language learning center · C1 · Lesson 6
Adapting register with precision
Adjust directness, formality, and interpersonal distance while keeping the same request or criticism clear.
Step 1 of 8 — Dialogue
~5 min~40 min total
Work from a natural example to useful language, one small pattern, a spoken attempt, and a response that is relevant to your life.
Leila
Could you clarify what you mean by “final”? I want to make sure we are working from the same assumption.
Marcus
Of course. I meant ready for internal review, not ready for publication.
Leila
That helps. Would you mind updating the heading so that the distinction is explicit?
Marcus
Certainly. With a close colleague, I might simply say, “Can you make that clearer?”, but this version suits the wider group.
Understand a natural example and learn a small set of useful words, phrases, and patterns.
These items were selected by the lesson curriculum for practical use—not extracted as an every-word list.
Could you clarify what you mean by…?
Could you clarify what you mean by “final”? I want to make sure we are working from the same assumption.
I want to make sure that…
Could you clarify what you mean by “final”? I want to make sure we are working from the same assumption.
Would you mind…?
That helps. Would you mind updating the heading so that the distinction is explicit?
It might be worth revisiting…
It might be worth revisiting…
To put that more directly,…
To put that more directly,…
Which request is clear and appropriately formal for a new professional contact?
Listen, then choose what you heard.
Write your own sentence using this item.
This is self-practice. It is not automatically scored as correct or incorrect.
Answer in your own words. Record yourself, listen back, and then compare your response with the model answer.
Deliver the same English request to a close friend, a new colleague, and a formal group, changing only the features the relationship requires.
Use a real request you may need to make in more than one social setting.
Adapt register precisely in English
Daily goal
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Each activity counts once a day. A correct answer, a completed writing task, or a positive speaking reflection counts toward your goal. One activity keeps your streak going.
- 1. Could you clarify what you mean by…?
- 2. I want to make sure that…
- 3. Would you mind…?
- 4. It might be worth revisiting…
- 5. To put that more directly,…