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Lesson 188 of 240

New here? This is lesson 188 of a free 240-lesson English course.

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What's unclear in English

Ana is at the studio with Marcus. One part of the library drawings is not clear, and she needs to say so.

Marcus will ask which part is the problem. He will also check if his answer helped.

By the end, you can name the unclear part. You can ask for another way, and you can check if that helped.

By the end of this lesson

Ask which part is unclear, and check if the answer helped.

  • What part is not clear?Which piece of this don't you understand?
  • Is there anything you are not sure about?Is any of this still confusing?
  • Does that answer your question?Was that what you needed to know?
  • Can I explain it another way?Would a different explanation help?
  • Let's go through it from the start.Let's explain it again from the beginning.
  • Does that help at all?Is this explanation useful now?

Scene — one sheet

Same weekday at the architecture studio downtown. Ana and Marcus stand at a long desk with rolled drawings of the small library.

Ana points at one sheet. Marcus waits with the coffee he brought from the diner. The whiteboard behind them is blank.

Ana points to a library drawing while Marcus waits with coffee at the long desk.

Learn — the unclear part

Six lines help you find the unclear part. You also check if the answer helped.

Marcus will offer another way if you still need it.

  1. Ana pauses over one part of the drawing and turns to Marcus to check what is unclear.

    What part is not clear?

    Which piece of this don't you understand?

    When to use it: Ask this when someone is confused about only one piece.

    Part means one piece of a plan, a drawing, or an idea.

  2. Ana opens her palms toward Marcus to check whether anything in the explanation remains confusing.

    Is there anything you are not sure about?

    Is any of this still confusing?

    When to use it: Ask this after you explain, to find leftover doubts.

    Not sure about means you still have a doubt.

    Say it: Sure starts with a sh sound.

  3. Ana holds the lighting drawing outward after Marcus explains it, waiting to see whether it answers her question.

    Does that answer your question?

    Was that what you needed to know?

    When to use it: Ask this after you explain, to check if you covered their question.

    That points to the words you just said.

    Say it: The stress is on the first part of answer.

  4. Ana gestures for another way to explain the plan while Marcus listens with his coffee.

    Can I explain it another way?

    Would a different explanation help?

    When to use it: Offer this when the first explanation did not help.

    Another way means a different explanation of the same thing.

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

  5. Marcus slides the floor plan beside the lighting sheet as he starts the explanation again from the beginning.

    Let's go through it from the start.

    Let's explain it again from the beginning.

    When to use it: Say this when you both need to begin again.

    Go through it means explain each step in order.

    Say it: Through starts with a soft th sound.

  6. Ana leans across the desk and looks to Marcus as he checks whether the repeated explanation is useful.

    Does that help at all?

    Is this explanation useful now?

    When to use it: Ask this after a new explanation, even if you are not sure it worked.

    At all makes the question softer, so a small yes is enough.

    Say it: At all can sound like one short group.

Story — the lighting note

Watch Ana and Marcus at the studio drawings. One part is not clear, and he will find it with her.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Rolled drawings cover the long desk. Marcus asks why the work is stuck. Ana taps one sheet.
  2. AnaHere's why: the drawings aren't clear.The reason is the pictures of the plan are hard to read.
  3. MarcusWhat part is not clear?Which piece of this don't you understand?
  4. AnaThe lighting notes on this sheet. I don't understand.She names the lights, then says the words are not clear to her.
  5. Marcus sets his coffee down and looks at the lighting note.
  6. MarcusIs there anything you are not sure about?Is any of this still confusing?
  7. AnaJust that sheet, I think. The floor plan looks fine.Only the lighting sheet is the problem.
  8. MarcusThe ceiling plan shows where the lights go. We can't mark their exact places until the client chooses them.The ceiling plan shows the light places, but exact spots wait until the client picks them.
  9. MarcusDoes that answer your question?Was that what you needed to know?
  10. AnaNot really. I still can't see how the lights fit.His first answer did not fix the problem.
  11. MarcusCan I explain it another way?Would a different explanation help?
  12. AnaYes, please. Slow is fine.She wants a different explanation.
  13. MarcusLet's go through it from the start.Let's explain it again from the beginning.
  14. He slides the floor plan next to the lighting sheet.
  15. MarcusSo, the ceiling plan shows the lights. We mark the spots after the client chooses them.The ceiling plan shows the lights. Exact spots come after the client picks.
  16. MarcusDoes that make sense?Do you understand what I said?
  17. AnaI think so. The ceiling plan shows where they go. Then the client chooses.She repeats the two steps in her own words.
  18. MarcusDoes that help at all?Is this explanation useful now?
  19. AnaYes. That helps. Thanks.The new explanation was useful.

Practice — which part, and did it help

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 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    What part is not clear?Drop the Simple English here
    Is there anything you are not sure about?Drop the Simple English here
    Does that answer your question?Drop the Simple English here
    Can I explain it another way?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 just explained the lighting note to Ana. Check if that was what she needed to know.

  4. What does it mean?

    Is there anything you are not sure about?

  5. Fill the gap

    Would a different explanation help?

    Can I explain it ____ way?

  6. Build the line

    Let's explain it again from the beginning.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. What do you say?

    You tried a second explanation of the lighting. You are not sure it worked. Check if it helped even a little.

  8. Pick the reply

    Marcus says:

    I'm having trouble understanding the lighting note.

    Marcus says the lighting note is confusing to him.

    And you reply with:

  9. True or false?

    You say this to check if someone understood you.

  10. Swap the word

    Marcus asks why the work is stuck. Tell him the pictures of the plan are hard to read.

    Here's why: the drawings aren't ____.

  11. What did you hear?

Say it — check it with him

Now you're Ana at the studio desk. 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. MarcusI'm not sure about the lighting note. I understand the plan, but not when we mark the lights.He knows where the lights go, but not when to mark them.
  2. Ana (you)Ask which piece is confusing for him.

    What part is not clear?

    Which piece of this don't you understand?

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
What part is not clear?Which piece of this don't you understand?
Is there anything you are not sure about?Is any of this still confusing?
Does that answer your question?Was that what you needed to know?
Can I explain it another way?Would a different explanation help?
Let's go through it from the start.Let's explain it again from the beginning.
Does that help at all?Is this explanation useful now?
Next: lesson 189Thinking out loud

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