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Do you find it difficult to follow conversations with native English speakers?
That’s often because proficient English speakers use short fixed phrases, as cues and signed posts, to make it clear what they’re going to do and say next.
Students often miss these.
In this lesson, I’ll show you the key fixed phrases, including connectors that will help you master and control conversations in English.
This will include how to:
- Start a conversation
- Agree or disagree
- Make a suggestion
- Add ideas
- Change topic
- Return to a topic
- Persuade someone
- End a conversation
Starting a Conversation
- What do you think about _____?
- Have you heard about ____, what do you think about it?
- Do you know that _____, what’s your take?
What do you think about that new film?
Have you heard about that new film? What do you think about it?
Do you know that new film? What’s your take?
Vocabulary Note
- What’s your take? = What do you think?
Agreeing
- Fair point!
- Indeed!
- That’s so true!
- That’s what I’m talking about!
A: This new law will never work, people will find a way round it.
B: Fair point!
A: This new law will never work, people will find a way round it.
B: Indeed!
A: This new law will never work, people will find a way round it.
B: That’s so true!
A: This new law will never work, people will find a way round it.
B: That’s what I’m talking about!
Disagreeing
- The thing is _____
- Interesting, but ____
- That’s all well and good but____
- Actually, _____
A: I think this new law is a great idea
B: The thing is it will never work because people will find a way round it.
A: I think this new law is a great idea
B: Interesting, but it will never work because people will find a way round it.
A: I think this new law is a great idea
B: That’s all well and good but it will never work because people will find a way round it.
A: I think this new law is a great idea
B: Actually, it will never work because people will find a way round it!
Making a Suggestion
- How about this?
- I think we should _____
How about this? Let’s hold the meeting before lunch!
I think we should hold the meeting before lunch
Adding an Idea
- Yes and what’s more ______
Yes, and what’s more, we should have coffee and cake at the meeting.
Interrupting
- Can I just say _____
- Forgive me but _____
- Do you know what?
Can I just say, I think that’s a great idea.
Forgive me but that’s a terrible idea.
Do you know what? I think that’s a great idea.
Changing Topic
- Anyway!
- By the way _______
- Speaking of / about ______
- Talking of / about _____
Anyway, let’s talk about my birthday party now..
By the way, do you think it will rain tomorrow?
Speaking of rain, have you seen the flooding in London?
Talking of work, did I tell you we have a new boss now?
Returning to a Topic
- As I was saying_____
As I was saying, my birthday is coming up soon and I’m going to have a party
Persuading
Persuading someone to agree
- Well, look at it this way, _____
Look at it this way, if we flew less, we would be saving the planet
Persuading someone to take an action
- You might as well!
- You’ve got nothing to lose!
- Why not give it a go?
A: You should apply for that job. I mean, you might as well!
A: You should apply for that job. You’ve got nothing to lose!
A: You should apply for that job. Why not give it a go?
Showing Surprise
We often repeat something someone said that surprises us, but making it into a question.
A: I am getting married
B: You’re getting married?
A: I am getting married
B: You’re getting what?
A: I am going to have a baby
B: You are going to have a baby?
A: I am going to have a baby?
B: You are going to have a what?
No way!
Ending a Conversation
- Let’s wind this up!
- Let’s wind up!
- Right!
- At the end of the day______
At the end of the day, I think you should apply for that job.
Can you think of any more cues or signposts that signal what is going to be said in a conversation? If so, let us know in the comments below.
FAQs
Conversational cues and signposts are short, fixed phrases that tell the listener what is about to happen next in a conversation.
For example, phrases like “The thing is…”, “By the way…”, or “As I was saying…” signal whether you’re about to disagree, change topic, or return to a previous idea.
Proficient and native English speakers use these automatically, which is why conversations can feel fast or confusing if you don’t recognise them.
Conversational cues help you take control of conversations instead of just reacting.
They allow you to do things like, agree or disagree, interrupt politely, change or return to a topic smoothly and even persuade someone.
When listeners hear cues like “The thing is…”, “By the way…” or “As I was saying…”, they instantly understand your intention.
This makes your speech easier to follow and makes you sound confident and fluent, even if your grammar and vocabulary are simple.
Mastering these cues is one of the fastest ways to move from just “following a conversation” to controlling English conversations.
No. And trying to memorise everything at once usually backfires.
A better approach is to:
- Choose one situation (for example, disagreeing or changing topic)
- Practise 2–3 phrases only
- Use them in short examples or mini-conversations
In just a few minutes a day, these phrases become automatic and start appearing naturally when you speak.
Both.
These conversational signposts are extremely useful for:
- IELTS Speaking Part 3 (agreeing, disagreeing, persuading, developing ideas)
- Workplace English (meetings, discussions, interruptions)
- Everyday conversations with native speakers
They help you sound organised, confident, and fluent without needing complex vocabulary.
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