This is an All Ears English podcast episode 2049.
I have to say your English is very natural.
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Today we answer a listener question.
What is the difference between I have to say, I would say, and I would have to say?
Learn more about these three useful phrases and get barbecue guest tips in American culture.
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Hey, Michelle, I have a question for you today.
Okay, let's go for it.
Well, how long do you think it takes us to record a single episode?
Well, I would say between you know, between the recording, the setup and everything, I would say about 25 minutes.
What do you think?
Yeah, I agree.
Yeah, and also choosing a title at the end, saving the files.
Yeah, about 25 minutes, I would say.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
So, guys, you're going to see why we're talking about this in just a second, but we have a great listener, question that we're going to answer today but before we do that guys we want you to hit follow wherever you are listening to the all ears English podcast why Lindsay oh my gosh hit the follow button because that way you don't have to remember to go and find us we will come to you easy service we're gonna find you we'll find you because when you hit follow our four episodes will automatically drop right into your catalog so you know for me as a podcast listener I only listen to the shows that I follow.
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Okay, so Lindsay, we have a question today from Asley from Japan.
Thank you, Asley.
Lindsay, would you like a question for us?
Of course.
Here we go.
Asley says, I hope you're doing well.
I have a question about the phrases, I would say, I would have to say, and I have to say.
Is there any difference between these phrases?
I'm assuming you guys use them before saying your opinions, but is there any other expressions that are useful for conveying your thoughts?
I appreciate it if I can hear your ideas and suggestions on how to use them correctly.
Thank you so much for making this amazing podcast.
I'm looking forward to more great episodes.
Awesome.
Thank you.
Yeah, this is a fun, one of those fun, nuanced episodes that made me think.
But we're going to get into it today, so this is going to be good. we're going to mostly focus on the differences between these three um today and how to use them so but if you want to hear uh other ways to express your opinions uh you can also head over to episode 955 how to express your opinion when it's lukewarm in english what does lukewarm mean just for a bonus before we move on for today what is lukewarm lukewarm basically means it's it's just okay it's just okay yeah lukewarm temperature of water is not hot not cold slightly warm but just at like room temperature kind of yeah right yeah is what it is so when you don't feel fiery about your opinion you just hey something's okay so go and check that out guys 9 55 go all the way back into the catalog back in time yes okay michelle how do we answer this for asley Okay, so Aslee, there can be many contexts with these expressions, but we're going to focus on some main differences today.
So, in my opinion, each of these can be used, and are most frequently used when someone asks a question and you're pretty sure of the answer, or you're expressing your opinion.
So like, for example, in our role play.
In the beginning, Lindsay asked how long do you think it takes us to record an episode?
And I said, oh, I would say between this, this and this.
Like, how did that feel to you when I say I would say?
You have authority over what you're saying.
Like, you know what you're talking about.
And you're kind of making like a bit of an educated guess a little bit.
Like there's not an exact answer.
It could be 26 minutes.
It could be 30.
It could be 15.
It's in that range.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Exactly.
And you're, and maybe you're like calculating in your head.
Oh yeah.
That's kind of like a little calculation.
That's a good point.
Point it's something, by the way Michelle, that we talk about on IELTS energy, the other podcast.
You know, a way to give yourself time to guess at something, calculate something, is by using wood.
You fill in wood and we do do that as as native speakers, I would say.
I would say I'm thinking right and using wood makes sense there.
You need to fill that space Exactly.
Yes.
So it's a good, it's a good way to save yourself some time when you're thinking as well.
So let's do some other examples.
Here we go.
How many shirts do we need to order?
I would say six.
Great.
Yeah.
So that's another great example of that.
It's like you need, you feel like you need to fill in the gap with some words.
So you use would as you're thinking.
Right.
I mean, you could have just said how many shirts we need to order and I could say six.
And that would just sound more like I've already thought it down.
Maybe I'm looking at a sheet of paper and I know exactly, you know, the answer for sure.
It's just easy to know the answer.
And here I'm kind of we're kind of making some decisions.
Exactly.
Yeah.
That's an important difference, though for native to sound more native and natural for our listeners.
Right.
Right.
Well, let's try this one.
Where's the party?
I'm not sure, but I would have to say probably down that hall.
Okay.
I'll check there.
Nice.
Another example, have to say, I would have to say is the other piece that we're talking about today.
Right?
Are we going to talk about what is the difference?
Yes.
We're going to talk about that.
We're going to talk about that.
These are examples first.
Yeah.
Love it.
Yes.
Okay.
Let's do another one.
Okay.
Why are there 10 people when we capped it at eight?
Okay, have to say it's probably because of a computer error.
Okay, so it feels like I'm getting a similar vibe from all of these in terms of thinking right yeah right exactly, I mean, do you, these feel different to you in any way?
Does anything stand out?
Or or does one maybe feel more natural to you that you're more likely to say, I have to say, I would say, and I have to say for me, I would say, feels more natural and frequent for me, maybe it's different for you, I don't know what.
Uh yeah, I would say also feels very no no, it also feels kind of more natural.
Um, but I mean, I would say, or I would have to say I think are used more for like um, they could also be used for hypothetical situations right, because of wood, instead of have to say right, so if he, if he asked me out, I would say no, Right.
Or if someone disrespected my friend, I would have to say something.
But that's totally different.
Right, Michelle?
That feels very different.
Yeah.
So so those are just two different contexts where you can use those two.
But you can't say you wouldn't say like if he asks me out, I I have to say no.
Like, I mean, you would want to use the word.
Yes.
OK, Michelle, what about I have to say as we as we used it earlier?
Tell me about that one.
Yes, so this one is also used as an intro.
So used to maybe, to me, it sounds like it's used to express an opinion confidently.
So this is the most different.
Like I think I have to say no no no, I would have to say, and I would say are more similar to each other.
Okay.
Maybe just a slightly different sound.
And this one, I think, is a little bit different.
So I think this one is a little bit more confident.
Okay.
Maybe even pushy.
So let's see how this sounds.
Right.
And kind of a different context, too, isn't it?
So let's just pay attention.
For our listeners.
Guys, pay attention to these contexts that we show you in these two tiny role plays.
So what do you think of the place?
I have to say, this is much better than I expected.
All right.
So... this is quite different the way we're setting it up here, Michelle, right?
You are declaring something.
Yeah.
It's more, it's a, it's a more confident feel than I think I would say.
I mean cause.
Like just going back to the t-shirt example, it wouldn't make sense if you said how many shirts do we need to order?
And I just said, I have to say six.
Like it just doesn't, it doesn't really work.
It's a little bit different from those other two.
I would have to say six is more.
Um you're it's, you're guessing you're, you're making an estimate, you're making an educated guess as to how many shirts you want to order.
But that doesn't make sense in this context.
Right, we have to say yeah, it doesn't work that way.
So let's give another example.
Okay, let's give another example.
Okay so um, i have to say i think you really should call your brother okay fine, okay.
So it's kind of like you're declaring something, you're stating something.
It's maybe the other person doesn't want to hear, kind of, or what, what's happening?
Well, I think it's just, well, I think it's a little bit pushy how I said it.
Right.
Like I think I have to say is just more so.
Declaring your opinion about something like Oh, I have to.
I have to say this is like uh, you planned a really great party.
It's like, just more like, Oh, I want to introduce this opinion.
Whereas I I would have to say I mean, or like I would say it's more like Hmm, i'm thinking i have to say has a more, is a more confident start.
Yeah, and i think when you say i have to say, before you express an opinion, you might be implying that you know that your people will disagree with you, that maybe yeah, do you think so yeah, could be.
You maybe you know that like, what you're bringing up is like a little bit controversial or touchy or people, it won't be a popular opinion Okay.
Right.
Right.
Right.
So yeah, the other ones are just a little bit more.
Oh, you're thinking Oh, I would have to say Oh, I would say right.
Like um, you know, and then the other one is just pretty different.
Yeah, so let's give another role play for our listeners here.
So here we are, friends talking about an upcoming party.
So now listen closely guys, so that you can hear all of the different ways of using these together in one conversation and get the app, if you want to see the transcripts for this.
So here we go.
So are you going?
Of course, I have to say I'm kind of surprised they didn't invite Sarah.
Well, me too.
Do you think they just didn't have enough room?
I would say maybe they did, but they just felt she may not know anyone.
Yeah, weird.
Well, what time does it start?
I have to find the invitation, but I would have to say seven.
Okay, let me know.
Yeah, so this is a great, This episode in particular.
It's really good for our listeners to see these three expressions lined up against each other.
Because really look at the context here, guys.
Context is king.
It's king here in this episode today.
That's right, right.
It's all about the context.
There's really a lot to kind of dig into and a lot you can infer based on when somebody's saying one of these expressions.
Yeah, so for the first one, we used...
I have to say.
And you said, of course I have to say, I'm kind of surprised they didn't invite Sarah.
Now you're about to give an opinion.
Your opinion might be controversial or against what most people believe, against what the hosts believe.
So that's a perfect example.
I'm saying something.
I'm saying something that I feel kind of confidently.
I'm and it you know.
So it's more, I don't know.
This one is kind of like somebody might get a certain feeling from you if you use this expression.
Like that you are overstepping?
Could be.
Could be.
What does that mean to overstep?
Let's make that a bonus word.
Bonus for today.
Overstepping.
You're just kind of saying a little.
Maybe you're saying what people are thinking, but you're the one that says it.
And might not be a popular opinion.
It might be a little controversial, against the grain right right right yes yes yes, i'm surprised they didn't invite sarah.
Like i'm i'm saying this to you because i think you might agree with me and i like it's almost like i wouldn't want the others to hear that i'm talking about.
Yeah, i wouldn't want to bring this up to the host, so i'm like i'm feeling you out, like can we, Can we talk some trash on these?
You know, this phrase is quite interesting.
There's a lot in it.
There's a lot loaded in there in terms of meaning in what you infer from what they're saying.
More interesting than I would say.
I would say it's just about guessing, taking a guess, right?
So for example, do you think they just didn't have enough room, right, to invite Sarah?
I would say maybe they did, but they just felt she may not know anyone, right?
Okay, yeah.
So here you're not really, you're not really being any fun.
Oh no, it's me like i'm not, you know, like i'm not like, i'm not like joining in on you.
I'm not like yeah, that was ridiculous.
I'm kind of like, oh yeah, i would say maybe i'm spilling the space trying to think of why maybe, that she didn't get invited right, why don't we probably both know, maybe the, the host just purposefully maybe, excluded her, right?
We're coming up with other reasons why it might be true that she didn't get invited.
We're trying to kind of fill in the gaps here a little bit, but just if we take, i would say, in isolation, you're really just coming up with an excuse.
You're coming up with a guess or an excuse or an idea right yeah, and then you said um, i have to find the invitation.
I just this is just a, I'm asking you some information.
So you said I would have to say seven.
So, like you're taking some time and you're like I think it's this, it's just another way of saying, like I think.
Yeah.
I don't really remember what it said on my invitation.
I would have to say seven.
So it's kind of a guess, but you're kind of want to double check.
You're going to want to double check that invite time.
So you don't show up early.
That's not good.
Right.
And here you're, here you're illustrating that like you, you think you're sure, but like don't like you shouldn't base everything off of this answer because i'm not quite sure it shows that you're not quite sure yeah by the way a cultural tip michelle when you're invited to let's say like a summer barbecue um when do you show up like what is what's your what's your mo when it comes to show up time typically so it really depends i i i would say probably like 15 minutes into it, maybe half an hour, you know, cause like a lot of times barbecues are more like a open.
Yeah.
Open kind of like an open house.
Like it's, it's, it's a barbecue is different from like, oh, we're here in like a sit down meal.
Right.
A barbecue is usually everybody's just kind of coming in and out and yeah.
So what about you?
Yeah.
Well, I mean, it's always good, if you're hosting the barbecue, to let listeners know when you're serving food.
Right.
So we hosted a barbecue on Memorial day and we said, you know um, something like come over at three, food at four.
So that meant people could really come anytime between three and four right, if they wanted to eat and be part of the barbecue, like properly part of the barbecue.
Um right, so look for that tip like on your invite, like when are you eating?
And then you know obviously, for like a sit down meal, it's more important that you come.
Make sure you're there when the meal is being served, because that can be very stressful for the host.
Yeah, but i think showing up half an hour late is perfect.
That's my mode.
Yeah, for that kind of... Anyways, pro tip.
Pro tip.
All right, Lindsay, what's the takeaway for today?
All right, so these are similar, but as we looked at them more, we saw that, I have to say, is quite different from I would say, or I would have to say.
I would say and I would have to say are more about taking a guess, throwing out what you think.
And I have to say is about getting ready to state kind of a controversial or unstated opinion.
That's really important, those differences.
That's what I want our listeners to remember today.
I think that's the biggest takeaway for today.
Well said, Lindsay.
Good stuff.
All right, Michelle.
Guys, hit follow on the podcast.
And Michelle, I'll see you very soon.
You take care.
Bye.
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