6.1 When you demonstrate that you understand a speaker’s point
I understand what you’re saying. Listen <“In our situation every penny counts.” – “I understand what you’re saying. Let’s be frugal.”>
Understood. Listen <“You are not supposed to do that under any circumstances.” – “Understood.”>
I know. Listen <“My sister is a librarian. She works long hours, but her pay is hardly adequate.” – “I know. I had a job like that.”>
I know what you’re talking about. Listen A “I understand what you are talking about.” <“Alaskan climate is no fun.”– “I know what you’re talking about. I don’t like cold, long winters either.”>
I know what you mean. Listen A “I know what you are talking about.” <“The transatlantic flight was so long! And a baby was screaming all the time.” – “I know what you mean. Long flights are boring and tiresome.”>
I see what you mean. Listen <“If housing prices go down again, we are in trouble.” – “I see what you mean.”>
I see what you’re saying. Listen <“Everything has a beginning and an end. Our ordeal began a while ago. I’m expecting to see its end soon.” – “I see what you’re saying.”>
I can see what you’re saying. Listen <“Education doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get a good job, but it increases your chances.” – “I can see what you’re saying.”>
I can see that. Listen <“A marriage requires at least mutual respect to be a happy one.” – “I can see that.”>
I see where you’re coming from. Listen <“If unemployment is high, there may be no economic recovery. How can jobless people push the economy forward?” – “I see where you’re coming from. There’s logic in what you’re saying.”>
I got you. Listen <“Don’t forget to buy some milk at the grocery store.” – “I got you.”>
Gotcha. Listen A “Got you. I got what you said.” <“We mustn’t allow it to happen.” – “Gotcha. It won’t happen, I promise.”>
I got it! Listen A “I understand it.” <“You have to listen to the boss, young man.” – “I got it!”>
I follow you. Listen <“When you study hard, you get encouraging results. And when you are happy with your achievements, your life gets better. Do you follow me?” – “I follow you.”>
I’m there with you. Listen <“The government implemented drastic measures in the hope that the economic situation would improve. I would like to see some tangible results, though.” – “I’m there with you. The taxpayers should eventually get a return on their money, shouldn’t they?”>
I hear you. Listen A “I completely understand your point.” <“Johnson, I need your report tomorrow.” – “I hear you, boss.”>
I hear what you’re saying Listen <“This hotel is pretty expensive. And there are vacancies in other hotels nearby.” – “I hear what you are saying. Let’s look around.”>
Point well-taken. Listen A “I have understood your point well.” <“A gentleman should open a door for a lady and let her in first.” – “Point well-taken.”>
Roger. Listen A “Received. Right. I hear you.” <“We have to go now.” – “Roger.”>
6.2 When you express agreement with a speaker
Yes. Listen <“Would you like a piece of pie?” – “Yes, please.”>
OK or Okay. Listen A “misspelled All correct, I agree.” <“Would you like a cup of tea?” – “OK, thank you.”>
Sure. Listen A “No doubt. I agree.” <“Would you like a beer?” – “Sure, thanks.”>
For sure. Listen A “For certain, with certainty, unquestionably.” <“I think, we are the best basketball team in town.” – “Yes, we are for sure.”>
Sure thing. Listen A “This event is certain.” <“Are you going to support my proposal at the meeting?” – “Sure thing.”>
Of course. Listen A “In a proper way, naturally, without deviation.” <“Do you think I should call a doctor?” – “Of course you should. You don’t look well at all.”>
Certainly Listen A “It is unquestionably so. I strongly agree.” <“Can you please bring the suitcases to my room?” – “Certainly, ma’am.”>
Definitely. Listen A “It is definitely so. I strongly agree.” <“Will you attend my sister’s wedding?” – “Definitely. I’m eager to see her happy.”>
Absolutely. Listen A “It is unconditionally so. I strongly agree.” <“Did you like your trip to Mexico?” – “Absolutely! I’m planning on going there again.”>
You got it. Listen A “Consider it in your possession. You got the right answer. You are right.” <“I made some changes in our travel arrangements. I hope you will approve them.” – “You got it. I like them.”>
You bet. Listen A “You can make a bet on that. This is certain.” <“Can you give me a lift downtown?” – “You bet. Get in the car.”>
No problem. Listen A “This is causing no problem.” <“Can you help me in the garden?” – “No problem. What do you want me to do?”>
By all means. Listen A “In every manner, in every way, absolutely.” <“Will you come to dinner tomorrow?” – “Yes, by all means.”>
Super. Listen <“Would you like to see a new movie?” – “Super. Which one?”>
Great. Listen <“How about going to the beach this week-end?” – “Great, I’d love to.”>
Sounds good. Listen A “It sounds good to me. I agree.” <“Would you like to go for a walk?” – “Okay, sounds good.”>
All right. Listen A “Everything is right. I agree.” <“How about some more cake?” – “All right, mother.”>
Right. Listen A “Correct. You are right. I agree.” <“I think, she is snobbish.” – “Right. And a bit arrogant, too.”>
You’re right. Listen <“I think the garden needs more water.” – “You’re right. I can help you with watering.”>
Right you are! Listen <“Some things are getting more expensive.” – “Right you are! Many things are not affordable anymore.”>
You’re right on the money. Listen A “You are absolutely right.” <“I heard your speech on the current economic situation. You are right on the money.”>
6.3 When you express agreement with a speaker’s point
It’s to the point. Listen A “It expresses the main idea precisely.” <“I like the conclusion of your speech. It’s to the point.”>
I agree. Listen <“Our investment in alternative sources of energy will be profitable.” – “I agree.”>
I agree with you one hundred per cent. Listen <“We have to keep looking for alternative sources of energy.” – “I agree with you one hundred percent.”>
That’s right. Listen A “What you said is right.” <“Solar power is a promising alternative source of energy.” – “That’s right.”>
That’s for certain. Listen <“Deep-ocean oil drilling is an environmental threat.” – “That’s for certain.”>
That’s for sure. Listen <“We can’t burn oil eternally.” – “That’s for sure.”>
That’s true. Listen <“Oil and natural gas are in limited supply on the planet.” – “That’s true.”>
That goes without saying. Listen A “It is so true that we don’t need to discuss it. That is beyond question.” <“Success is usually the result of diligent work.” – “Oh, that goes without saying.”>
There’s no doubt about it. Listen A “It cannot be questioned. It’s certain.” <“Burning of fossil fuels results in global pollution.” – “There is no doubt about it.”>
Without a doubt. Listen <“Pollution should be stopped before we all get poisoned with industrial waste.” – “Without a doubt. The sooner, the better.”>
I accept that. Listen A “I agree with what you said.” <“Alternative sources of energy can only supplement fossil fuel, but not substitute it completely.” – “I accept that.”>
I have no problem with that. Listen A “I don’t disagree with that.” <“I will show you some calculations that demonstrate the effectiveness of solar panels.” – “Please do. I have no problem with that.”>
I can’t argue with that. Listen A “I can’t dispute what you said.” <“The more plastic bottles we recycle, the more trees we save.” – “I can’t argue with that.”>
That’s a good idea. Listen <“We’ve got to produce more solar power in the southern part of the U.S.” – “That’s a good idea.”>
Well said. Listen A “You said it well.” <“Our planet is not a trash can.” – “Well said!”>
You said it! Listen A “You said it well.” <“Our environmental movement has a terrific leader.” – “You said it!”>
I’ll drink to that! Listen A “I salute what you said.” <“One day, all the cars in the world will be environmentally friendly.” – “I’ll drink to that!”>
I wish I’d said that. Listen A “I wish this cleaver idea belonged to me.” <“A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.” – “I wish I’d said that.” – “I wish I had said it first.”>
You took the words right out of my mouth. Listen A “I just wanted to say that.” <“This new legislation is just a beginning.” – “You took the words right out of my mouth. We have to push the government in the right direction.”>
That’s what I say. Listen A “I agree with what has just been said and I am ready to say it myself.” <“Humanity is responsible for the environment.” – “That’s what I say. We all are responsible.”>
You can say that again. Listen A “You are so right that you can repeat your words.” <“Boy, this air is clean.” – “You can say that again. I like to walk by the sea.”>
6.4 When you express like-mindedness
So do I. Listen A “I do too.” <“I believe preservation of nature is important.” – “So do I. I believe it’s vital.”>
Me too. Listen A “I do too. I am too. I feel the same.” <“The State adopted a new water conservation program. I like it.” – “Me too. I am going to write them a letter.”>
That makes two of us. Listen A “You and I agree on that matter.” <“They issued a new report on National Parks. I find their conclusions incorrect.” – “That makes two of us. I want to verify their data.”>
I’m with you. Listen A “I am of your opinion on this matter.” <“The government should play a vital role in the protection of our environment.” – “I’m with you. Activities of private business should be regulated.”>
I’m like you. Listen A “You and I have something in common.” <“I like to walk by the sea.” – “I’m like you. I like fresh air.”>
6.5 When you express agreement because of your full awareness
Don’t I know it! Listen A “I know it myself.” <“The typical summer is hot and damp in New York City.” – “Don’t I know it! I was born in New York.”>
You’re telling me! Listen A “I know it well because I experienced it myself.” <“The greenhouse effect is killing African animals in summer.” – “You’re telling me! In summer, it’s killing people in New York City.”>
Tell me about it! Listen A “I sympathize with you because I have my own negative experience with it.” <“One of my girls is getting married. It’s a hectic time in our family.” – “Tell me about it! I remember my daughter’s wedding.”>
Don’t say it! Listen A “I know it pretty well, so you don’t need to say it.” <“Bob, your white shirt is very dirty.” – “Oh, don’t say it! Some guy poured his coffee on me in the cafeteria.”>
You don’t say. Listen <“Oh, my! Taxes are getting higher and higher.” – “You don’t say. At the same time, wages aren’t growing.”>
I’ve been there. Listen A “I know it pretty well because I went through it myself.” <“I hate Friday business meetings. They are so boring.” – “I know what you mean. I’ve been there.”>
Suhardi, Ph.D 