When you're in a conversation, it's important to make sure you understand what the other person is saying. Sometimes, you might need to ask for clarification. This lesson will teach you some simple phrases to check your understanding.

Asking for Repetition

If you didn't hear or understand something, you can ask the person to repeat it. This is very common, so don't be afraid to ask!

A simple and polite way to do this is to say, "I'm sorry, what did you say?" This tells the other person that you need them to repeat themselves.

Another polite phrase is, "Could you say that again?". This is a clear and direct way to ask for repetition.

Clarifying What You Heard

Sometimes, you hear the words, but you're not sure if you understood the meaning correctly. In this case, you can repeat back what you think you heard.

You can start your sentence with a phrase like, "So, if I understand you correctly…". Then, you can say what you understood. For example: "So, if I understand you correctly, the meeting is at 10 AM."

Another way to check is to ask if what you heard was a question. For example, if someone says something and you are not sure if you need to answer, you can ask, "Is that a question?". This helps you know if you need to respond.

Using these phrases will help you have clearer conversations and avoid misunderstandings.

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Listen to these typical examples

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