Checking understanding

In this video, Paul has problems understanding Bob. Listen to the language they use for checking understanding and practise saying the useful phrases.

Do the preparation exercise first. Then watch the video and do the exercises to check your understanding and practise the language.

Transcript

Ana: Hi, I'm Ana. Welcome to What to Say!

 

Do you know what to say when you want to check your understanding? Listen out for useful language for checking your understanding. Then, we'll practise saying the new phrases – after this.

 

Bob: This isn't right. Hey! Excuse me, Paul, could you pass me the hammer?

Paul: Sorry, Bob, my ears are blocked. I can't hear you very well. Could you say that again, please?

Bob: The hammer. Please could you pass it to me?

Paul: The spanner?

Bob: No. The hammer! 

Paul: Sorry, Bob, I don't understand. This is the spanner! 

Bob: No, Paul, I need the hammer. It's in the toolbox, on the left, under the scissors.

Paul: Sorry, Bob. Could you repeat that more slowly, please? 

Bob: The hammer … in the toolbox … on the left … under the scissors.

Paul: On the left … under the scissors … Oh! Do you mean the hammer? Is this it?

Bob: Yes, that's right! 

Paul: Ah! Why didn't you say so?

Bob: I did! 

 

Ana: Hello again! Oh dear. I think Paul needs to go home and sleep. So, did you notice the useful phrases used for checking your understanding? Listen to me and then repeat.

 

I'm sorry?

I can't hear you very well.

Could you say that again, please?

I don't understand.

Can you repeat that more slowly, please?

Do you mean the hammer?

Is this it?

Yes, that's right! 

 

Ana: Try and use some of these phrases the next time you want to check your understanding in English. Bye for now! 

Discussion

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Average: 4.5 (434 votes)
I can see video in the "video zone" but not in "starting out". What can you do for me?

Hello casse KC,

The videos in Starting Out, as well as many others on LearnEnglish, are delivered by a service called Viddler. Viddler works on the most recent versions of the most commonly used browsers in most regions of the world. As far as I know, if you are in Haiti and are using a browser that isn't too old, it should work for you.

If you let me know what browser version you are using (do an internet search for 'find browser version'), I can look into this a little more. Without that, I'm afraid there's nothing else I can do for you other than suggest you try a different browser or device.

All the best,

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

Hello Kirk I thank you for all of your suggestions. For the browser, I use Chrome 85.0.4 183.101.
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Submitted by danisep on Sat, 12/09/2020 - 01:34

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I'm taking all the language that I can, and these common phrases help me. I'm going to try to use it in a script or conversation but also it's important to me to make my own phrases using grammar.

Submitted by Lena on Fri, 11/09/2020 - 09:40

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The video is great! It looks simple but it helped me a lot though I knew all these phrases before.

Submitted by Violeta2020 on Mon, 07/09/2020 - 04:29

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I cannot see the video :-(

Hello Violeta2020,

Are you still unable to see the video? It's working for me and I don't see any problems with it, so I suspect it may have been a temporary technical problem.

If you still can't see it, could you please try using a different browser or device to see if it works there?

If not, please let us what browser version you are using and I'll investigate further.

Thanks in advance and sorry for the inconvenience.

All the best,

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by IsaacCanales001 on Wed, 02/09/2020 - 17:49

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That was a good information. Thanks.

Submitted by Nidup on Wed, 02/09/2020 - 07:12

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It is a useful video.
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Submitted by ashrafsdmp on Sat, 29/08/2020 - 19:19

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The conversation is really awesome and I've learnt how to use them in a conversation though I knew them before. Thank you so much!