Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1I did not hear the price, so I said, ...............
Wrong!
Use "Sorry?" to ask someone to repeat what they said.
2The bus was noisy, so I asked, “Could you ...............?”
Wrong!
Use "say that again" to ask for repetition; we do not say "speak that again."
3I missed Anna’s answer, so I asked, “............... did you say?”
Wrong!
Use "what" when you need someone to repeat the information or thing you missed.
4Sam used a new word, and I asked, “What do you ...............?”
Wrong!
Use "mean" to ask someone to explain unclear words.
5At the hotel, I heard “a single room” and asked, “What does ............... mean?”
Wrong!
Use "that" in "What does that mean?" to ask about the words you just heard.
6When Leo said “later,” I asked, “What do you mean ............... ‘later’?”
Wrong!
Use "by" in "What do you mean by...?" before the word or phrase you want explained.
7To check the time, I said, “The meeting is at ten, ...............?”
Wrong!
Use "right" at the end to check that you understood correctly.
8Mia pointed to a bag, and I checked, “............... the blue bag?”
Wrong!
Use "Do you mean" when you want to check if you understood the other person’s idea.
9When Tom heard Sunday, I corrected him: “..............., I said Monday, not Sunday.”
Wrong!
Use "No" before a correction when the first idea is wrong.
10I corrected my order and said, “Not coffee, ............... tea.”
Wrong!
Use "but" in "not this, but that" to correct one word with another.
11I still could not hear her, so I asked, “Could you speak ...............?”
Wrong!
Use "louder" when you cannot hear someone and need more volume.
12I first said Thursday, then corrected myself: “Sorry, ............... Friday.”
Wrong!
Use "I mean" to repair or correct your own words.
Answers
- I did not hear the price, so I said, Sorry?
- The bus was noisy, so I asked, “Could you say that again?”
- I missed Anna’s answer, so I asked, “what did you say?”
- Sam used a new word, and I asked, “What do you mean?”
- At the hotel, I heard “a single room” and asked, “What does that mean?”
- When Leo said “later,” I asked, “What do you mean by ‘later’?”
- To check the time, I said, “The meeting is at ten, right?”
- Mia pointed to a bag, and I checked, “Do you mean the blue bag?”
- When Tom heard Sunday, I corrected him: “No, I said Monday, not Sunday.”
- I corrected my order and said, “Not coffee, but tea.”
- I still could not hear her, so I asked, “Could you speak louder?”
- I first said Thursday, then corrected myself: “Sorry, I mean Friday.”
