Which phrases help you participate in meetings?
Take the floor with "Could I just add something?", show listening with "That makes sense," and check with "Could you say that again, please?"
- Neutral questions suit most project meetings.
- Short listening signals are not agreement.
- Currently means "at present"; actually does not.
A2 · Meetings · 10 minTake an active part in meetings with simple English phrases.
Learn friendly phrases for speaking up, listening, and checking in project meetings — free to try with no signup.
- CEFR levelA2 · Elementary
- TimeAbout 10 minutes
- Three movesSpeak up — listen — check
- SettingEveryday project meeting
01 / 07
Which phrases help you participate in meetings?
Three simple groups of phrases help you participate in meetings: taking the floor, showing that you are listening, and checking understanding. For the first move, use a line such as "Could I just add something?" You can then show that you are following with "I see what you mean" or "That makes sense." If a figure or word remains unclear, ask "Sorry, could you say that again, please?" These three jobs appear in almost every project meeting. You do not need a long prepared speech. One short sentence is enough when it matches the situation. Learn the job of each phrase as well as its words. You will then know which building block to choose quickly. The simple sequence is: join in politely, stay visibly attentive, and ask a clear question when needed.
02 / 07
How do you speak up in a meeting in English?
The easiest way to speak up in a meeting is with a short question. "Could I just add something?" is neutral and fits most project meetings. Could and just make the entry friendly even though you are briefly interrupting the conversation. In a small team you know well, you can use the more informal "Sorry, can I jump in here?" Both lines make your intention clear immediately. Avoid the literal transfer "I want to say something." It is understandable, but it sounds too blunt in this situation. Wait for a small pause, say the question calmly, and then give your point directly. If you need to add a figure, you might say: "Could I just add something? The figure for May is 42." Your contribution then stays short, concrete, and polite.
03 / 07
Which business meeting phrases show that you are listening?
Short lines such as "I see what you mean," "That's a good point," and "That makes sense" show that you are actively listening in a business meeting. They help the speaker because the explanation is visibly reaching you. Use these lines sparingly and at a natural pause. They are not a complete response to a proposal. In this lesson, they mean only: I am following you. Agreeing or disagreeing is a different conversational job and belongs to Agreeing and Disagreeing. That distinction matters. When someone explains a new delivery date, you can say "That makes sense" and then ask a question. You confirm understanding without making a decision yet. A calm tone and a brief look toward the speaker make the signal even clearer. You appear attentive without stopping the flow of the discussion.
04 / 07
How do you check when you have not understood something?
When you have not understood something, ask politely for repetition or name the exact unclear part. For a whole sentence or figure, use "Sorry, could you say that again, please?" The shorter informal option is "Sorry, I didn't catch that." If only one word is unclear, be more specific: "What do you mean by 'deadline'?" A precise question saves time because the other person knows what to explain. It can also buy you a moment before you answer. Ask straight away instead of writing the wrong figure in your notes. In a project meeting, a polite check helps the whole group. Other people may have missed the same detail. Sorry, could, and please keep the request friendly and simple. After the explanation, you can use a listening signal to show that the point is now clear.
05 / 07
Which German transfer errors should you avoid in a meeting?
The main German transfer error is the blunt line "I want to say something" as a word-for-word entry into the discussion. Replace it with the friendly question "Could I just add something?" A second error is "Have you understood?" The question can sound like a teacher checking a student. After your own explanation, ask the more natural "Does that make sense?" The third error involves the false friend actually. "Actually I work on the Schmidt project" does not say that this is your current work. For "at present," use currently: "I'm currently working on the Schmidt project." Check three things during practice: is your entry a friendly question, does your understanding check avoid sounding like a test, and do you use currently for present work? These small changes make your contribution sound much more natural.
06 / 07
How do you choose between neutral and informal meeting phrases?
Choose between neutral and informal meeting phrases according to the meeting type, not the country. In an ordinary project meeting, "Could I just add something?" is a safe neutral choice. In a familiar small team, "Sorry, can I jump in here?" can sound more relaxed. The same applies to checking. "Sorry, could you say that again, please?" is neutral; "Sorry, I didn't catch that" is shorter and more informal. When unsure, begin with the neutral option. If everyone speaks casually and you know the team, choose the shorter line. The goal is not to sound as formal as possible. The phrase needs to fit the group and your conversational job. Always practise with a concrete setting, such as a new project team or familiar colleagues. That teaches a real choice rather than one fixed sentence for every meeting.
07 / 07
How do you practise phrases for participating in meetings?
Practise phrases for participating in meetings in three short rounds. First, make one card for taking the floor, listening, and checking. Put "Could I just add something?", "That makes sense," and "Could you say that again, please?" on the cards. Read them aloud and use /kəd‿aɪ dʒəst/ for "Could I just…" Could stays short and links directly into I. Next, act out a tiny project meeting: someone gives a figure, you enter the conversation, show that you are listening, and ask a question. In the second round, change only the register. Use the informal alternatives for a familiar team. Go to Starting a Meeting for opening moves and Making Suggestions for proposals. Agreeing and disagreeing responses remain in Agreeing and Disagreeing.