Speak Out -

Unit 18

Key Expressions I wonder~

Youre saying that~

What if~

English Dialogue Grace: I just got off the phone with Emily and she was bragging about what a gentleman her new

boyfriend, Andrew is.

Walter: Oh, so youre saying that Im not a gentleman?

Grace: No, thats not what Im saying Its just that he always opens the door for her, he always picks

her up for their date, and he always pays!

Walter: I wonder how long thats going to last? Trust me, babe, after theyve been together for a few

months, that will all be out the window.

Grace: Youre such a pessimist. Walter, when are you going to learn that everyone is not like you?

Walter: If youre so in love with Andrew, why dont you go out with him? What are you doing with a

loser like me?

Grace: And what if I do? Its looking more tempting every day.

Walter: Yeah, right! As if you have more to offer Andrew than Emily does.

Translation Grace:

. Walter: ? Grace: , ! Walter: . ? Grace: . , ? Walter: ?

?

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Speak Out -

Grace: ? . Walter: !

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Expression / Technique Master Note

-context: the pieces of writing in a passage which surround a particular word or phrase and which

contribute to the full meaning of the word.

-to brag: ~ , *When someone talks boastfully or too proudly about themselves or what they have or what they have

done.

Ex) A: Hey, look at my new car. It has 200 horsepower and it can speed up from zero to 80 miles within 3

seconds.

B: Okay! Okay! Stop brag about your car, will ya? You bought your car 5 months ago. Im sick and tired

of hearing the same old story now.

-youre saying that: ~ ? *Even if youre not literally saying something, by using this expression you are hinting and indirectly

suggesting something else.

-I wonder how: ~ , ~ *This expression can be perceived to be sarcastic depending on the tone of accent.

-out the window: , *You can also use fly [or go] out of the window to express the situation where your hope is gone.

-pessimist: *The opposite of pessimist is optimist.

-when are you going to learn to ~: ~ ,

-loser:

*When someone is being sarcastic, more often they dont sincerely mean what they say. Rather what

theyre really trying to say is the totally opposite. People use sarcasm to drive their point home.

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-what if: ~ *This expression is the most common conditional expression. It sets assumption on the base of an

argument.

**SUMMARY: Keeping up with the context of the conversation is a vital technique in conversation.

Following the context means tagging along with the flow of the conversation which ensures the other

speakers attention and keeping the whole discussion focused.

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