Expressing lack of understanding

Expressing lack of understanding and asking for clarification

1- Expressing lack of understanding.

It is a situation when there something not clear for you, it’s an ambiguous one. Expressing lack of understanding can be done in different ways. Here are some :

• I beg your pardon.
• I beg your pardon, but I don’t quite understand.
• I’m not quite sure I know what you mean.
• I’m not quite sure I follow you.
• I don’t quite see what you mean.
• I’m not sure I got your point.
• Sorry, I didn’t quite hear what you said.
• Sorry, I didn’t get your point.
• I don’t quite see what you’re getting at.

2- Asking for clarification

When something is not clear then obviously and evidently you ask for clarification. In other words you want the interlocutor to make it clear for you. This can be done in many ways. Here are some:

• What do you mean by…?
• Do you mean…?
• Could you say that again, please?
• Could you repeat, please?
• Could you clarify that please?
• Would you elaborate on that, please?
• Could you be more explicit?
• Could you explain what you mean by…?
• Could you give us an example?
• I wonder if you could say that in a different way.
• Could you put it differently, please?
• Could you be more specific, please?