What Do You Mean?

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What Do You Mean?

Think about a time you had a misunderstanding[explanation: misunderstanding [ˌmɪsʌndəˈstændɪŋ] – arusaamatus] with someone. Tell your partner about it. Switch roles.

Think about the following:

  • What was the misunderstanding about?
  • Why do you think this misunderstanding occurred[explanation: occur [əˈkɜː(r)] – tekkima, ilmuma]?
  • What did you do to understand each other better?

 
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Listen and read.

[excerpt beginning]

Hello, Jackson! How are you today?

Hi! I’m fine. How are you?

Oh, I’m fine too, thanks for asking. I just got home from the cinema.

The cinema? Oh, you must mean the movies! How was the movie?

The film was great! It was quite long though, and we almost missed the last tube.

It’s good that you got to the subway in time then. I just saw you coming out of it.

Subway? No, I mean tube. You know, it’s the train that runs underground really fast.

Oh, okay. That’s what subway means too.

Weird. But anyway, it was lucky. We almost had to take a taxi.

Taxi? Oh, you mean a cab! Okay, I get you. Hey, I know it’s late, but do you want to go and have some French fries with me? I know a really good place.

Sorry, what? Fried… French? That sounds horrible! Are you sure that’s what you mean?

No, no, no, calm down. I forgot you guys call them chips, take it easy.

Whew! I was scared for a minute there. Okay, let’s go!

[excerpt end]
  1. Who went to the cinema? 
  2. What is known about the film? 
  3. Who suggests going to eat something? 
What caused the misunderstanding in the dialogue? Discuss it with your partner.

Pairwork 1

Act out a similar dialogue with your partner trying to sound really British or really American. Switch roles.
  • terrible
  • nearly
  • strange
  • Relax.
  • I know what you mean.
  • I think you wanted to say ...
  1. almost = 
  2. weird = 
  3. horrible = 
  1. I get you. = 
  2. Take it easy. = 
  3. You must mean ... = 
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Could You Explain?

When you don’t understand something or can’t hear something well, ask politely to explain/repeat something.

A: Do you want to go and have some French fries with me?

B: 

  • I’m not sure
  • Could you
  • I’m sorry, I
  • I don’t
  • Do you know
  • I heard correct­ly.
  • say that again?
  • didn’t get that.
  • quite follow you.
  • what I mean?

Pairwork 2

Say a sentence to your partner. Then your partner answers using one of the options below. Reply to your partner. Switch roles.
  1. Do you have a pen that I could borrow?
  2. Mum said that she wanted to talk to you.
  3. Could you pass me the salt, please?
  4. Where did you put the remote control?
  5. You have to take a left after the library, and it’s the second house on the right.
Possible Answers
  • I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you.
  • Excuse me?
  • I’m sorry, I didn’t quite get that. Could you say that again?
  • I’m afraid not, sorry.
  • I’m sorry, I don’t know what it is. Could you explain?
Read the dialogues with your partner.

A

Excuse me, I’m lost. Can you help me find this street?

Yes, sure. Walk straight along this road, and it’s the second turning on your left. Understood?

B

Excuse me, could you help me find the nearest ATM[explanation: ATM (AmE) [ˌeɪtiːˈem] – sularahaautomaat]?

What?

C

The place you are looking for is on Evergreen Terrace. You walk along Fairview Boulevard past the Japanese garden, turn left onto Cascade Drive, and it’s the third road on the left.

Eh?

D

Excuse me, I’m looking for the central library. Do you know where it is?

No.

E

Excuse me, could I get a fork for my spaghetti?

Fork? What is that? What do you mean?

It’s a thing with four prongs[explanation: prong [prɒŋ] – haru], and you eat with it.

Pairwork 3

Read the dialogues (A–E) with your partner. Replace the underlined words and sentences with more polite options. Use the phrases from Pairwork 2 to help you. Switch roles.

Pairwork 4

You and your partner each choose a role and act out the following situations in English:
Tip

Use the following to help you:

  • gestures
  • your native language or other languages
  • synonyms and antonyms

A

You stop a pedestrian[explanation: pedestrian [pəˈdestriən] – jalakäija] on the street and ask for directions to the nearest pizzeria. The pedestrian gives you directions, but you do not understand some of the words.

B

You are in a restaurant. The waiter wants to take your order, but you do not understand what they are saying.

C

You are in a clothes shop and ask the shop assistant if they have a certain piece of clothing. The shop assistant does not understand you and asks what you mean.

D

You ask your new friend about their home. Your friend answers but does not understand everything you say.

E

The hotel room you are staying in does not have towels. You do not know the word towel in English, and the receptionist’s English is quite poor.

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Summary

  • Pardon?
  • Could you explain?
  • What do you mean?
  • Excuse me?
  • Does that make sense?
  • Could you say that again?
  • Do you follow me?
  • Sorry?
When are the remaining expressions used in English?
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