38. Expressing your Reservations - 2. Linking Gambits

Conversation Gambits - Eric Keller, Sylvia T Warner 1988

38. Expressing your Reservations
2. Linking Gambits

When someone puts forward a plan which you don't agree with completely, you have to be able to express your doubts and your reservations.

Imagine the situation where someone in your family —perhaps your son or your wife — suggests the following changes in your life. Work in pairs one suggests the changes, the other expresses reservations. Use the phrases in the list to introduce your reservations.

Change 1

For ten years you have rented the same two-bedroomed flat. You now have two children, a girl and a boy. They will soon need their own rooms. What about looking for a bigger house?

Change 2

All your life you've had trouble sleeping. Every night, at about 3 in the morning you wake up, go to the kitchen, make yourself a cup of tea, and read a book. You then go back to bed and waken up around 8.30. Your partner thinks you should see a doctor.

Change 3

You were brought up to be very polite, and never say what you really think of someone. Your son has just told you that you area hypocrite. He wants you to start showing people what you really think of them.

Change 4

You have always been a big eater’. As a result you are no longer as thin as you used to be. Your partner suggests you go on a crash diet!

I’m afraid ...

I don’t see how ...

But the problem is ...

Yes, but ...

I doubt ...

Possibly, but ...

Yes, but the problem really is ...

What I’m worried about is ...

What bothers me is ...

1. The general phrase for introducing any answer which your listener may think is “unhelpful”.