{"id":50584,"date":"2020-01-15T01:15:00","date_gmt":"2020-01-15T01:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/127.0.0.1\/aee\/aee-1296-clarification-american-english-teachers-podcast\/"},"modified":"2023-04-25T15:42:31","modified_gmt":"2023-04-25T15:42:31","slug":"aee-1296-clarification-american-english-teachers-podcast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.allearsenglish.com\/aee-1296-clarification-american-english-teachers-podcast\/","title":{"rendered":"AEE 1296: Why Unpacking Isn’t Always About Travel"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"ask<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Have you been in a situation where you needed a bit of clarity?<\/p>\n

Did you want somebody to help you to clarify but feel unsure of how to ask for it in English?<\/p>\n

We\u2019re going to look at the various ways to ask for clarity, because it comes up in conversation quite often.<\/p>\n

You will know how to ask for clarification, and how to use these phrases in conversations and common situations. <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Get Your Transcripts Today!<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\"English<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Make sure you understand every word you hear on All Ears English.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bring your English to the advanced level with new vocabulary and natural expressions.<\/strong>
Subscribe and get the transcripts delivered by email.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Learn to speak naturally with the American accent.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Click here to subscribe and save 50%<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Today we have a great listener question that may prove to be quite helpful. <\/p>\n

\n

Hi Lindsay, Michelle and Jessica!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m Joy from the Philippines, and I\u2019m currently working in Thailand. I listen to you every day and my day isn\u2019t complete without your awesome podcast. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

I feel like I know the three of you personally based on stories you tell on the show and on your IG. That\u2019s connection right there! You\u2019re walking the talk! <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

My question: Could you tell me other words\/ phrases I can use instead of saying \u201cclarify\u201d when I want someone to make things clear? I heard others say \u201cshine a light on something.\u201d I wonder what else I can use to sound a little bit more natural. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 I appreciate what you do so much.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/div>\n

Asking For Clarity In The Right Way<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This is a question that you can probably relate to in your conversations.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s helpful for students to ask questions about English, but also for general situations like this.<\/p>\n

It may be asking questions about a specific topic such as asking for directions.<\/a><\/p>\n

This question is about a word or even a situation where you need a bit of clarity.<\/p>\n

When you ask somebody to clarify something, you are asking them to make something clear.<\/p>\n

You might say \u201ccan you clarify what you meant in this sentence?\u201d<\/p>\n

As in the example in the question, you could say something like \u201cshine a light\u201d on something.<\/p>\n

You can also use another version of this which is closely related, which is to say you want to \u201cshed light\u201d on something.<\/p>\n

These are all different ways for asking somebody to clarify something, and they can work quite well in conversation.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Other Ways To Ask For Clarity<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When you are asking for clarity in something, you want to be very direct in this request.<\/p>\n

The good news is that since this may come up often in conversation<\/a>, there are multiple ways of saying this.<\/p>\n

So what else can you say when you are looking for a bit of clarification on something?<\/p>\n