Read & Listen: Ask For Help When You Don't Understand
OVERVIEW
On this page, you will learn about asking for help when you don't understand.
- First, read about phrases used for asking for help.
- Then, listen to audio of the text and example dialog.
READ & LISTEN
Image Links to an external site. by hectorir, CC BY 2.0 Links to an external site.
Read:
Sometimes English speakers talk very fast or use words you do not know. You will not understand everything when you are listening. This is normal. Do not pretend to understand people. Ask for help when you don’t understand.
When you ask for help, begin your sentence with:
"Could you......"
"Can you..."
"Would you..."
"Will you..."
Then use one of the common phrases below. Don't forget to say "please" to be polite. Study the phrases and the example sentences:
| PHRASE | EXAMPLE SENTENCE |
| repeat that | Could you repeat that, please? |
| speak more slowly | Can you speak more slowly, please? |
| give an example | Would you give an example, please? |
| show me | Will you show me, please? |
| spell that | Can you spell that, please? |
| write that down | Would you write that down, please? |
Listen:
Image Links to an external site. by elyaquim, CC BY NC 2.0 Links to an external site.
Read:
Listen to the dialog below to hear someone checking their understanding when they don't understand.
Cashier: Okay, your total is $15.50.
Customer: I’m sorry. Could you repeat that, please?
Cashier: Sure. It’s fifteen fifty.
Customer: $15 dollars and 50 cents. Got it. Thanks.