The Situation
You understand everything in the meeting, you have a good idea — but by the time you've prepared the perfect sentence, the conversation has moved on. This is the most common frustration of B2 speakers at work. The solution is not perfect grammar; it's quick, ready-made phrases that get you into the conversation and give you a second to think.
Key Phrases
Getting in
- Can I jump in here?
- Sorry to interrupt, but could I just add something?
- If I could come in on that point...
- Can I build on what Sarah said?
- I'd like to pick up on something Tom mentioned.
Tip: start with a phrase, even before your idea is ready. It buys you two or three seconds.
Giving your opinion
- From my perspective,...
- The way I see it,...
- I'd suggest that we...
- One thing we might consider is...
Agreeing
- I completely agree.
- That's a good point, and I'd add that...
- Exactly. That's what we saw last quarter too.
Disagreeing tactfully
- I see what you mean, but...
- I'm not sure I agree. My concern is that...
- That's a fair point, but have we considered...?
- I'd see it slightly differently.
Always give a reason — disagreement without a reason sounds like a personal attack.
When someone interrupts you
- Sorry, could I just finish my point?
- Just one more second — I'm almost done.
- (later) Going back to what I was saying...
When someone repeats your idea as their own
- Yes, that's what I was suggesting earlier — I'm glad we agree.
- Building on my earlier point,...
Dialogue 1: Joining and Disagreeing
Manager: So I think we should move the customer event online this year. It's cheaper and easier. Mark: I agree. It saves the venue costs. Ana: Can I jump in here? I see the cost advantage, but I'm not sure online is the best option. My concern is that last year, most of our new contracts came from conversations at the event itself. Manager: That's a fair point. Do you have numbers? Ana: Roughly 40% of new clients said they signed after meeting us in person. Mark: Hmm, that's significant. Ana: One thing we might consider is a smaller in-person event for key clients, plus an online session for everyone else. Manager: I like that. Let's look at the budget for both.
Dialogue 2: Handling an Interruption
Kenji: From my perspective, the main problem with the new system is training. Most of the team hasn't— Dave: Honestly, the system is fine. People just need to— Kenji: Sorry, Dave, could I just finish my point? Most of the team hasn't had any training at all, so they're using the old workarounds. Dave: OK, fair enough. Kenji: So I'd suggest two short training sessions next week. That should solve most of the complaints.
Tips
- Speak early. It's easier to contribute in the first ten minutes than to break in later.
- Use names: "Building on Priya's point..." — it's friendly and shows you're listening.
- Short and clear beats long and perfect. Make one point, give one reason or example, and stop.
- On video calls, use the "raise hand" feature or unmute and say "Could I come in here?"
Common Mistakes
- "I am agree." → I agree.
- "You are wrong." → I'd see it slightly differently... / I'm not sure I agree...
- "I want to say something." → better: Could I add something?
- Waiting for a pause that never comes. In lively meetings, you need a polite interruption phrase.
Your Turn: Practise Speaking
- Say three ways to interrupt politely, as fast as you can.
- Disagree with this statement using a tactful phrase and a reason: "We should stop working from home completely."
- Practise Dialogue 2, then change it so you are the person who interrupts — and apologizes.