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Lesson 191 of 240

New here? This is lesson 191 of a free 240-lesson English course.

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Linking what you say in English

Marcus wants a short meeting at the studio. He has two points, and he wants Ana to hear both of them.

He starts with the plan. Then he ties in the budget, so the two ideas stay together.

You will learn lines that link one point to the next. They help you go back, add a second idea, or name the next step.

Use them in a meeting when you need people to follow you.

By the end of this lesson

Connect two points smoothly, then name the next step.

  • As I was saying, ___.I'm going back to my earlier point.
  • In that case, ___.Then this is what we should do.
  • First of all, ___.This is the first and most important point: ___.
  • At the same time, ___.Also, another thing is true: ___.
  • In fact, ___.To be more exact, the real truth is ___.
  • So that's the next step.The result of all that is this next action.

Scene — two points on the desk

Same weekday at the architecture studio downtown. Marcus has rolled drawings under one arm. Ana sits at a long desk with a notebook.

The whiteboard is blank. Plants sit by the window. He wants a short talk: the plan first, and the budget too.

Marcus arrives at the long desk with rolled drawings while Ana opens her notebook.

Learn — linking what you say

Six short lines help you connect two points in a talk.

You'll go back, add a second idea, and name the next step.

  1. Marcus leans toward the drawings as he returns to his earlier point.

    As I was saying, ___.

    I'm going back to my earlier point.

    When to use it: Use this when you return to a point you started.

    Saying is the -ing form. This phrase helps you return to an earlier point.

    Say it: Stress falls on saying, not on was.

  2. Ana considers the next step while Marcus listens across the desk.

    In that case, ___.

    Then this is what we should do.

    When to use it: Use this after you hear a fact, then name the action.

    In that case points to the result of what you just heard.

  3. Marcus sets the rolled drawings down and raises one finger to mark the first point.

    First of all, ___.

    This is the first and most important point: ___.

    When to use it: Use this to start with your main point.

    First of all names the first point, even if you add more later.

    Say it: Of is weak here, and the stress is on first and all.

  4. Ana opens both hands as she adds the budget concern beside the room plan.

    At the same time, ___.

    Also, another thing is true: ___.

    When to use it: Use this to add a second point that is also true.

    Here it links two ideas, and it does not mean two actions at once.

    Say it: At and the can link.

  5. Marcus unrolls the drawing as Ana studies the precise plan and its limited scope.

    In fact, ___.

    To be more exact, the real truth is ___.

    When to use it: Use this when you make a point more exact.

    In fact adds the real point, often a stronger one.

    Say it: Stress fact, not in.

  6. Ana focuses on the next step, ready to note a short follow-up in her notebook.

    So that's the next step.

    The result of all that is this next action.

    When to use it: Use this when you name the action that follows.

    That's is a contraction, so learn it as one piece.

Story — plan and budget

Watch Marcus tie the plan to the budget. Ana follows each link so she does not lose a point.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Marcus sets the rolled drawings on the long desk. Ana opens her notebook.
  2. MarcusThe floor plan is finished.The drawing of the rooms is complete.
  3. AnaThat's good. So where do we start?She is glad, and she asks for the first point.
  4. MarcusFirst of all, we keep the rooms as drawn.This is the first and most important point: keep the rooms.
  5. AnaOkay. What about the lighting?She accepts the rooms, then asks about the lights.
  6. MarcusAt the same time, we have to watch the budget.Also, another thing is true: they must watch the money.
  7. AnaBoth, I mean the rooms and the money.She checks that both points stay together.
  8. MarcusIn fact, the budget is the tight part.To be more exact, the real truth is the money is tight.
  9. He taps the blank whiteboard, then looks back at Ana.
  10. AnaIn that case, we drop the extra lights?Then this is what they should do: drop extra lights.
  11. MarcusWell, let's not jump yet.He wants to wait before they decide.
  12. AnaRight. You were still on the plan.She sees they left his first point.
  13. MarcusAs I was saying, we lock the floor plan first.I'm going back to my earlier point: lock the plan.
  14. AnaLet's put the budget on the agenda.Let's add money as a topic to discuss.
  15. MarcusSo that's the next step.The result of all that is this next action.
  16. AnaI'll send you a short note after.She will write a short follow-up.

Practice — connect the points

A short set of exercises waits here. You'll 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

    As I was saying, ___.Drop the Simple English here
    First of all, ___.Drop the Simple English here
    At the same time, ___.Drop the Simple English here
    In fact, ___.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 meeting has started. You need to give the most important point first.

  4. What does it mean?

    At the same time, ___.

  5. Fill the gap

    I'm going back to my earlier point.

    As I was ____, ___.

  6. Pick the reply

    Marcus says:

    The extra lights cost too much.

    The extra lights are too expensive.

    And you reply with:

  7. Swap the word

    You need to make the real point more exact. The budget is tight.

    In ____, ___.

  8. Build the line

    The result of all that is this next action.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  9. What do you say?

    You still have time. You want money to be a topic in this meeting.

  10. True or false?

    This line means the lighting work is done.

Say it — say the links

Now you're Ana in the studio meeting. 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. MarcusWhere do we start?He asks for the first point.
  2. Ana (you)Give the first and most important point, about the rooms.

    First of all, ___.

    This is the first and most important point: ___.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
As I was saying, ___.I'm going back to my earlier point.
In that case, ___.Then this is what we should do.
First of all, ___.This is the first and most important point: ___.
At the same time, ___.Also, another thing is true: ___.
In fact, ___.To be more exact, the real truth is ___.
So that's the next step.The result of all that is this next action.
Next: lesson 192Being unsure

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

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A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps these links ready for your next meeting.

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