Apology
Apologizing :
- I'm sorry for...
- Please accept my sincere apology
- I deeply regret that
- Forgive me! I didn't mean it
Responding to apologies :
- That's all right!
- Never mind!
- Don't worry about it
- Forget about it
Understand / Clarify
Expressing lack of understanding :
- Sorry, I don't understand you!
- I don't see what you mean!
- I can't get your idea!
- I don't quite follow you!
Asking for clarification :
- What do you mean by...?
- Could you be more explicit?
- Could you clarify, please?
- I beg your pardon!
Advice
Asking for advice :
- What's your advice for...?
- What should I do to...?
- What do you advice me to do?
- What would you do if you were me?
Giving advice :
- I advice you to...
- You'd better … / you ought to...
- If I were you, I would...
- Why don't you ... ?
Request
Making a request :
- Oh! Dear, I need …
- Would you mind...?
- Iwonder if you could...?
- I'd like you to …
Responding to requests :
=> Accepting:
- Sure/Certainly!
- Yes, of course!
=> Refusing:
- Sorry!
- Of course not!
Complaint
Making a complaint :
- Sorry, I have a complaint
- I'm a little dissatisfied with...
- I just don't know how to say it, but …
- I'm afraid I have to make a serious complaint
Responding to complaints :
=> Accepting:
- Oh! Dear I'm really sorry about that
- I can't tell you how sorry I am
=> Rejecting:
- I'm afraid there is nothing we can do about it
- Sorry, we haven't anything we can do
Certainty
Expressing certainty :
- I'm sure/certain …
- Definitely/certainly …
- There is no doubt …
- It's obvious/evident...
Expressing uncertainty :
- I'm uncertain …
- I'm not sure …
- I'm doubtful about …
Expressing probability :
- It may be …
- It could be …
Opinion
Asking for opinion :
- What's your opinion of …?
- What about …?
- How do you feel about …?
- Do you think that …?
Expressing opinion :
- In my opinion …
- Personally speaking, I think …
- To my mind …
- It seems to me that …
=> Agreeing:
- I think you're right
- I share your opinion
=> Disagreeing:
- I can't agree with you
- I disagree with you
Bad / Good news
Expressing bad news :
- I really don't know how to say it, but...
- I am really sorry to say that...
- You will be sorry/sad to hear …
Responding to bad news :
- Oh! Dear/my God!
- What a pity!
- Please accept my condolences!
Expressing good news :
- I've got some smashing news to tell you...
- You will be pleased to hear...
- I'm glad to tell you that...
Responding to good news :
- Oh! Congratulations!
- Well done!
- What happy news!