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Lesson 219 of 240

New here? This is lesson 219 of a free 240-lesson English course.

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Correct yourself in English

Ana sits at the Blue Plate after a long day. She starts a sentence, then stops because the words came out wrong.

Dee waits with the coffee pot. She smiles and gives Ana time to start over.

By the end, you'll know how to stop, fix a line, and say what you actually meant.

Use "I mean" to show that you are correcting or making your words clearer. Then say what you wanted to say.

By the end of this lesson

Stop, start over, and say what you actually meant.

  • Or something like that.I am not using the exact word.
  • Wait, I mean ___.Stop; the right words are ___.
  • Let me start that over.I will say the sentence again from the beginning.
  • I said that wrong.That sentence was a mistake.
  • What I'm trying to say is this.Here is the real meaning.
  • It's more like ___.A closer way to say it is ___.

Scene — she catches the sentence

Late afternoon at the Blue Plate. Ana drops her tote on a stool. Dee is pouring coffee and looks up.

Murray sits on two stools with a slice of pie and a black coffee he has not finished. The jukebox by the door stays quiet.

Ana drops her tote on a stool as Dee pours coffee and Murray sits with pie and unfinished coffee.

Learn — correct yourself

Six lines help you stop and fix a sentence.

You can start over, give the right words, or explain your real meaning.

  1. Ana gives a vague, open-palmed response while Dee pours coffee nearby.

    Or something like that.

    I am not using the exact word.

    When to use it: Say this after a word that is close but not exact.

    Put this after a word that is almost right.

  2. Ana raises an open hand to stop herself and acknowledge her previous sentence was a mistake.

    Wait, I mean ___.

    Stop; the right words are ___.

    When to use it: Say this when you stop and then give the right words.

    I mean is one piece that starts the right words.

    Say it: I mean often sounds short and soft in fast talk.

  3. Ana sweeps both hands across the counter as she starts the sentence again from the beginning.

    Let me start that over.

    I will say the sentence again from the beginning.

    When to use it: Say this when the whole sentence came out wrong.

    Start over means you begin the sentence from the first word.

  4. Ana pauses with one hand flat on the counter after restarting and begins to explain that she is very tired.

    I said that wrong.

    That sentence was a mistake.

    When to use it: Say this right after a sentence that did not come out right.

    Said is the past tense of say, for the line you just finished.

  5. Ana gestures toward her coffee as she clarifies that she needs coffee, while Murray listens.

    What I'm trying to say is this.

    Here is the real meaning.

    When to use it: Say this when you need a clearer way to make your point.

    I'm is one piece, and then you give the real meaning.

  6. Ana holds her thumb and finger slightly apart to indicate a closer way to express what she means as Dee listens.

    It's more like ___.

    A closer way to say it is ___.

    When to use it: Say this when a closer word fits better than the last one.

    It's is one piece, and the closer word comes after like.

Story — dee waits

Watch Ana catch a wrong sentence at the counter. Dee waits with a smile while Ana finds the words she meant.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. The diner is quiet in the late light. Dee sets a cup down.
  2. DeeHow are you, hon?She asks how Ana is, in a warm way.
  3. AnaI'm good, thanks.She says she feels fine and thanks Dee.
  4. Dee waits, smiling, with the coffee pot still in her hand.
  5. AnaI said that wrong.She says her last sentence was a mistake.
  6. DeeTake your time, hon.She tells Ana there is no rush.
  7. AnaLet me start that over.She will say the whole sentence again from the beginning.
  8. AnaWait, I mean I'm beat.She stops, then says she is very tired.
  9. DeeThere it is. I was waiting for that, hon.She was waiting for the sentence Ana meant.
  10. AnaWhat I'm trying to say is this. The studio ran late.She explains that work went long.
  11. MurraySo, you got beat at work?He thinks someone defeated Ana at work.
  12. AnaThat's not what I meant.He understood her words the wrong way.
  13. MurrayWait, did someone beat you?He thinks someone may have hurt Ana.
  14. AnaIt's more like I need coffee.A closer way to say it is she needs coffee.
  15. DeeI know, hon. You're tired.Dee understands that Ana is tired.
  16. AnaA long day, or something like that.The day was long, but she is not using the exact word.
  17. MurrayCoffee makes more sense than a fight.He now understands that Ana wants coffee, not a fight.
  18. DeeYour coffee is right here, hon.She points out that Ana's coffee is ready.

Practice — the words you meant

Eleven quick exercises help you use these lines in the right moments.

You'll listen, choose, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    Or something like that.Drop the Simple English here
    Let me start that over.Drop the Simple English here
    I said that wrong.Drop the Simple English here
    What I'm trying to say is this.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 stop because one word was wrong. Now give the words you meant.

  4. What does it mean?

    Or something like that.

  5. Fill the gap

    I will say the sentence again from the beginning.

    Let me start that ____.

  6. Build the line

    Here is the real meaning.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. What do you say?

    You greet Dee at the counter, then ask about her.

  8. Swap the word

    You already used one word. Now you want to give a closer way to say it.

    It's ____ like ___.

  9. Pick the reply

    Murray says:

    So, you got beat up at work?

    He thinks someone hurt you at work.

    And you reply with:

  10. True or false?

    You say this when you begin the whole sentence again.

  11. What did you hear?

Say it — say it back

Now you're Ana at the counter after a long day. Take your time and say the line that fits each moment.

You can listen first, then record your own voice. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. DeeYou said you were fine, hon.She heard Ana say she felt fine.
  2. Ana (you)Tell her the sentence you just said was a mistake.

    I said that wrong.

    That sentence was a mistake.

0 of 7 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
Or something like that.I am not using the exact word.
Wait, I mean ___.Stop; the right words are ___.
Let me start that over.I will say the sentence again from the beginning.
I said that wrong.That sentence was a mistake.
What I'm trying to say is this.Here is the real meaning.
It's more like ___.A closer way to say it is ___.
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