1.1.3 ASKING FOR AND GIVING CLARIFICATION
ASKING FOR AND GIVING CLARIFICATION
Manager: “Can you give me a quick summary of today’s meeting?”
Assistant: “Sure — it started late, went off topic, and ended in confusion.”
Manager: “I meant the official summary.”
Assistant: “Oh. That’ll take longer.”
1.Discussion
- Can you share an experience when you misunderstood someone speaking English? How did you realize the misunderstanding, and what did you do next?
- Have you ever been misunderstood by others when speaking English? What consequences did this have, and how did you handle the situation?
- How often do you find yourself needing to clarify or explain your ideas in conversations? What strategies do you use to make sure your message is understood clearly?
2A. 📖 Phrase Bank: Clarifying Expressions
| Asking for Clarification | Giving Clarification | ||
| 1 | Sorry, what do you mean by…? | 1 | I mean that… |
| 2 | Could you explain that again? | 2 | In other words, … |
| 3 | I’m not sure I understand. | 3 | What I’m trying to say is… |
| 4 | Could you repeat that, please? | 4 | Let me explain… |
| 5 | What does ___ mean? | 5 | To put it another way, … |
| 6 | Could you be more specific about…? | 6 | To clarify this further, … |
| 7 | Can you give me an example of what you mean? | 7 | Let me give you a clearer picture… |
| 8 | I’m a bit unclear about that point – | 8 | What I want to emphasize is… |
2B.🗣️ Clarification Dialogue – Fill in the Gaps
2C. Clarification Roleplay
Look at the vague, confusing, or technical statements below (or create them yourself).
- Student A says a statement (e.g., “I think we need to rethink our whole strategy.”).
- Student B must ask clarification questions using the target expressions above.
- Student A replies using the “giving clarification” expressions above.
These modal verbs are used for polite requests, offers and suggestions but they fit well into polite clarification contexts too. They help soften questions or requests, making conversations smoother and more respectful.
| Modal Verb | Clarifying Use | Example |
| Could | Polite request to clarify or explain something | Could you explain that part again, please? |
| Would | Polite way to ask if something can be clarified | Would you mind clarifying what you meant by that? |
| Can | Informal request for clarification | Can you clarify the last point? |
| May | Formal request for permission to clarify or ask | May I ask for clarification on this issue? |
| Might | Tentative suggestion or question when clarifying | Might I ask what you mean by ‘ROI’? |
| Shall | Polite suggestion to check or clarify something | Shall I go over the details again? |
| Should | Polite advice or suggestion when clarifying | You should probably explain that part in more detail. |
3B. 🎭 Activity
Context: Two colleagues are working together on a last-minute report. One needs help understanding some parts and wants to ask polite questions to clarify the details professionally.
3C. Check the answers and then practise the conversation in pairs.
3D. Create your own short dialogues using at least 3 modal verbs from the list. Topics can include:
- Checking availability for a team meeting or call
- Asking permission to make changes to a document or presentation
- Suggesting alternative deadlines or schedules
- Offering help or support on a task or project
- Discussing possible solutions to a work-related problem
- Asking about company policies or procedures
- Requesting feedback on completed work or drafts
- Explaining or justifying a delay in work delivery
E.g. Clarifying meeting plans or agendas
Sophie: Hey, should we confirm the agenda for tomorrow’s meeting?
James: Yes, I think we might need to add the budget review.
Sophie: Okay. Also, could you check if the conference room is available at 10 am?
James: Absolutely. I will do that now.
4A. Pronunciation Practice
Click on the + signs, then watch the videos to see how to pronounce the following words. Try saying them.
4B. Modal verbs in fast speech
Examples:
- Would you = /wʊdʒə/
- Could you = /kʊdʒə/
- Should I – /ʃʊdaɪ/
Click HERE to watch a video on the pronunciation of would you…? Try the activities.
4C. Say these sentences quickly and see if you can pronounce them correctly.
- Would you mind clarifying that point?
- Could you explain what you mean by this?
- Would you be able to repeat that, please?
- Could you help me understand this part better?
- Should I ask for more details?
- Should I go over the instructions again?
5A. What do you do?
Work in pairs. Discuss which action you take (a or b) in these situations.
1.If I don’t understand something when I’m having a call, I …
a. interrupt and ask for clarification.
b. remain quiet and wait for an email summary to arrive after the call.
2.When communicating complex information during calls, I …
a. regularly summarise the important information.
b. don’t summarise often. It’s better to keep moving and people can interrupt if they don’t understand.
3.If someone says they don’t understand me on a call, I …
a. repeat myself slowly and clearly.
b. ask them what they didn’t understand.
5B. What might be the advantages and disadvantages of your actions in each situation?
6A.Listening
[3.01] Listen to the beginning of a phone call.
6B. [3.02] Listen to the main part of the call between Sam and Pat and look at the topics:
- Gross or net figures
- Targets
- The stock market
- Margins
- Average amounts
- The bottom line
- Product categories
- Profitability
- Return on investment (ROI)
6C. Look at the categories in the table.
7A. Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing means expressing what somebody has said using different words.
7B. Paraphrase Relay
- In small groups: Student A makes a statement (e.g., “I think the best way to improve productivity is by allowing employees to work flexible hours.”).
- Student B paraphrases using an expression from Ex 6D.
“So, if I understood you correctly, you believe flexible schedules can boost productivity.” - Student C then paraphrases B’s paraphrase:
“In other words, working different hours might help people work better.” - Continue the loop around the group.
Paraphrasing expressions:
- What you’re saying is…
- Ok, so that means…
- In other words,…
- If I understood you correctly…
- Putting it differently…
7C. Paraphrasing Interviews
- Students work in pairs. One is the interviewer, the other the interviewee.
- The interviewer asks open-ended questions (about their job, a recent trip, a challenge they’ve faced, etc.).
- After each answer, the interviewer paraphrases using a target phrase:
“What you’re saying is that managing time was the biggest issue, right?” - Switch roles halfway through.
7D. Misunderstanding Game
- Prepare short, ambiguous or complex statements. Example:
“Sometimes I just need a break from everything, you know?” - Student A reads the sentence.
- Student B must clarify using one of the target expressions.
“Ok, so that means you’re feeling overwhelmed?” - Then Student A confirms or corrects them.
7E. Role-play Confusing Situations
- Role-play a misunderstanding:
An assistant schedules a meeting but the manager misunderstood the time due to a vague email. One person thinks it’s at 10 a.m., the other at 2 p.m.
A colleague receives an email saying, “Please handle this ASAP,” but it’s unclear what “this” refers to. They have to call back to clarify.
A lawyer asks for “the Smith file,” but the assistant sends the wrong Smith file (two clients with the same surname).
A manager says, “Get it to me early next week,” and the employee thinks that means Monday; the manager meant Wednesday.
- The listener must respond with a paraphrasing expression:
“Putting it differently, you want me to call the client before the end of the day, right?”
Reading
8A. Pre-Reading Discussion Questions
- Have you ever misunderstood someone at work or school? What happened?
- Why do you think asking questions is important during a conversation?
- What phrases do you use when you don’t understand something?
8B. Read the following article and try the exercises below it.
Why Clarifying Is Key to Better Communication
Clear communication is essential both at work and in daily life. However, misunderstandings happen when people interpret messages differently. These misunderstandings can lead to mistakes or even conflict. To avoid this, it’s helpful to ask questions and clarify what the other person means. Clarifying means checking that you’ve understood the message correctly.
What Does It Mean to Clarify?
To clarify something means to ask for more details or to rephrase what someone has said. This helps ensure both people are on the same page. Clarifying can involve asking a follow-up question or repeating the message in your own words to check understanding.
Why Is Clarifying Important?
1.It prevents misunderstandings: Sometimes people think they have understood a message, but really they have got it wrong. Clarifying helps avoid this by confirming the meaning.
2.It shows active listening: When you ask questions or repeat what someone has said, it shows that you are paying attention and that you care about understanding the message correctly.
3.It improves teamwork: In professional settings, clarifying instructions helps team members complete tasks correctly. This leads to better results and fewer mistakes.
4.It supports language learners: If someone is speaking quickly, using complex words, or learning English, clarification makes the conversation easier and more comfortable for everyone.
Useful Clarifying Questions
“Sorry, could you say that again?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Do you mean…?”
“Can you explain that, please?”
“So, are you saying that…?”
A Simple Example
Anna: Let’s meet next Friday.
Mark: Do you mean this Friday or the one after?
Anna: I mean the one after — on the 28th.
Mark: Thanks! Just wanted to be sure.
Clarifying is a simple but powerful tool. It can improve communication, strengthen relationships, and help avoid confusion. So next time you’re unsure, don’t hesitate to ask!
8C. True or False?
8D. Multiple Choice
Based on the text answer the following questions with the correct options.
8E. Discussion Questions
- Can you think of a time when you misunderstood someone because you didn’t clarify? What happened?
- Do you find it easy or difficult to ask clarifying questions in English? Why?
- In your language or culture, is it polite or impolite to ask someone to repeat or explain something?
- Which clarifying expressions from the article do you think are the most useful? Why?
- How can clarifying improve relationships between colleagues or classmates?
9A.Vocabulary – Idioms related to clarifying
9B. Practice
9C. Discussion Questions
- Have you ever listened to someone and thought, “That was clear as mud”? What were they talking about?
- Why do people sometimes get the wrong end of the stick in conversations?
- Do you prefer it when someone spells things out or when they give short explanations? Why?
- What’s a topic someone might talk over your head about? How do you react when that happens?
- When you don’t understand something, do you usually ask the person to break it down for you? Why or why not?
- Have you ever struggled to get your ideas across in a meeting or presentation? What made it difficult, and how did you handle it?
- Do you think it’s important for managers or teachers to make things crystal clear when giving instructions? Why or why not?
- When someone uses a lot of technical language, do you feel comfortable asking them to put it in plain English? Why or why not?
10A. Role Play
Role-play the following situations where you must use modal verbs and clarification phrases
Example Scenarios:
- Booking a hotel over the phone
- Talking to a doctor
- Asking a colleague to explain an email
- Clarifying directions in a city
Example:
Maria: Hey James, I just read that email about the new client, but honestly, it was clear as mud.
James: Yeah, I thought it wasn’t very clear either. I had to read it three times!
Maria: If you understand it, could you please spell it out for me?