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Lesson 217 of 240

New here? This is lesson 217 of a free 240-lesson English course.

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Steer the conversation in English

Murray starts on the weather, then pie, then the jukebox. Dee is waiting with the punch card.

Ana has to take the lead and bring them back to the point.

By the end, you'll steer a talk: start the next part, add one last point, and pull people back when they wander.

These lines work in a meeting, a class, or a long diner chat.

By the end of this lesson

Take the lead and steer a conversation back on track.

  • Let's move on to ___.The next thing we should talk about is ___.
  • One more thing about ___.I have one last point on ___.
  • Can we get back to the point?Please return to the main idea.
  • That leads me to the next part.This idea brings me to what comes after.
  • We're getting a little off track.We have left the main topic.
  • Coming back to what we were saying.Let's return to our earlier topic.

Scene — the punch card waits

Late morning at the Blue Plate. Dee stands at the counter with Ana's punch card and a pencil.

Murray is on two stools with an unfinished coffee. He starts on the weather, then pie, then the quiet jukebox.

Ana needs to bring them back to the punch card before Dee walks off.

Dee holds Ana’s punch card at the counter while Murray looks toward the window with his coffee unfinished.

Learn — lead and come back

Six lines help you lead a talk and bring it back when it wanders.

You'll start the next part, add one last point, and return to the main idea.

  1. Murray turns from his unfinished coffee to look out the window as the weather becomes the topic.

    Let's move on to ___.

    The next thing we should talk about is ___.

    When to use it: Say this when you want the group to start the next topic.

    Fill the blank with the next topic, and learn Let's move on to as one piece.

    Say it: To before the topic can sound like tuh.

  2. Murray gestures toward the pie while his coffee remains unfinished in the foreground.

    One more thing about ___.

    I have one last point on ___.

    When to use it: Use this to add one last point before you leave a topic.

    Fill the blank with the topic, and learn One more thing about as one piece.

  3. Ana opens both palms toward the punch card to bring Dee back to the main topic.

    Can we get back to the point?

    Please return to the main idea.

    When to use it: Ask this when the talk has left the main idea.

    Can we get back is a polite way to pull the talk in.

  4. Dee pauses with the pencil hovering above Ana’s punch card.

    That leads me to the next part.

    This idea brings me to what comes after.

    When to use it: Use this to connect one idea to what comes next.

    That points to the last idea, then you name the next part.

    Say it: Stress is on next.

  5. Ana raises a hand to redirect the conversation as Murray turns toward the quiet jukebox and Dee waits at the counter.

    We're getting a little off track.

    We have left the main topic.

    When to use it: Say this when the talk has left the main topic.

    We're is we are said as one piece.

    Say it: We're is one syllable.

  6. Dee has made a hole in Ana’s punch card while Ana looks on and Murray’s coffee remains unfinished nearby.

    Coming back to what we were saying.

    Let's return to our earlier topic.

    When to use it: Use this to return to an earlier topic after a side talk.

    Coming back is the -ing form used to start a return.

    Say it: Coming has stress on the first part.

Story — murray wanders

Watch Ana take the lead at the counter. Murray keeps leaving the punch card behind.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Dee holds Ana's punch card. Murray looks at the window, not the card.
  2. DeeHon, the punch card needs one more punch. Let me punch it before I forget.She still needs to make another hole in the card.
  3. MurrayWhat's the forecast? That sky looks like rain to me.What does the weather report say?
  4. DeeRain later, hon.She says rain is coming later.
  5. AnaWe're getting a little off track.We have left the main topic.
  6. MurrayIn rain I always want cherry pie, you know.He wants pie because of the rain.
  7. DeePie can wait, hon. I'm standing here with this card.She wants to finish the punch card first.
  8. AnaCan we get back to the point?Please return to the main idea.
  9. MurrayIs it almost ready?He asks if the pie is almost ready.
  10. DeeThe pie is always ready, hon. That's not the point.She says pie is not the main idea.
  11. The jukebox by the door clicks over and plays nothing.
  12. MurrayThere it goes again. That empty slot. I was thinking about that.The jukebox clicked, but it played no song.
  13. AnaComing back to what we were saying.Let's return to our earlier topic.
  14. DeeWe were on the card, sweetie. Not the weather, not pie, not that box.She names the punch card as the real topic.
  15. MurrayOne more thing about the pie. Is the cherry still warm?I have one last point on the pie.
  16. DeeStill warm, hon. Go ahead, Ana.She says the pie is warm and invites Ana to speak.
  17. AnaLet's move on to the punch card.The next thing we should talk about is the punch card.
  18. DeeI'm ready, hon. I've got the pencil right here.She is waiting to make the hole.
  19. AnaCan you punch my card?Please make a hole in my card for this visit.
  20. DeeThere. That's today's punch, hon.She made the hole for this visit.
  21. AnaThat leads me to the next part. Is the coffee free now?This idea brings me to what comes after.
  22. DeeRefills are free, hon.You do not pay again when she fills the cup.
  23. MurrayWell, I never finish my coffee anyway.His cup is still not empty.

Practice — stay on the point

Eleven short tasks wait here. You'll listen, pick, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay short, so you can try each move without a long wait.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    Let's move on to ___.Drop the Simple English here
    One more thing about ___.Drop the Simple English here
    That leads me to the next part.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?

    The weather talk is finished. Do not name a problem. Start the next topic: the punch card.

  4. What does it mean?

    We're getting a little off track.

  5. Fill the gap

    This idea brings me to what comes after.

    That ____ me to the next part.

  6. Build the line

    Let's return to our earlier topic.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Pick the reply

    Dee says:

    Alright, the weather can wait. Anything else on the card?

    She asks if you have one last point on the punch card.

    And you reply with:

  8. Swap the word

    Murray has left the punch card and started talking about pie.

    We're getting a little off ____.

  9. True or false?

    This line starts a brand-new topic.

  10. What do you say?

    Dee has the pencil and your card. Ask her to make today's hole.

  11. Which one doesn’t belong?

Say it — take the lead

Now you're Ana at the counter. Dee is waiting on the punch card, and Murray keeps wandering.

When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. DeeHon, I still need to punch this card.She is waiting to make the hole.
  2. MurrayThat sky looks like rain to me.He thinks rain is coming.
  3. Ana (you)Murray has started on the weather. Name the problem.

    We're getting a little off track.

    We have left the main topic.

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
Let's move on to ___.The next thing we should talk about is ___.
One more thing about ___.I have one last point on ___.
Can we get back to the point?Please return to the main idea.
That leads me to the next part.This idea brings me to what comes after.
We're getting a little off track.We have left the main topic.
Coming back to what we were saying.Let's return to our earlier topic.
Next: lesson 218Link a story

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

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

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps these moves ready for a long talk.

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