English - Conversation Repair

Sorry, can you repeat that?

Ask someone to repeat information

Meaning: Ask someone to repeat information.

When to use: Use this when you did not hear or missed part of what someone said.

I didn't catch that.

Say that you did not hear or understand a detail

Meaning: Say that you did not hear or understand a detail.

When to use: Use this informal phrase when audio or speech was unclear.

Tip: Learners sometimes say "I don't catch that" instead of the past form "I didn't catch that."

Can you write it down, please?

Ask someone to write information

Meaning: Ask someone to write information.

When to use: Use when names, numbers, or addresses are hard to hear or remember.

I'm not sure I understand.

Say that understanding is uncertain

Meaning: Say that understanding is uncertain.

When to use: Use when you're unclear about the meaning and want clarification.

Can you explain it more simply?

Ask for a simpler explanation

Meaning: Ask for a simpler explanation.

When to use: Use when explanations are too complex or use unfamiliar vocabulary.

I don't know the word for ___.

Signal a missing word and ask for help

Meaning: Signal a missing word and ask for help.

When to use: Use this frame when you cannot remember a word and need the listener's help.

Can you spell that, please?

Ask for spelling when a word or name is unclear.

Meaning: Ask for spelling when a word or name is unclear.

When to use: Use when you need letter-by-letter help for names, emails, or unfamiliar words.

Can you give me an example?

Ask for an example to make meaning clearer.

Meaning: Ask for an example to make meaning clearer.

When to use: Use when a definition is unclear or abstract and an example would help.

Did I understand correctly?

Check whether one's understanding is correct.

Meaning: Check whether one's understanding is correct.

When to use: Use this to confirm your understanding and avoid mistakes.

Tip: Learners sometimes say "Do I understand correctly?" which sounds less natural than the past form for checking.

I only understood part of that.

Signal partial understanding and invite clarification.

Meaning: Signal partial understanding and invite clarification.

When to use: Use when you understand some but not all of what was said.

Can I say it another way?

Ask permission to reformulate one's message.

Meaning: Ask permission to reformulate one's message.

When to use: Use this when you want to try a different explanation to help the listener understand you.

Let me try again.

Restart after a communication problem.

Meaning: Restart after a communication problem.

When to use: Use when you want to correct yourself or restart an explanation.

Not ___, but ___.

Replace an incorrect item with the correct one.

Meaning: Replace an incorrect item with the correct one.

When to use: Use this short frame to give the correct word, number, or choice after a mistake.

Tip: Beginners sometimes reverse the order, saying the correct item first ("But four, not three"), which can confuse listeners.