Phrases and practice

Learn a useful phrase in context, listen to its pronunciation and practise saying it.

• I suggest treating this deadline as a reference point, not an unconditional commitment.C1 · #1301
• I am happy to discuss a compromise, provided both sides clearly spell out its cost.C1 · #1302
• I am not questioning your competence; I am challenging the assumption on which this decision was based.C1 · #1303
• It is worth separating the right to object from the obligation to present a ready-made alternative.C1 · #1304
• Abandoning this idea doesn't invalidate our previous agreements.C1 · #1305
• In our haste, we agreed on a solution before agreeing on the objective.C1 · #1306
• I will accept this role on condition that I have a say in the decisions for which I am responsible.C1 · #1307
• Transparency requires not only disclosing a decision, but also specifying who can change it.C1 · #1308
• In this matter, I would rather have a clear refusal than an empty promise.C1 · #1309
• We have hit a wall: without new data, we are repeating the same arguments.C1 · #1310
• This solution buys us time, but it doesn't remove the source of the problem.C1 · #1311
• Let's leave ourselves room to manoeuvre before committing to a single supplier.C1 · #1312
• Let's not add fuel to the fire by settling the dispute in front of uninvolved people.C1 · #1313
• Your remark hit the nail on the head, although its tone distracted from the substance.C1 · #1314
• Good intentions don't guarantee that the listener will interpret the joke in the same way.C1 · #1315
• I don't want to lump all these situations together when they differ in important details.C1 · #1316
• The offer looks favourable as long as we assume that our needs won't change.C1 · #1317
• By basing the budget solely on the lowest estimate, we overlook the risk that the actual costs may be higher.C1 · #1318
• A lack of fluency in speaking doesn't necessarily imply a lack of understanding of the issue.C1 · #1319
• Let's preserve the original wording in the quotation and clearly separate corrections from the author's words.C1 · #1320
• An event log shows what was done, but doesn't explain why the user did it.C1 · #1321
• Consent to share data for one purpose isn't blanket consent to use it for any purpose.C1 · #1322
• The model describes the average course of change, but doesn't reflect all local conditions.C1 · #1323
• The narrator misjudges the characters, which doesn't mean that every event described is invented.C1 · #1324
• Let's not confuse the publicity surrounding an initiative with the actual extent of its impact.C1 · #1325
• That comment gets to the heart of the problem: we agreed on a deadline, but we still understand the scope of the task differently.C1 · #1451
• Let's leave this question open, provided that we establish what information will allow us to revisit it.C1 · #1452
• Before voting, let's refine the selection criteria so that the outcome does not depend solely on how the proposals are presented.C1 · #1453
• I don't want my request for further clarification to be taken as an attempt to delay the decision.C1 · #1454
• I want feedback that distinguishes the quality of the execution from the merits of the idea itself.C1 · #1455
• When reporting this opinion, let's make clear whether it is a direct quotation or our summary of someone's position.C1 · #1456
• That qualification limits the scope of the conclusion without undermining all the premises on which it rests.C1 · #1457
• Despite our disagreement, we can agree on the sequence of actions while reserving the right to assess their results at each stage.C1 · #1458
• The mediator's role requires a clear distinction between conveying the parties' positions and putting forward a proposal of their own.C1 · #1459
• I don't want to present you with a fait accompli; I am sharing the plan before making any binding arrangements.C1 · #1460
• Travelling together need not mean following the same programme all day, provided that we agree in advance when to meet.C1 · #1461
• Rather than guessing what someone's disappointment means, let's ask which expectation was not met.C1 · #1462
• A route description should distinguish the absence of stairs from accessibility for a wheelchair user.C1 · #1463
• When comparing offers, let's list one-off expenses separately from costs that will recur after the promotion ends.C1 · #1464
• Please clarify whether the change of delivery date applies to the whole order or only to the items listed in the message.C1 · #1465
• An exercise can require independent work while still allowing questions about what the instructions mean.C1 · #1466
• It helps to identify which error comes from misunderstanding the rule and which from an oversight when applying it.C1 · #1467
• An explanation that works in conversation may need additional context when written down without the other person's questions.C1 · #1468
• The default setting should be described so that the user knows the consequences of leaving it unchanged.C1 · #1469
• A data-loss warning will only be useful if it identifies which data is at risk and how to cancel the operation.C1 · #1470
• Minimal scenery directs attention to the dialogue, provided that the audience can identify where and when the action takes place.C1 · #1471
• The review reveals a major plot twist before explaining why it was necessary to assess the book.C1 · #1472
• When assessing the idea of a community garden, let's consider not only willingness to take part but also the ability to care for the plants regularly.C1 · #1473
• The findings from the consultation should distinguish the number of submissions from the number of people supporting a particular solution.C1 · #1474
• That example sheds new light on the matter, but does not by itself settle which of the two interpretations should be accepted.C1 · #1475
• I didn't want to act on my own initiative, so before contacting the client I checked who was handling the matter.C1 · #1601
• When introducing a temporary solution, let's set a review date and name the person who will decide whether to keep using it.C1 · #1602
• Agreement to record a class should also involve an explanation of who will be able to listen to participants' contributions.C1 · #1603
• Equal speaking time will not ensure equal participation if some people can finish their point while others are constantly interrupted.C1 · #1604
• I can talk about my own experience, but I don't want to reveal details that concern only other family members.C1 · #1605
• When preparing a surprise, let's make sure that keeping it secret does not force anyone to cancel plans that matter to them without an explanation.C1 · #1606
• Accepting a gift should not be treated as agreement to expectations the giver did not disclose beforehand.C1 · #1607
• After a longer absence, I need a briefing on changes to working practices, not just a list of outstanding tasks.C1 · #1608
• The plan for the first day of the trip should allow for rest after arrival rather than assuming everyone is fully ready from the moment of check-in.C1 · #1609
• Availability shown in a search does not replace booking confirmation if the number of places can change while the order is being placed.C1 · #1610
• Calling a dish 'homemade' creates expectations about its taste and preparation, but means different things to different people.C1 · #1611
• A part can be the correct size and still not fit the device if its mounting method is different.C1 · #1612
• A forecast should show which assumptions remain valid rather than simply moving its date to the next period.C1 · #1613
• An 'in progress' status will be more useful if it shows what has been completed and which decision the next step is waiting for.C1 · #1614
• A learner who recognises a word in a text may still need practice to use it freely in their own speech.C1 · #1615
• Being able to listen to the instructions instead of reading them independently changes the task conditions, so we need to establish whether we are assessing reading or understanding of the problem itself.C1 · #1616
• A fluent answer may come from practising the same question earlier rather than from handling a new situation with equal ease.C1 · #1617
• When planting trees beside the square, let's think about the shade they will provide in years to come, not only how they look on opening day.C1 · #1618
• A notice about a temporary trail closure should explain the reason for the restriction so that the prohibition does not seem arbitrary.C1 · #1619
• Shared space requires agreement on who is responsible for cleaning up after an event, even if participation itself is free.C1 · #1620
• The narrator's delivery can give a scene tension that we did not notice when silently reading the same passage.C1 · #1621
• Removing a short scene from a film can make a character's later decision seem abrupt, even though it previously had a clear justification.C1 · #1622
• It is worth presenting a description of the other person's emotions as our own reading if they have not confirmed that this is how they feel.C1 · #1623
• The final summary of a conversation should retain the reservations raised, even if there was no time left to respond to them.C1 · #1624
• Finding a common language requires checking whether we use the same words to refer to the same situation.C1 · #1625
• The person approving the result should know whether they are checking compliance with the agreement or also assessing the merits of the solution itself.C1 · #1751
• Let's not cling to the plan if the condition on which we based it no longer holds.C1 · #1752
• A discussion of a failure will be more objective if we reconstruct the information available at the time of the decision instead of judging it solely by the outcome.C1 · #1753
• Schedule flexibility loses its value if every change requires everyone to be available at the same moment.C1 · #1754
• Helping to plan an answer is not the same as supplying its content, although both types of support can lead to a similar result.C1 · #1755
• Repeating a definition word for word may demonstrate a good memory without establishing whether the learner can apply the concept.C1 · #1756
• If revising work is part of learning, feedback should indicate a possible next step rather than just a final grade.C1 · #1757
• The description 'maintenance-free' needs clarification if the device still requires regular cleaning or refilling of supplies.C1 · #1758
• Information about a product's durability is more useful when it states the conditions of use under which it was assessed.C1 · #1759
• A quiet neighbourhood and a quiet room are not equivalent promises if noise can come from inside the building.C1 · #1760
• A description of an accessible entrance should also state whether it leads to the same parts of the building as the main entrance.C1 · #1761
• A request for help can remain specific even when we do not want to disclose every detail of a personal situation.C1 · #1762
• I want to take some of the burden off you, but first let's establish which tasks you can actually hand over to me.C1 · #1763
• Returning to a shared plan after a disagreement does not require pretending that the earlier difference of opinion never existed.C1 · #1764
• Marking a message as urgent should reflect how soon a response is needed, not merely how important the topic is to the sender.C1 · #1765
• A visible read receipt does not establish whether the recipient had the opportunity to consider the content carefully.C1 · #1766
• A screenshot records the view at a given moment, but does not by itself show which actions led to that state.C1 · #1767
• A consultation will be more transparent if participants know which elements can still be changed and which have already been settled.C1 · #1768
• Providing a place at a meeting is not enough for participation if newcomers cannot understand how to take the floor.C1 · #1769
• Assessment of a new public garden should consider whether it can be maintained rather than stop at the attractiveness of the design.C1 · #1770
• An estimate of the number of animals in an area should be distinguished from the number observed during a single visit.C1 · #1771
• A change in narrative perspective can reveal the limitations of an earlier account without making it entirely false.C1 · #1772
• A recurring musical motif can connect distant scenes before the audience consciously notices their similarity.C1 · #1773
• I don't want to add fuel to the fire, so I will first clear up the misunderstanding and only then return to the disputed topic.C1 · #1774
• Let's make this clear: I can help prepare the meeting, but I will not take responsibility for its final programme.C1 · #1775