Functional language is the part of speech
that we use to perform various "functions" such as giving advice or apologizing.
Functional language typically uses fixed expressions for each function–for example "if I were you" or "my suggestion is" in giving advice, and "it was my fault" or "please forgive me" in apologizing.
Functional language typically uses fixed expressions for each function–for example "if I were you" or "my suggestion is" in giving advice, and "it was my fault" or "please forgive me" in apologizing.
Try to learn a few new expressions to use in your oral interventions…Here
are some:
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GIVING
ADVICE
·
(If I was/were) in that (that kind
of) situation, I'd ...
·
Have
you thought about ...?
·
If it was/were me, I'd ...
·
Make
sure you (don't) ...
·
The sooner you ... the better.
·
Whatever
you do, ...
·
Your only option is to ...
·
You have no choice but to ...
·
I'd like to pass on is to ...
·
A wise man once said ...
·
As the proverb says, ...
·
You should ..., no doubt about it.
·
It might be an old wives' tale,
but ...
DISAGREEING
STRONGLY
·
(I think) you are mistaken.
·
Are you honestly/seriously
saying...?
·
Are you out of your mind?
·
Are you pulling my leg?
·
Does anyone (seriously) think that
nowadays?
·
I can’t see any (possible) reason
why...
·
I’m sure you’re (just) saying that
to shock me.
·
I’ve never heard such
rubbish/nonsense!
·
It has been proven that...
·
That can’t possibly be the case.
·
That is clearly/simply not true.
·
That’s clearly/simply not the
case.
·
That’s not the case at all.
·
The (first) problem with that
argument is...
·
The argument that... is not
supported by...
·
There
is no way...
·
You
cannot be serious.
·
You
claim that...but...
·
You’ve got to be kidding.
·
Frankly,…
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AGREEING
·
(Okay,) you’ve convinced/persuaded
me
·
I am/We are in complete agreement.
·
I
can accept that.
·
I can’t add anything to that.
·
I can’t argue with that.
·
I didn’t know that. That changes
everything.
·
I don’t doubt it./No doubt.
·
I don’t have any problems with
that view./I don’t see why not.
·
I
share that view.
·
I suppose you are right./I suppose
so.
·
I’d never really thought about it
that way.
·
I’ll go along with that.
·
It’s so nice to (finally) meet
someone who thinks that way too.
·
Not only is that true,…
·
Now you explain it that way,…
·
Quite
right.
·
That does seem to be the case.
·
That matches with my own
experience.
·
That seems logical/to make sense.
·
That was the opposite of what I
thought, but…
·
That’s (exactly/just) the point I
was trying to make
·
The only thing I can add to that
is…
·
You took the words right out of my
mouth.
·
You’re not kidding!/No kidding!
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DISAGREEING
·
(But)
didn’t you say...?
·
(But) wouldn’t you say that...?
·
(That sounds good) in theory,
but...
·
...
(but) in reality,...
·
Although it’s difficult to argue
with that,...
·
I can see a hole in that argument.
·
I thought we’d (already) agreed...
·
I wish that was the case, but...
·
I’m
more convinced by...
·
If everyone thought that way,...
·
If that were the case,...
·
My reply to that would be...
·
Not
in my experience. ...
·
That all makes sense, apart
from...
·
That is a common misconception.
·
That might well be the case,
but...
·
That’s not the way I see it (at
all).
·
The hole in that argument is...
·
The problem with that argument
is...
·
There’s a lot of truth in that,
but...
·
Well, you know more about this
than me, but...
·
You
haven’t convinced me.
·
You may think that, but...
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ASKING FOR OPINIONS
·
What do you reckon?
·
Any (initial) thoughts on … ?
·
Are people right in thinking … ?
·
Are you in agreement with … ?
·
Do you have any particular views on … ?
·
Do you have any thoughts on … ?
·
From your point of view, … ?
·
I know this is not your specialist subject, but …
·
I know you haven’t had long to think about this …
·
I know you haven’t had much time to think about this, but …
·
I’d be (very) interested to hear your views on …
·
What are your (first) thoughts on … ?
·
What would be your reaction if I said … ?
·
What’s your position on … ?
·
Would it be right to say … ?
·
Would you support the view that … ?
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GIVING OPINIONS
·
After
much thought, …
·
After weighing up both sides of
the argument, …
·
Although I can see both points of
view / Although I can understand the opposite point of view, …
·
As I see it, .../ The way I see it…
·
Correct me if I’m wrong, but …
·
For me/ From my point of view, …
·
I am not very familiar with this
topic, but …
·
I do believe/ feel/think …
·
I have come to the conclusion that
…
·
I might change my mind later, but
…
·
I
reckon/suppose …
·
I tend to think that … }
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GIVING OPINIONS
} I’m not sure I’m the right person
to ask, but / I have very limited experience of this, but …
·
I’m
pretty confident that …
·
I’ve
always thought that …
·
If
you ask me, …
·
I'm
(absolutely) convinced that …
·
In my humble opinion / IMHO, …
·
It could be said that …
·
It seems clear to me that …
·
It would seem to me that …
·
My
initial reaction is …
·
Not everyone will/would agree with
me, but …
·
Personally speaking / Speaking for
myself, …
·
The way I see it (is) …
·
To be (perfectly) frank/ honest, …
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