Another Way to Say Asking Again

Whether yous're talking to a friend, having a business meeting, or taking an online English language lesson, there will be times when you don't hear what the other person says. How should you lot enquire them to repeat themselves?

Unfortunately, most English language courses teach expressions that are either old-fashioned ("Pardon?") or kind of aggressive ("Alibi me!").

To aid you out, we've made a list of 10 useful expressions that you lot tin use to naturally ask people to echo themselves.

1. Distressing?

You might hear native speakers say "What?" all the fourth dimension. However, it takes a lot of skill to say "What?" without sounding rude, so we don't recommend information technology.

Luckily, in that location's another short expression you tin use which sounds a lot better: "Sorry?" You can think of this equally a short version of "Distressing. What did you lot say?"

So the adjacent time you need someone to echo themselves, just say "Sorry?" It's simpler and more than common in English conversations these days. Just brand sure to heighten your intonation at the stop of the word as you would when asking a question.

2. Say that again?

Another easy phrase you can use to ask for repetition is "Say that again?" This is a shortened version of "Could you say that again?" and yous can hear it used in this video:

You lot can also replace "that" with other words. For example:

• Say that concluding function again?
• Say your name again? I just want to make certain I know how it's pronounced.

Nonetheless, yous should know that "Say that over again?" is best used in casual conversations. With people you lot're not close with, it's safer to go with one of these longer versions:

• Pitiful, could you lot say that again, delight?
• Would yous mind saying that again?

iii. What was that?

"What was that?" is like "What?" but less edgeless. Information technology means "What was the affair y'all just said?" To sound fifty-fifty more polite, yous tin can say "Sorry, what was that?"

4. What did you (just) say?

"What did you say?" and "What did y'all only say?" are ii other useful English expressions you can use to ask people to repeat themselves.

• Deplorable, what did yous say? I didn't hear.
• I'm lamentable. What did yous just say? There was some dissonance in the background.

Once more, make sure to say this with a friendly tone of voice so you don't accidentally sound ambitious.

5. … what?

Some other alternative to "What?" is to offset repeat part of what the other person said and so say "what" just like in a sample conversation below.

You tin can also employ other question words like "when," "where," and "who" in this fashion.

• Yous're going where this afternoon?
• She'southward talking to who right now?

"What" is the well-nigh versatile question give-and-take, as yous tin utilize it to replace words that aren't nouns. For example, in the following sample dialogue, information technology replaces a verb:

Plus, as this example shows, " … what?" is a great way to ask people to repeat a word that you haven't heard before and might desire to write downward. Next fourth dimension you're having a conversation and you lot want your friend or online English tutor to echo a specific word, give this option a try.

6. I didn't go that.

"I didn't go that" is another way to say "I didn't hear what you said."

• I'1000 afraid I didn't get that.
• Sorry, I didn't get the last bit. Say that again?

If you don't understand why "get" means "hear," remember about it similar this. If your friend mails yous a birthday present, they might call you a few days later to ask "Have you gotten information technology nevertheless?"

Well, equally we all know, packages sometimes get lost in the mail instead of arriving at your doorstep. Similarly, the words that someone else says don't always reach your ear. That's why English speakers say "I didn't get that.

7. I didn't catch that.

"I didn't catch that" is another way to say "I didn't get that." To go an idea of why "grab" is used, imagine someone "threw" some words at you and you didn't "grab" them with your ear.

• Sorry, I didn't catch that.
• Deplorable, I didn't quite grab that final function.

eight. I missed that.

"I missed that" is another way to say that you didn't hear something.

• Would you mind repeating yourself? I missed the last chip.
• Sorry, I missed that.

9. I'm non sure I heard correctly.

Instead of saying "I didn't hear y'all," you can as well say that you aren't sure if you heard the person correctly. This is likewise a phrase you can employ in more formal situations.

• I'g not sure I heard correctly. Could yous repeat the question, delight?
• I'g not certain I heard the last function correctly. You lot were saying that he wanted to quit his job?

x. Could you tell me again … ?

Sometimes, you demand people to echo something they said earlier in the chat. In that case, you can utilize "Could y'all tell me again … ?"

• Could y'all tell me once again why y'all chose to motion to Germany?
• I know you already mentioned this, but could yous tell me again how they met?

Bonus: How to Inquire People to Echo Themselves However Again

Sometimes, y'all ask someone to repeat themselves, only withal neglect to understand them. Here are some expressions you can apply in this situation.

• Distressing, i more time, please.
• Lamentable, I missed that again. Could you echo that one more fourth dimension, delight?
• I'm so sorry. The racket is making information technology hard for me to hear y'all. Could y'all say that again?
• Clearly, I need to become my ears checked! Would you lot listen repeating that for me, 1 terminal time?

Just remember: The more conversation exercise y'all get, the less you'll demand to ask people to repeat themselves. Join Engoo, get-go taking 1-on-one lessons with our professional tutors, and give your English conversation skills the heave they need!

hippdary1967.blogspot.com

Source: https://engoo.com/blog/2021/11/23/10-polite-ways-to-ask-people-to-repeat-themselves/