English course

Lesson 190 of 240

New here? This is lesson 190 of a free 240-lesson English course.

Change the subject in English

Danny brings up the quiet jukebox again at the Blue Plate. Dee will not talk about it. She moves the talk to pie.

You will learn ways to start a new topic. Some are soft. Some ask first. One stops the old topic.

By the way and That reminds me add a small new point. Let's change the subject stops the old one.

By the end of this lesson

Start a new topic, or stop an old one, in a talk.

  • By the way, ___.This is a small new topic I want to add.
  • That reminds me, ___.What we just said made me think of this.
  • Let's change the subject.Let's stop this topic and start a new one.
  • Can I bring up something else?May I start a different point?
  • Before I forget, I need to tell you.I want to say this now, while I still remember.
  • There's something else I wanted to mention.I have one more point to add.

Scene — pie, not the jukebox

Same afternoon at the Blue Plate. Danny is at the counter with a dish towel. Dee holds the coffee pot and looks at the pie case.

Murray sits on two stools. His black coffee is still full. The jukebox by the door stays quiet. Ana sits with a small smile.

Danny leans at the counter while Dee stands by the pie case and Murray sits on two stools beside his full coffee.

Learn — a new topic

Six lines help you start a new topic. Some add a small point. One stops the old talk.

You'll hear a polite ask and a line for something you almost forgot.

  1. Ana lifts one hand as she leans toward the counter to introduce a small new topic.

    By the way, ___.

    This is a small new topic I want to add.

    When to use it: Use this to add a small new topic in a talk.

    By the way is one piece, then you add your new point.

    Say it: By, the, and way often link.

  2. Dee turns from the pie case with the coffee pot as she shifts attention to the nearly gone pie.

    That reminds me, ___.

    What we just said made me think of this.

    When to use it: Use this when the last words make you think of a new point.

    That reminds me is one piece, then you add the new point.

    Say it: The stress is on the second part of reminds.

  3. Danny leans over the counter with one palm open as he finishes his point about the jukebox click.

    Let's change the subject.

    Let's stop this topic and start a new one.

    When to use it: Use this when you want to stop the old topic now.

    Let's is a short form of Let us, learned as one piece.

    Say it: The stress is on change and subject.

  4. Past Ana, Murray lifts a hand toward the pie case while his black coffee remains full.

    Can I bring up something else?

    May I start a different point?

    When to use it: Ask this when you want a new point and you want to be polite.

    Bring up means start a new point in a talk.

    Say it: Bring and up can link.

  5. Dee lowers the coffee pot and raises one finger as she prepares to add her point about the peach pie.

    Before I forget, I need to tell you.

    I want to say this now, while I still remember.

    When to use it: Use this when you must say a point before you forget it.

    Before I forget is one piece at the start.

    Say it: The stress is on get in forget.

  6. Ana opens both hands as she asks to add one more idea to the conversation.

    There's something else I wanted to mention.

    I have one more point to add.

    When to use it: Say this when you still have one more point.

    Wanted is the past tense of want here.

    Say it: The -ed ending in wanted is its own beat.

Story — she lets it go

Watch Danny bring up the quiet jukebox. Dee will not stay on that talk.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Afternoon light hits the counter. Danny leans in with a dish towel. The jukebox by the door stays quiet.
  2. DannySo, that empty slot clicked again this morning.He is talking about the quiet jukebox again.
  3. DeeLet's change the subject.Let's stop this topic and start a new one.
  4. DannyI mean, it clicked. That's all.He finishes his point about the click.
  5. DeeLet's come back to this later. By the way, nobody's opening that jukebox. The cherry pie is almost gone.She will return to the old topic later, says nobody will open it, and points out that the pie is almost gone.
  6. She turns to the pie case. Murray's coffee sits unfinished.
  7. MurrayWell, the cherry still looks good.He says the cherry pie still looks fine.
  8. AnaCan I bring up something else?May I start a different point?
  9. DeeGo ahead, hon.She tells Ana she can speak.
  10. AnaBefore I forget, I need to tell you.I want to say this now, while I still remember.
  11. DannyYeah?He wants to hear the next words.
  12. AnaTasha wants a slice if there's one left.Tasha hopes there is still a piece of pie.
  13. DannyThat reminds me, I promised her one last week.The last words made him think of a promise to Tasha.
  14. DeeThere's something else I wanted to mention.I have one more point to add.
  15. AnaWhat is it?She asks Dee to say the point.
  16. DeeThe peach pie is the one today.She says the peach pie is the better choice today.
  17. AnaCan I add something?May I say one more idea.
  18. DeeWhat, hon?She asks Ana to say the extra point.
  19. Ana smiles and lets the jukebox talk go.
  20. AnaI'll tell Tasha. Peach is fine.Ana will tell Tasha, and she is fine with peach pie.

Practice — start or stop

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

They stay small, so you can move through them fast.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

    What did you hear?

  2. What does it mean?

    What does it mean?

    Can I bring up something else?

  3. What do you say?

    What do you say?

    You want to add a small extra point. Do not stop the talk or put it off.

  4. Fill the gap

    Fill the gap

    I want to say this now, while I still remember.

    Before I ____, I need to tell you.

  5. Build the line

    Build the line

    I have one more point to add.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  6. Pick the reply

    Dee says:

    Pick the reply

    Hold on, hon. I'm not done telling you about the pie.

    She is still talking, so you ask first.

    And you reply with:

  7. Match the pairs

    English

    That reminds me, ___.Drop the Simple English here
    Let's change the subject.Drop the Simple English here
    Can I bring up something else?Drop the Simple English here
    Before I forget, I need to tell you.Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

  8. Swap the word

    Swap the word

    Danny keeps talking about the quiet jukebox. You want a new topic now.

    Let's ____ the subject.

  9. True or false?

    True or false?

    This line is a friendly hello at the door.

  10. What do you say?

    What do you say?

    You still want this topic, but not right now. You will talk about it another time.

Say it — say it back

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. DannyThat empty slot clicked again this morning.He is talking about the quiet jukebox again.
  2. Ana (you)Stop this topic and start a new one.

    Stop this topic and start a new one.

    Let's change the subject.

    Let's stop this topic and start a new one.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

Every line from this lesson
EnglishSimple EnglishPlay
By the way, ___.This is a small new topic I want to add.
That reminds me, ___.What we just said made me think of this.
Let's change the subject.Let's stop this topic and start a new one.
Can I bring up something else?May I start a different point?
Before I forget, I need to tell you.I want to say this now, while I still remember.
There's something else I wanted to mention.I have one more point to add.
Next: lesson 191Linking what you say

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