Scene 1

I asked John if he had smashed the window panes and he replied: "Well, the fact is ...er..

mean the real truth is.. . er... Sir, I've.. . um...I am not.. ." 
John did not give me a direct answer. In a conversation sometimes you might want to give 
yourself more time either because you are not ready with the answer or because you do not 
want to give yourself away. The above sentence uses all the usual devices for giving oneself 
more time. Well' used as an interjection gives the speaker time to think.

The incident happened, well, at 3 o' dock.

We use the sound 'er' when we hesitate in a conversation.

I did it-er-f-orfun. 
I mean is also used to gain tinme.

John should be taken back, I mean, if he comes back.

In a conversation sometimes we feel the need to ask someone to repeat what he has said. 
Expressions like 1 did not hear that, Say that again, etc., are rather rude. The proper way, as we 
have already seen, to request a person to repeat what he said is indicated below:

Pardon? What's the name you mentioned? 
(I beg your) pardon? (said with a rising intonation) 
Sorry? Did you say Simon or someone? 
Could you repeat the last sentence, please? 
I didnt quite catch the number you said. Could you say it again? 
I am John. What? I said I am John. (informal)

Good manners demand that when someone is speaking to you, you should show that you 
are listening and you show it by looking at him and nodding your head. The following passage 
gives you the appropriate vocabulary. 
A. 
I was riding along the road, all alone and it was midnight. 
Yeah 
A. 
Two muggers stopped me on the way. 
B. 
Oh right.

A. 
Fortunately, some policemen came that way. 
B. 
Mm. 
A. 
Seeing them the muggers bolted. I too. 
A. 
B. 
Uh huh.

Another conversational situation is that of having to interrupt someone who is speaking. 
One does it usually by leaning forward or by making a movement. The appropriate words and 
hras 
in this connection can be seen in the following piece of conversation.

Scene 2

A. 
This is a foolish proposition and it is doomed to fail. 
Yes, but.. 
Only fools could have thought up such a scheme.

B. 
Sorry to interrupt but... 
A. 
What? 
B. 
You are prejudiced..

We use yes Dut, 1 know but, etc., when we want to show our disagreement. After saying

one of these expressions we usually pause for a while to see if the other person is going to stop.

When we want to interrupt someone for other reasons, we use expressions like 'um, "well, etc.

I fast on all Sundays. So tomorrowI won't take any food.. 
B. 
Well, John.. 
except my regular meals and.

B. 
Tomorrow is Monday, John. 
How do you come back to the original subject after a digression? Or how do you begin 
a new topic? The word 'so' helps us to get back to the original subject or to begin a new one.

So, we have been speaking about . . 
So, you have decided to... 
Any way also helps us to get back to the original subject. 
A person's proficiency in the English language may be measured by the way he says 'yes' or 
no. People whose yes and 'no' vocabulary is limited make do with yes or 'no' always. But the

more discriminating speaker uses varied vocabulary. He says definitely when the answer is 
an emphatic yes. When he is surprised or annoyed that a certain question was asked, he may

Do you support his candidature? 
Of course, he is my brother.

He will use 'Of course' also when a strong 'yes' is needed.

Did you lock the door? 
Of course, I did.

When a question is asked to check a fact, he says "That's right"

You are John's brother. Aren't you? 
That's right. 
When he knows his yes' will disappoint the hearer, he says "I am afraid so."

Please note that yeah' which means yes is infotmal. When he knows the answer is yes 
but is not certain, he says "Probably' He will say "Definitely not" when an emphatic 'no' is

Scene 3

needed. He says 'Of course not to say 'no' to questions that surprise him. When he is talking 
to his friends, he will say, No way' to emphasise his answer.

Will you support John? 
No way. He's stupid. 
He will not use 'no' on its own, that is, without something after it, because he knows it is rude.

When he knows the answer is 'no' but is not sure, he uses such expressions as "I don't think 
so, "Probably not', "I doubt it', etc. When he does not want to answer a question publicly, he 
says "No comment.

What are the expressions we use in conversation to give ourselves more time? 
a. 
Composea conversational situation in which somebody does not hear what is said and 
asks the speaker to repeat. 
How do you interrupt a person in conversation? Compose a conversational situation to 
show this.

Illustrate the use of yes/no words in a conversational piece. 
How do you let the speaker know that you follow/understand him? 
d.

Chapter 62, In Conversation

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