Hello, this is Alicia from China, and you are listening to Everybody ESL.
Welcome to episode 446 of Everybody ESL, the podcast for everybody who wants to improve their English, practice their English or just learn more English.
My name is Ben and I have a mini episode for you today where I am going to teach you about one English topic.
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Okay, let's get on with this mini-episode.
In this episode, I am going to talk about a few very common phrases that you will often hear in conversation.
I'm thinking of phrases like these, right?
You know?
Do you know what I mean?
Do you know what I'm saying?
These are the kinds of things that people often say during conversation as a way of checking in with the listener, a way of saying to the listener are you still listening to me?
Are you paying attention?
Do you understand?
All of these expressions are extremely common, especially in casual conversation, in casual speech.
Let me tell you about each of them.
The first one is the shortest and the simplest, and it is this.
Right?
Right?
R-I-G-H-T.
And people use this to mean something like, doesn't this sound correct?
Or, do you understand me?
Or, do you agree with me?
The next one is also very short, and it is, you know?
You know?
Y-O-U-K-N-O-W.
You know?
And this one is often pronounced a shorter way instead of you know, you will usually hear this pronounced as you know, you know, with just a short syllable yeah before the word no, you know.
The next one is do you know what I mean?
Do you know what I mean?
And this means again do you understand, or am I being clear?
Or even are you still listening?
Are you paying attention to me?
This phrase is also usually said in a shorter, quicker, more casual way.
Instead of do you know what I mean, you will often hear know what I mean?
Know what I mean?
Or even, know what I mean?
Can you understand that, know what I mean?
That is a short, quick way of saying, do you know what I mean?
And the last of these phrases that I'm going to tell you about today is this.
Do you know what I'm saying?
Do you know what I'm saying?
This one almost never sounds that clear.
It usually has a much shorter version.
Know what I'm saying?
Know what I'm saying?
Or even, know I'm saying?
It can be hard to understand that if you don't know what the person is actually saying.
Know I'm saying?
That means, do you know what I'm saying?
In other words, do you understand me?
Or, are you still listening?
Are you still there?
Are you paying attention to me?
Even though these are all used to mean do you understand?
Or are you still listening, or something like that.
Sometimes when people use these, it's really just because it has become a habit for them.
Some people use phrases like this often when they speak.
Some people use phrases like, you know, or do you know what I'm saying?
Very often, it has just become a habit for them.
They are not really making sure that you're paying attention.
They're not really checking in with the person they're talking with.
It has just become a habit to use these kinds of expressions.
Those are four very common, very natural-sounding expressions that you will often hear in conversation.
And even if you do not use them or do not want to use them, I still think it's a very good idea for you to be familiar with them so that you will understand them when you hear.
Them are very common phrases that I think you should know.
This is the end of episode 446 of Everybody ESL.
Remember if you have questions about English or if you have comments for me, or if you would like to record an introduction that I can play at the beginning of future episodes.
The same way, Alicia recorded the introduction you heard at the beginning of this episode.
Send an email to everybodyesl at gmailcom.
I'll be back soon with a new episode.
And until then, keep going, keep practicing and keep learning.
I'll see you soon.
Goodbye.
