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Lesson 189 of 240

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Thinking out loud in English

Murray starts to tell Ana about the weather, then the words stop. He needs a pause.

Dee refills his coffee and does not wait. She has other cups to fill.

You will learn six lines for thinking out loud. Use them when you need a second, when you say the idea again, or when you lose your place.

Let me think buys a short pause. Where was I brings you back to your point.

By the end of this lesson

Use short lines to pause, say an idea again, and get back to your point.

  • Let me think.I need a short pause to find the words.
  • How can I say this?I'm looking for the right words.
  • I mean, ___.I'm saying the same idea in other words.
  • The thing is, ___.Here is the main point.
  • That's a good question.You asked something I need a second to answer.
  • Where was I?I lost my place; I'm going back to my point.

Scene — he loses the thread

Ana sits at the counter after a cold walk from the L. Murray has two eggs and a coffee he has not finished.

Dee stands with the pot, ready to pour. The jukebox by the door stays quiet.

Ana asks about the weather. Murray starts to answer, then the words fall away.

Ana sits at the counter after a cold walk while Murray has eggs and unfinished coffee and Dee holds the pot.

Learn — thinking out loud

Six lines help you think out loud. You buy a pause, try the idea again, and find your place.

These are everyday lines people say at the counter when the words are slow.

  1. Murray pauses with his fork above his eggs as he gathers his words.

    Let me think.

    I need a short pause to find the words.

    When to use it: Say this when you need a short pause before you speak.

    Let me think is one piece that buys you a short pause.

    Say it: Let and me can sound short and close together.

  2. Murray turns toward Ana and searches for the right words.

    How can I say this?

    I'm looking for the right words.

    When to use it: Say this when you have the idea but not the words yet.

    You say this out loud while you look for the words.

    Say it: Unstressed can sounds short, not like can't.

  3. Murray leans toward Ana and puts his idea another way.

    I mean, ___.

    I'm saying the same idea in other words.

    When to use it: Use this when you say the same idea in clearer words.

    I mean is one piece, and then you add the clearer words.

  4. Murray taps the counter beside his eggs as he reaches the main point.

    The thing is, ___.

    Here is the main point.

    When to use it: Use this when you name the main point after a short pause.

    The thing is is one piece, and then you add the main point.

  5. Murray holds his coffee halfway up while taking a beat on Ana's question.

    That's a good question.

    You asked something I need a second to answer.

    When to use it: Say this when a question needs a second before you answer.

    That's is one piece that buys you a second before you answer.

    Say it: That's and a can link.

  6. Murray looks down at his plate, then turns back toward Ana to recover his place as Dee redirects him.

    Where was I?

    I lost my place; I'm going back to my point.

    When to use it: Say this when you lost your place and you go back to your point.

    Was is the past tense of is, and you use it when you lost your place.

Story — the weather can wait

Watch Murray try to answer Ana about the weather. The words stop, and Dee will not wait.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Steam sits on the window. Murray's coffee is still full.
  2. AnaWhat's it like out?Ask about today's weather
  3. MurrayLet me think.I need a short pause to find the words.
  4. DeeMore coffee, hon.She pours more coffee without asking.
  5. MurrayHow can I say this?I'm looking for the right words.
  6. AnaTake your time.You can go slowly. There is no rush.
  7. MurrayI mean, it's not just the cold.He says the same idea in other words: not only the cold.
  8. DeeI got other tables, hon.She will not wait through a long pause.
  9. MurrayThe thing is, the wind is worse.The main point is that the wind feels worse.
  10. AnaIs it going to snow later?She asks if snow is coming later.
  11. MurrayThat's a good question.You asked something I need a second to answer.
  12. The jukebox clicks over to the empty slot. Nothing plays. Murray looks at it.
  13. DeeStay with the weather, hon.She tells him to go back to the weather.
  14. MurraySo, the first time the wind hit.He starts an old story and does not finish it.
  15. AnaMurray?She checks that he is still with her.
  16. MurrayWhere was I?I lost my place; I'm going back to my point.
  17. DeeThe weather, sweetie.She names the topic he lost.
  18. MurrayRight. Windy. Cold. Not a nice day.He finally answers: wind and cold.

Practice — pause and recover

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 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    Let me think.Drop the Simple English here
    How can I say this?Drop the Simple English here
    That's a good question.Drop the Simple English here
    Where was I?Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

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

  3. What do you say?

    You already said it is cold. Now you say that idea in other words.

  4. What does it mean?

    How can I say this?

  5. Swap the word

    You want to name the main point in the present.

    The thing ____, ___.

  6. Pick the reply

    Dee says:

    What's it like out?

    Ask about today's weather

    And you reply with:

  7. Build the line

    I lost my place; I'm going back to my point.

    ?

    Tap the words in order.

  8. Fill the gap

    You asked something I need a second to answer.

    That's a good ____.

  9. What do you say?

    Murray has stopped in the middle of a sentence. You tell him there is no rush.

  10. True or false?

    This line asks how a person feels.

Say it — find the words

Now you're Ana at the 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. DeeWhat's it like out?Ask about today's weather
  2. Ana (you)You need a second before you answer.

    Let me think.

    I need a short pause to find the words.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
Let me think.I need a short pause to find the words.
How can I say this?I'm looking for the right words.
I mean, ___.I'm saying the same idea in other words.
The thing is, ___.Here is the main point.
That's a good question.You asked something I need a second to answer.
Where was I?I lost my place; I'm going back to my point.
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