English course

Lesson 62 of 240

New here? This is lesson 62 of a free 240-lesson English course.

Start hereHow this works

Say it a different way in English

Dee calls an order over the coffee machine. Ana hears hon and two eggs, but the rest is lost in the noise.

She needs a way to ask Dee to use different words, or speak a little louder.

By the end, you'll ask someone to say it another way, speak up, or confirm what you heard.

You'll also stop a wrong guess, and ask which person or thing they mean.

By the end of this lesson

Ask someone to use different words, talk louder, or confirm what you heard.

  • Can you say that another way?Please use different words.
  • Can you speak up a little?Please talk a bit louder.
  • That's not what I meant.You understood me the wrong way.
  • Which one do you mean?Please say which person or thing.
  • Sorry, I lost you for a moment.I stopped following for a second.
  • Did I get that right?Please confirm that I heard you correctly.

Scene — the coffee machine

The Blue Plate is busy. Dee stands at the coffee machine and calls an order to the kitchen. Ana sits at the counter with Murray.

The machine is loud. Ana hears hon and two eggs. The rest is noise. The jukebox by the door stays quiet.

The busy Blue Plate in the morning, with Dee pausing at the coffee machine while Ana and Murray sit together at the counter.

Learn — say it another way

Six short lines help when you miss a word, or someone hears you the wrong way.

You can ask for different words, a louder voice, or a quick check.

  1. Ana gestures for Dee to use different words, and Dee patiently rephrases the order at the coffee station.

    Can you say that another way?

    Please use different words.

    When to use it: Use this when the words are hard, and you need a simpler line.

    Can you is a polite way to ask. Learn the whole line as one piece.

    Say it: The stress is on another.

  2. Ana cups a hand near her ear and asks Dee to speak a little louder over the noisy coffee machine.

    Can you speak up a little?

    Please talk a bit louder.

    When to use it: Use this when a voice is too quiet to hear.

    Speak up means talk louder, so learn it as one piece.

    Say it: Up takes the stress in speak up.

  3. Ana politely corrects Murray after he mistakes her request for an order of his own food, while Dee watches nearby.

    That's not what I meant.

    You understood me the wrong way.

    When to use it: Say this when they heard your idea the wrong way.

    Meant is the past tense of mean.

    Say it: That's is one short syllable.

  4. Ana indicates two covered plates as Dee has mentioned a ready plate without identifying which one.

    Which one do you mean?

    Please say which person or thing.

    When to use it: Ask this when two people or things are possible.

    Use one for a person or a thing you need named.

  5. The steaming coffee machine dominates the foreground as Ana pauses after losing track of Dee’s interrupted order.

    Sorry, I lost you for a moment.

    I stopped following for a second.

    When to use it: Say this when you missed a few words in the middle.

    Lost you means you stopped following the words, not a person.

    Say it: Lost and you can link.

  6. Ana checks that she heard Murray’s egg order correctly, and Dee confirms it beside the plate.

    Did I get that right?

    Please confirm that I heard you correctly.

    When to use it: Ask this after you repeat what you think you heard.

    Get that right means you check your guess, not a score.

    Say it: Did and I can link.

Story — hon and two eggs

Watch Ana at the counter. The coffee machine is loud, and Dee's words get lost.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Dee leans toward the kitchen. The coffee machine hisses.
  2. DeeTwo eggs, hon, and hold the...She starts an order, then stops.
  3. AnaSorry, I lost you for a moment.I stopped following for a second.
  4. Ana looks under the counter, like a person is missing.
  5. DeeI didn't lose you, hon. Keep your seat.She says Ana is still there, and can stay seated.
  6. AnaI can't hear you. Can you speak up a little?The voice is too quiet, so she asks for a louder voice.
  7. DeeThe usual! Two eggs over easy!She names Murray's regular eggs in a louder voice.
  8. AnaCan you say that another way?Please use different words.
  9. DeeMurray's plate. Eggs, and his black coffee.She says the same order with simpler words.
  10. MurrayWell, she wants my eggs, I think.He thinks Ana is asking for his food.
  11. AnaThat's not what I meant.You understood me the wrong way.
  12. DeeThat one is ready, hon.She says a plate is ready, but she does not name it.
  13. AnaWhich one do you mean?Please say which person or thing.
  14. DeeThe eggs. Murray's.She names Murray's egg plate.
  15. AnaTwo eggs for Murray. Did I get that right?She checks that she heard Murray's egg order correctly.
  16. DeeYou got it, hon.Ana heard the order correctly.

Practice — louder or clearer

Ten quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What does it mean?

    Can you say that another way?

  3. What do you say?

    You want Dee to say those same words one more time.

  4. Fill the gap

    I stopped following for a second.

    Sorry, I ____ you for a moment.

  5. Build the line

    Please say which person or thing.

    ?

    Tap the words in order.

  6. Pick the reply

    Murray says:

    So you want my eggs, then.

    He thinks you are asking for his food.

    And you reply with:

  7. True or false?

    You say this when their voice is too quiet.

  8. Swap the word

    You think you heard two eggs for Murray. Check with Dee.

    Did I get that ____?

  9. Which one doesn’t belong?

  10. Match the pairs

    English

    Can you say that another way?Drop the Simple English here
    Can you speak up a little?Drop the Simple English here
    That's not what I meant.Drop the Simple English here
    Which one do you mean?Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

    Drag a Simple English line onto its English, or tap one and then the other.

Say it — say it back

Now you're Ana at the noisy counter. 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.

  1. DeeTwo eggs, hon, and the...She starts an order, then stops.
  2. Ana (you)You missed the middle of her words. Tell her.

    Sorry, I lost you for a moment.

    I stopped following for a second.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
Can you say that another way?Please use different words.
Can you speak up a little?Please talk a bit louder.
That's not what I meant.You understood me the wrong way.
Which one do you mean?Please say which person or thing.
Sorry, I lost you for a moment.I stopped following for a second.
Did I get that right?Please confirm that I heard you correctly.
Next: lesson 63What the neighborhood is like

Save your progress — it’s free

Keep your place in the course and see which lines you’ve learned.

Want the next lesson in your inbox?

Get the next lesson by email, one a day.

Where should we start?
Join the newsletter

Daily lesson emails are coming soon. Newsletter subscribers get them first.

Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these checks handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps these lines ready at the counter.

Open Yak Cards