m confused about

人們用非常含糊的方式回應您， 記住那是一個好主意。

what Daniel means…

I’m confused about what Daniel means…

If only there was some way I could ask him to clarify what he said.

If only there was some way I could ask him to clarify what he said.

My computer just crashed, I think it has a virus.

My computer just crashed, I think it has a virus.

You should start it in Safe Mode and run a virus scan.

You should start it in Safe Mode and run a virus scan.

You’ve lost me.

You’ve lost me.

What’s “safe mode”?

What’s “safe mode”?

It’s a special way to start your computer, use F8 when you turn on the computer and it

It’s a special way to start your computer, use F8 when you turn on the computer and it

will start the system in safe mode.

will start the system in safe mode.

Sorry, I didn’t catch that; could you say it one more time?

Sorry, I didn’t catch that; could you say it one more time?

So, press F8 as soon as you turn on the computer, and when the system starts, you can scan for

So, press F8 as soon as you turn on the computer, and when the system starts, you can scan for

viruses.

viruses.

Okay, so, you mean that I need to turn on the computer, press F8, and then run the virus

Okay, so, you mean that I need to turn on the computer, press F8, and then run the virus

scan?

scan?

That’s right.

That’s right.

And then what?

And then what?

It depends what the virus scan shows.

It depends what the virus scan shows.

Hold on, are you saying that I might have to do more stuff after that?

Hold on, are you saying that I might have to do more stuff after that?

This sounds like a huge hassle.

This sounds like a huge hassle.

Well, sure.

Well, sure.

If you have a virus or other malware, you’ll need to remove it.

If you have a virus or other malware, you’ll need to remove it.

I think I’ll just take it to the shop.

I think I’ll just take it to the shop.

Suit yourself!

Suit yourself!

It’s common not to understand exactly what someone else said, even for native speakers.

沒有準確地理解其他人說什麽，即使 對母語人士而言，也是常見的。

Even if you understood, you might need more information.

即使您理解，您可能需要 更多的信息。

In these cases, you can use these phrases to ask for clarification. Now, you’ve learned

在這些事例裡，您可以使用這些 片語來請求澄清。現在，您

some natural conversational responses to deal with many different situations in English.

學到了一些自然英文對話 回應來應付很多不同的情形。

Let’s practice what you’ve learned!

我們來練習您學到的東西！

Now it’s time to practice!

現在是時候來練習了。

We’ll show you some phrases which you need to respond to.

我們會展示給您看一些 您需要回應的片語。

Depending on the situation, there are often different ways in which you can respond.

您常常可以依據情形用 不同方式做回應。

Let’s do an example together!

我們一起來做一個例子：

Here’s a phrase:

這裡是一個片語：

I need to go to the shop to buy couscous.

I need to go to the shop to buy couscous.

And here are three possible responses:

這裡是三個可能的回應：

Why don’t we go together?

Why don’t we go together?

OK, I see.

OK, I see.

You’ve lost me.

You’ve lost me.

What’s couscous?

What’s couscous?

You can respond with a suggestion: “Why don’t we go together?”

您可以用一個建議來回應：“Why don’t we go together?”

Maybe you just want to show you understood, so you say: “OK, I see”.

也許您只是想表明您理解了， 所以，您說：“OK, I see”.

But, maybe you don’t understand what your friend needs to buy, so you ask: “You’ve

但是，或許您不理解您的朋友 要買什麽，所以，您問：

lost me.

“You’ve lost me.

What’s couscous?”

What’s couscous?”

For the next phrases, think of responses you would give.

對于下一個片語， 考慮您要給出的回應。

We’ll show some examples on the screen, but of course, there are many good ways to

我們會在螢幕上展示一些例子， 但是，當然，有很多好方法

respond!

來回應！

Ready?

準備好了嗎？

Here’s your first sentence.

這裡是您的第一個句子。

Last weekend I finally bought a new phone, but when I got home and opened the box, it

Last weekend I finally bought a new phone, but when I got home and opened the box, it

turned out they had given me the wrong one!

turned out they had given me the wrong one!

Here’s another one.

這裡是另外一個。

Think about how you would respond.

想想您要怎樣回應。

Justin Bieber is the best singer in the world; I can’t wait to go to his concert!

Justin Bieber is the best singer in the world; I can’t wait to go to his concert!

Let’s do one more:

我們再做一個：

How about we go hiking in the mountains this weekend? To practice, tell us which responses

How about we go hiking in the mountains thisweekend?要練習，

you would choose, and why.

告訴我們您要選哪一個回應， 以及爲什麽。

Let us know in the comments, and you can check that you’re using these phrases in a natural

在留言板里告訴我們，您可以看看 您有沒有用自然方式來

way!

使用這些片語！

Want more practice with this topic?

想要更多這個主題的練習嗎？

Check out the full version of this lesson on our website: Oxford Online English dot

在我們的網站上看本節課的完整 版本：Oxford Online English dot

com.

com.

We also have many other free English lessons which you can watch and learn from.

我們還有很多其他的免費 英文課程您可以看和學習。

Thanks for watching!

感謝觀看！

See you next time!

下次見！