Survival Phrases for Taking Part in Meetings
Survival Phrases for Taking Part in Meetings
This is the sixth part of our series about meetings. For today’s post Yvette and I have decided to provide you with survival phrases for taking part in meetings We’ve put them into seventeen categories for you.
So, let’s get started..
INTRODUCING YOURSELF
My name is …
I’m responsible for …
I’m … and I’m in charge of …
ASKING FOR INFORMATION
How is the project going?
What’s the current situation with …?
Can you give me / us an update?
GIVING INFORMATION
We’ve already done …
We haven’t done … yet
We’re still waiting for …
We’re ahead of / on / behind schedule
We’ll meet the deadline
We’ve hit a problem
CHECKING AND CLARIFYING
Sorry, what do you mean (exactly) …?
If I understand you correctly, you think that …
If you didn’t understand their first explanation try these phrases:
Are you saying that … ?
Can you give me an example?
Can you explain that in more detail?
GIVING OPINIONS
In my opinion, …
From my point of view …
Personally, I think / I don’t think …
If you ask me, …
Perhaps we should do that
AGREEING
That’s right. I agree
I (completely / totally / entirely) agree with you
Absolutely!
DISAGREEING
I’m afraid I disagree
I agree with you up to a point, but …
I see your point, but …
I completely disagree
INTERRUPTING
Sorry to interrupt, but …
Could I just say something?
When you’ve been interrupted then use …
Just let me finish
As I was saying …
That’s all I wanted to say
MAKING SUGGESTIONS
(If you ask me,) I think we should I think we should / could…
I propose that we … (This is a good option if you have difficulties pronouncing the word suggest)
How / What about doing …?
Can I make a suggestion?
RECOMMENDATIONS
What would you recommend?
I’d recommend changing …
PRESENTING A PROPOSAL
I’d like to run something past you. / Here’s what I’ve been thinking …
The advantages of doing it like this are …
Not only would this solve the problem of…, it would also … (pointing out two or more advantages of your argument)
LISTING MORE THAN ONE POINT
For one thing, … and for another, …
Firstly, …secondly, … (use finally for your last point)
GIVING BOTH SIDES OF AN ARGUMENT
On the whole …, but …
On the one hand …, but on the other hand …
SAYING WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES
If we …, it’ll probably mean that …
We have to / need to …, otherwise …
CONTINUING THE DISCUSSION
As David said / suggested / mentioned / pointed out earlier …
To add to / expand on what Tim said earlier …
Related to / Following on from / In response to … Greta’s comment …
OFFERING HELP
Shall I do it?
Would you like me to do it?
Leave it with me
ACCEPTING AND DECLINING TASKS
I can do that, no problem
Fine. I’ll do it / that right away
I’ll take care of that
Sorry, I’m afraid I can’t right now
So, there you have it!
We’ve covered seventeen categories of survival phrases for taking part in meetings. What about you? Do you have any you’d like to add? Then please just schedule a call with me click here to schedule a call and tell me about it. Are you interested in other business English skills? Then check out the post about listening here and about using your voice effectively here.
One more thing
Yvette and I have a podcast called “Your English Podcast”. You can find it on iTunes and on Spotify sign up for it, so you don’t miss the next episode.
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Take care
Nadia
