New here? This is lesson 88 of a free 240-lesson English course.
Soft replies in English
Danny wants Ana to wait at the diner until the jukebox plays. She does not want to wait all day.
You will learn kind ways to say not now. You do not need a flat no.
Maybe some other time and I can't today mean not today, but later is possible. A rain check means another day, not money.
I'll think about it gives you time. Let me get back to you does too.
By the end of this lesson
Say later or not now without a flat no.
- Maybe some other time.Not today, but another day is possible.
- Let me get back to you.I will answer you later.
- I'll think about it.I need time before I decide.
- Not right now.This is not a good time for me.
- Can I take a rain check?Can we do this another day?
- I can't today.Today is not possible, but I am not saying never.
Scene — he wants her to wait
Afternoon at the Blue Plate. Danny is in from the food truck, dish towel on his shoulder. Ana is at the counter with her tote bag.
Murray sits on two stools with pie on the way and a coffee he has not finished. The jukebox by the door stays quiet.
Learn — later and not now
Six short lines help you say later or not now.
They mean not today, or not this moment. Another time can still work.
Maybe some other time.
Not today, but another day is possible.
When to use it: Say this when today does not work, but later might.
Learn this as one piece that does not mean never.
Say it: The th in other sounds like the th in the.
Let me get back to you.
I will answer you later.
When to use it: Say this when you need time before you answer.
Get back to you means you will answer later, not walk back.
Say it: To can sound like tuh before you.
I'll think about it.
I need time before I decide.
When to use it: Say this when you are not ready to decide.
I'll is I will, so learn I'll as one piece.
Say it: I'll is one short piece, shorter than "I will."
Not right now.
This is not a good time for me.
When to use it: Say this when this moment does not work for you.
Right now means at this moment. It does not say what happens later.
Can I take a rain check?
Can we do this another day?
When to use it: Ask this to move a shared plan to another day.
A rain check means another day, not money.
Say it: Stress rain, then check.
I can't today.
Today is not possible, but I am not saying never.
When to use it: Say this when today does not work, but you are not saying never.
Can't is cannot, so learn can't as one piece.
Say it: The final t in can't may be light. Listen for the difference between can't and can.
Story — any day now
Watch Ana at the counter. Danny wants her to wait for B7.
The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.
- Danny leans on the counter. The dish towel is still on his shoulder.
DannyDo you want to come with me?Would you like to come too?
AnaMaybe some other time.Not today, but another day is possible.- He looks at the jukebox. It does not play.
- DannyWell, wait till B7 plays. Any day now.He wants her to stay until the jukebox plays.
- AnaNot right now.This is not a good time for her.
- DannySo, pie after the truck, then?He offers pie after he closes the truck.
- AnaI'll think about the pie, the wait, B7.She starts a long list instead of a short answer.
DeeJust say, "I'll think about it," hon.She wants a short line, not a long list.- AnaI'll think about it.I need time before I decide.
- DannyCan you tell me later?He wants an answer after some time.
- AnaLet me get back to you.I will answer you later.
- DannyPie's on me today.He will pay for pie today.
- AnaCan I take a rain check? I need a check?She asks for another day, then talks about money.
- DeeAnother day, sweetie. Not money.A rain check is another day, not the bill.
- AnaI can't today.Today is not possible, but I am not saying never.
- Murray is still on two stools. He has not stood up.
MurrayIs it almost ready?He asks if the pie will be ready soon.- DeeThe pie is coming, hon.She tells him the pie will be here soon.
Practice — not today
Ten quick exercises wait here. You will listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.
They stay short, so the round moves fast.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
English
Maybe some other time.Drop the Simple English hereLet me get back to you.Drop the Simple English hereI'll think about it.Drop the Simple English hereNot right now.Drop the Simple English hereSimple English
What do you say?
What do you say?
A coworker asks if Friday works for a meeting. You do not know yet. You will tell them later.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
Can I take a rain check?
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
This is not a good time for me.
Not right ____.
Build the line
Build the line
I need time before I decide.
.
Tap the words in order.
Pick the reply
Danny says:
Pick the reply
Want to wait here till B7 plays?
He wants you to stay until the jukebox plays.
And you reply with:
Swap the word
Swap the word
A friend asks you to come by today. Today does not work.
I can't ____.
Which one doesn’t belong?
Which one doesn’t belong?
True or false?
True or false?
This line asks to move a plan to another day.
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Say it — say it back
Now you're Ana at the counter. Danny is asking you to wait. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.
Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.
- DannyDo you want to come with me?Would you like to come too?
- Ana (you)Not today. Another day can still work.
Not today. Another day can still work.
Maybe some other time.
Not today, but another day is possible.
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| English | Simple English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| Maybe some other time. | Not today, but another day is possible. | |
| Let me get back to you. | I will answer you later. | |
| I'll think about it. | I need time before I decide. | |
| Not right now. | This is not a good time for me. | |
| Can I take a rain check? | Can we do this another day? | |
| I can't today. | Today is not possible, but I am not saying never. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
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A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps later and not now ready.
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