English grammar
Buying time: let's see, right then, how shall I put it?, what I mean is, well, anyway
Improvise a short speech, buying time with natural fillers.
From the scene A few words from Don Ramón
In short
Fill pauses with set phrases: let's see, right then, how shall I put it?, what I mean is, well, anyway.
- starting let's see…
- getting going right then, …
- looking for the word how shall I put it?
- explaining yourself what I mean is, …
- moving on to the point well, anyway, …
Your turn
Which one goes with getting going?
Options: let's see… · how shall I put it? · right then, …
Show answer
getting going → right then, …
How it works
Native speakers fill pauses with set phrases instead of silence.
Good to know
Let's see to start, right then to get going, how shall I put it? while looking for a word, what I mean is to explain, and well, anyway to move on to the point.
Good to know
Used sparingly, they make you sound fluent, not lost.
starting let's see…
Ramón
Let's see... Right then, good afternoon, everyone.
A ver... Pues nada, buenas tardes a todos.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank)... Right then, good afternoon, everyone.
Options: Let's see · How shall I put it · What I mean is
Show answer
Ramón
Let's see... Right then, good afternoon, everyone.
A ver... Pues nada, buenas tardes a todos.
getting going right then, …
Ramón
Let's see... Right then, good afternoon, everyone.
A ver... Pues nada, buenas tardes a todos.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Let's see... (blank), good afternoon, everyone.
Options: Right then · How shall I put it · What I mean is
Show answer
Ramón
Let's see... Right then, good afternoon, everyone.
A ver... Pues nada, buenas tardes a todos.
looking for the word how shall I put it?
Ramón
Elena is... how shall I put it? A danger.
Elena es... ¿cómo os diría? Un peligro.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Elena is... (blank)? A danger.
Options: let's see · right then · how shall I put it
Show answer
Ramón
Elena is... how shall I put it? A danger.
Elena es... ¿cómo os diría? Un peligro.
explaining yourself what I mean is, …
Ramón
But a danger who saved this building. What I mean is, without her...
Pero un peligro que salvó este edificio. Vamos, que sin ella...
Your turn
What fills the gap?
But a danger who saved this building. (blank), without her...
Options: Right then · What I mean is · Let's see
Show answer
Ramón
But a danger who saved this building. What I mean is, without her...
Pero un peligro que salvó este edificio. Vamos, que sin ella...
moving on to the point well, anyway, …
Ramón
...well, anyway, without her, I'd be very lonely.
...pues nada, que sin ella, yo estaría muy solo.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
...(blank), without her, I'd be very lonely.
Options: well, anyway · let's see · right then
Show answer
Ramón
...well, anyway, without her, I'd be very lonely.
...pues nada, que sin ella, yo estaría muy solo.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| starting | let's see… |
|---|---|
| getting going | right then, … |
| looking for the word | how shall I put it? |
| explaining yourself | what I mean is, … |
| moving on to the point | well, anyway, … |
More lines from the story
- RamónThe thing is, I'm not one for talking. My thing is collecting the rent.Es que yo no soy de hablar mucho. Lo mío es cobrar.
- ElenaRamón, that was beautiful. It'll go in the second edition.Ramón, eso ha sido precioso. Irá en la segunda edición.