Welcome to Lesson 48! This lesson gives you short, useful lines for fixing problems in everyday conversations. Try listening, repeating, and using these phrases when something goes wrong in a call or chat — quick and friendly.
Level A2: In this lesson (48) you'll learn practical repair phrases — say you missed something, ask someone to speak louder, check a word, and invite correction. These neutral, high-frequency lines help you keep conversations moving when audio, meaning, or attention breaks down. This lesson is CEFR-aligned and focused on real spoken repairs.
After this lesson you'll be able to:
Recognize and use common repair phrases at A2 level.
Ask someone to repeat, speak louder, or explain a word.
Politely tell your partner you didn't understand or lost connection.
Ready? Let's go!
When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.
1. Reading + Listening Practice
Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.
That's not what I meant.
Clarify that the listener has misunderstood the speaker's intention.
Meaning: Clarify that the listener has misunderstood your intention.
When to use: Use this when someone thinks you meant something else and you want to correct them briefly.
Tip: Don't sound angry; use a calm tone to keep the conversation friendly.
That's not what I meant.
I said I liked the idea, not that I would do it myself. That's not what I meant.
That's not what I meant.
If you think I asked for money, no — that's not what I meant.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Invite correction when unsure about accuracy.
Meaning: Invite correction when you are unsure and want help.
When to use: Use this to show you welcome feedback about a word, fact, or idea.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but the meeting starts at 3 PM, right?
Please correct me if I'm wrong.
I'm not sure about the date — please correct me if I'm wrong.
Can you speak up a little?
Ask the other person to speak louder when hearing is difficult.
Meaning: Ask the other person to speak louder.
When to use: Use this when the speaker is too quiet or you are far away.
Can you speak up a little?
Can you speak up a little? I can't hear you at the back of the room.
Can you speak up a little?
On the phone: 'Can you speak up a little? Your voice is low.'
I can't hear you well.
Signal that hearing is not clear.
Meaning: Tell someone you cannot hear them clearly.
When to use: Use this for phone, video, or noisy places when audio is unclear.
I can't hear you well.
I can't hear you well—could you repeat the last part?
I can't hear you well.
Sorry, I can't hear you well because of the wind noise.
The connection is bad.
Explain that technical audio or video problems are causing misunderstanding.
Meaning: Explain that technical problems are causing misunderstanding.
When to use: Use this when internet or phone quality is the issue.
The connection is bad.
The connection is bad—your audio keeps cutting out.
The connection is bad.
If the video freezes, tell them: 'The connection is bad.'
I missed the last part.
Say that only the end of the message was missed.
Meaning: Say you missed the end of what someone said.
When to use: Use this when you heard most of the message but missed the last part.
I missed the last part.
I missed the last part—could you say it again more slowly?
I missed the last part.
During the lecture: 'I missed the last part. What did the professor say?'
What was the last word?
Ask for clarification of a single unclear word.
Meaning: Ask for a single unclear word to be repeated.
When to use: Use this when you understood most of a sentence but one word was unclear.
What was the last word?
I heard the sentence but — what was the last word?
What was the last word?
If someone says a name quietly, ask: 'What was the last word?'
What do you mean by ___?
Ask for the intended meaning of a word or phrase in context.
Meaning: Ask the speaker to explain the meaning of a word or phrase in context.
When to use: Use this when a word or phrase is unclear in the situation, not for dictionary definitions.
What do you mean by ___?
What do you mean by 'on hold'? Do you mean later or paused?
What do you mean by ___?
When they say 'flexible schedule' ask: 'What do you mean by flexible?'
I'm confused about ___.
Identify the specific topic or part that is causing confusion.
Meaning: Tell the other person what you are confused about.
When to use: Use this to point out the specific part you don't understand so they can explain.
I'm confused about ___.
I'm confused about the deadline — is it Friday or Monday?
I'm confused about ___.
I'm confused about the second step. Can you show it again?
Is this the right word?
Check if the learner has chosen the correct word.
Meaning: Check if the word you used is correct.
When to use: Use this when you want confirmation about a single word choice.
Is this the right word?
Is this the right word — 'repair' or should I say 'fix'?
Is this the right word?
When unsure about a technical term ask: 'Is this the right word?'
Which one do you mean?
Ask for clarification about a specific person or thing being referred to.
Meaning: Ask which person or thing the speaker means.
When to use: Use this when a reference is unclear (which one?).
Which one do you mean?
You mentioned the plans — which one do you mean, plan A or plan B?
Which one do you mean?
If someone says 'the red bag' and there are two, ask: 'Which one do you mean?'
Sorry, I lost you for a moment.
Signal a temporary breakdown in hearing or understanding and invite the speaker to continue or restate.
Meaning: Tell someone you briefly lost them and invite repetition.
When to use: Use this after a short break in hearing or attention and ask them to continue.
Sorry, I lost you for a moment.
Sorry, I lost you for a moment—could you repeat the last sentence?
Sorry, I lost you for a moment.
If you look away and miss a name, say: 'Sorry, I lost you for a moment.'
2. Conversational Listening Practice
Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.
Anna and David are on a short video call. David's audio keeps cutting out.
What was the main communication problem in the conversation?
Anna
I can't hear you well.
I can't hear you well.
David
The connection is bad.
The connection is bad.
Anna
Can you speak up a little?
Can you speak up a little?
David
Sorry, I lost you for a moment.
Sorry, I lost you for a moment.
Anna
I missed the last part. What was the last word?
I missed the last part. What was the last word?
David
That's not what I meant. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
That's not what I meant. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
3. Guided Practice
Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.
Which phrase do you use to ask someone to speak louder?
Which phrase invites someone to point out your mistake?
Which phrase reports that you missed only the end of a message?
Which phrase asks for clarification about which thing or person someone means?
On the video call Anna said, 'I can't hear you well.' when she couldn't hear David clearly.
On the video call Anna said, '___' when she couldn't hear David clearly.
After a brief silence David apologized: 'Sorry, I lost you for a moment.' and Anna repeated what she said.
After a brief silence David apologized: '___' and Anna repeated what she said.
When a speaker says a name quietly you can ask: 'What was the last word?' to hear that single word again.
When a speaker says a name quietly you can ask: '___' to hear that single word again.
Match the core phrases
Match the extra phrases
4. Speaking Practice
Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).
Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.
Say this phrase out loud:
That's not what I meant.
Clarify that the listener misunderstood your intention.
Say this phrase out loud:
Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Invite correction when unsure about accuracy.
Say this phrase out loud:
Can you speak up a little?
Ask the other person to speak louder.
Say this phrase out loud:
I can't hear you well.
Signal that hearing is not clear.
Say this phrase out loud:
The connection is bad.
Explain that technical problems are causing misunderstanding.
Say this phrase out loud:
I missed the last part.
Say that only the end of the message was missed.
Say this phrase out loud:
What was the last word?
Ask for clarification of a single unclear word.
Say this phrase out loud:
What do you mean by ___?
Ask for the intended meaning of a word or phrase in context.
Say this phrase out loud:
I'm confused about ___.
Identify the specific topic that is causing confusion.
Say this phrase out loud:
Is this the right word?
Check if the learner has chosen the correct word.
Say this phrase out loud:
Which one do you mean?
Ask for clarification about a specific person or thing.
Say this phrase out loud:
Sorry, I lost you for a moment.
Signal a brief breakdown in hearing and invite repetition.
