LANGUAGE FUNCTIONS (C1)
DEVELOPING AND STAGING EXPRESSING RESERVATIONS
JUSTIFYING AN ARGUMENT
Firstly, / In the first place / To I have my doubts about that.
• The way I see it…
start with
Do you think so? I doubt it.
• As I see it,
Secondly, / In the second place
You may have a point there, but
• I have the impression that…
What’s more / On top of that / I’m still not sure
• Personally,
Furthermore /
• To my mind,
Finally / Last but not least
EXPRESSING CAUTION
• I don’t know about you, but
I…
HYPOTHESISING I can’t say if
• Speaking from personal I would be careful, if I were you
experience,
• Could it be that …
Just be careful with that
• For me personally,
• It might be that case that…
If I were you I would
• I wonder if …
SUMMARISING CHALLENGING ARGUMENTS
INDICATING AND OPINIONS
• In a nutshell,
UNDERSTANDING OF POINTS
• To make a long story short,
MADE BY THE EXAMINER I (can) see your point, but
• The bottom line is …
Yes, but wouldn’t you say that…
• On balance, we can • Yes, absolutely
Yes, but don’t you feel that …
conclude that…
• Exactly
Well…maybe…possibly…
• Hmm, I see what you mean
I think that’s debatable.
REPHRASING • I can see what you’re I agree to some extent but
getting at
I’m not so sure about that
• In other words,
• I see your point
• ..., that is to say, …
• I couldn’t agree more
MAKING SUGGESTIONS
• OK, so you mean (to say) • You have a point there.
that…
Why don’t you…?
• OK, so what you mean is …
ESTABLISHING COMMON If I were you…
GROUND / PURPOSE OR
EVALUATING DIFFERENT STRATEGY I wonder if it might be better …
STANDPOINTS
• Would you agree that…
FILLERS
• That’s a very good point
• Reaching a conclusion: So,
• That’s a valid point
to sum up,
• So,
• I agree entirely
• You see, …
• That’s an interesting point, EXPRESSING SYMPATHY • …, you see, …
but / however…
AND EMPATHY • You know,
• You may / might be right
• I mean,
I’m sorry to hear about…
EVALUATING OPTIONS / That must be awful.
PAST ACTIONS / COURSE OF That’s so sad.
RECOVERING YOUR
EVENTS I do sympathise with you.
THOUGHTS
I hope things get better soon.
Past modals of deduction:
I hope you feel better soon.
Where was I?
He must have (thought)
Oh dear!
What was I saying?
He can’t have (seen)
Too bad!
That’s a pity!
DEDUCING AND INFERRING That’s unfortunate.
I know how you must be feeling.
I imagine / I guess / I take it…
I know what you mean.
From what you’re saying, it
seems to me (that)…
From what you’re saying, then, I
take it…/ I guess
I dare say that…
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