Say That Again
Lesson Plans
Activities Work Sheets
In any normal conversation between people, there will times when one person will not hear or
understand what the other has said. The probability that this will happen increases greatly when
taking an order in a crowded restaurant or checking in a group of boisterous chattering travelers.
There are several expressions that can be used to ask for a repeat. Look at the expressions below.
Expressions- Repetitions
Excuse me.
Pardon me.
Please say that again.
Can you repeat that please?
I’m sorry.
I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that.
Dialogues- Repetitions
Guest: Could I have more soap in the bathroom?
Staff: I’m sorry; could you repeat that, please?
Guest: I need more soap.
Guest: Which way to the gym?
Staff: Pardon me.
Guest: How do I get to the gym?
Guest: I’d like to schedule a tennis game.
Staff: I’m sorry sir; could you say that again.
Guest: I want to reserve a tennis court.
Of course, there are other things that hinder communication besides not hearing someone.
For example, unknown vocabulary words or idiomatic expressions that the listener does
not understand, or the speaker is just talking way too fast for the listener to comprehend.
Fortunately there are expression that can be used to cover these situation as well. Look at
these examples.
Please speak more slowly.
I’m sorry; I don’t understand that expression.
What does _________ mean ?
Can you give me an example?
I’m sorry, I don’t know what you mean.
Point to Remember
Sometimes it may be helpful if a guest asks for something to be repeated, to rephrase what
was said by using different words. The guest may not understand a particular word’s
meaning or have trouble understanding the pronunciation of a specific word. By
re-phrasing, communication may be facilitated.
Dialogues- Repetitions
Guest: Do you have any Tabasco sauce?
Staff: Tabasco sauce? I’m sorry; I don’t know what that is.
Guest: It’s a hot sauce. It comes in a small bottle. It’s put on pizza and tacos.
Guest: Does this dish have any shrimp in it?
Staff: Excuse me, I didn’t understand that. Could you speak more slowly?
Guest: This dish, is there shrimp in it?
Guest: It’s raining cats and dogs out there.
Staff: Raining cats and dogs? I don’t understand that expression.
Guest: That expression just means that it is raining a lot.
Staff: Aah, I see.
Conversation Activity- Repetitions
Practice using the above expressions by having a dialogue similar to the ones above with
a partner, one partner taking the role of the guest and the other the role of the staff.
For additional practice, switch roles. Practice the dialogue several times, trying to
use all of the expressions noted above.
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