The following language structures are used to manage interaction in spoken communication and to make conversations more natural, polite, and coherent.
They help speakers gain time to think, show interest, and respond appropriately, especially in discussions, interviews, and oral exams.
Using such expressions demonstrates communicative competence, as the speaker can maintain fluency, ask for clarification, and react effectively even when unsure or unprepared.

 

  • Let me see, …
  • Well, let me think, …
  • Hm, let me think about that for a moment …
  • I’ll have to think about it.
  • How shall / can I put it?
  • What’s the word for it?

 

 

 

 

 

Playing for time – or if you don´t know what to say