Buying Time While Speaking - Functional Language
Practise buying time while speaking at B2–C1 level with useful phrase patterns and short situation-based responses. A separate page of suggested answers supports checking and discussion of other appropriate responses.
What’s in the worksheet?
- Useful phrase patterns
- Situation-based response practice
- Space for written responses
- Suggested answers on page 2
Pause thoughtfully to clarify a question or check information before giving a professional answer.
Worksheet preview
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Page 1 of 2 · A4 printable PDF
Page 2 of 2 · Answer key · A4 printable PDF
A simple way to teach it
Before the lesson
Give learners page 1; use the suggested answers on page 2 after they have written and compared their own responses.
- Match phrases to considering a view, checking a contract or giving a provisional off-the-top-of-your-head response.
- Write replies about strategy, falling sales, estimates, complex choices and other unprepared questions.
- Practise one exchange and explicitly identify what can be answered now versus after reviewing information.
Support and extension
Support with question/check/provisional answer notes. Extend by asking one precise clarification before responding. Do not fabricate figures or contract terms to fill a silence; a marked provisional view is not a verified conclusion.
Suggested approach. Adjust the pace and number of questions to suit your class.
