❌ Don't Say "WHAT?"... 10 Expressions To Sound POLITE in English!

Sorry? Excuse Me? What did you say? In this British English vocabulary lesson you will learn how to sound like a native and be polite in English. Don't say what! Instead, use these 10 English alternatives to WHAT.
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If you liked this lesson on how to speak English politely stop saying WHAT in English, watch these other videos to learn English vocabulary and native English expressions:
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⛔ DON'T SAY "VERY": • 21 Ways to Avoid the W...
LEARN COMMON MISTAKES IN ENGLISH
• 🤔 The Most Confusing P...
LEARN ADVANCED ENGLISH GRAMMAR
• 💯 Advanced English Gra...
LEARN BRITISH ENGLISH EXPRESSIONS
• 🇬🇧 British English Exp...
LEARN BRITISH ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION
• 🇬🇧 Best British Englis...
Thanks, as always, for your LIKES, COMMENTS and SHARES!! 🙏
🔴 Remember to SUBSCRIBE to English with Greg to learn English with me and speak Advanced English!
Speak soon! 😀
Your British English Teacher,
~ Greg
#EnglishVocabulary #LearnEnglish #BritishEnglish #AdvancedEnglish #EnglishExpressions

[@ayathussain369]

An excellent teacher.. I swear👌🙏🤗🙏

[@gloriayasminricaamorim6032]

Thanks Teacher!! Hi from Brasil 👋 🇧🇷

[@rominabisio1137]

Thank you for all your lessons!

[@claudiaesposito9246]

It's always a great pleasure watching your videos, it helps a lot improving our English. Thanks also for presentating in a funny way, Greg👍

[@luisadigaudio7047]

You are an excellent teacher!! Bea from Buenos Aires

[@user-qf5ix4nn8q]

Thank you for your very clear explanation and distinct understandable pronunciation! It's so nice to watch your videos.

[@gastonc5466]

Hi Greg, thank you for all the videos !!! They are great and you explain in a very simple way

[@Micro-Moo]

Ha! What a brilliant explanation of the sarcastic way of saying 'I beg your pardon'!

[@joelmasamba6762]

Thanks a lot about your great lesson my amazing teacher i would rather you kept teaching us coz i wanna go to America

[@tymofiimilasius2333]

Thank you for your diligence. The video is completely useful.

[@EnglishWithGreg]

You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kathsquintero]

I love this video! Thank you so much!

[@fridav7306]

I am very pleased how you teach. Useful and simple.

[@MC-bq9dj]

VERY GOOD🤩 and useful video!👏🏻😍

[@michael.manasian]

I don't know why, but when I'm watching Greg's channel, it always looks like he's speaking my native language. And I bet it's not necessarily because I'm not bad in English. His explanation is excitingly impressive.

[@lemanqasimzade5681]

Greg, you are only awesome.

[@putuu85]

Thank you.

[@GonDronk-yu2ow]

very clear sir. thanks

[@safiakhan812]

I’m so glad that I’ve found your channel.

[@misskate4241]

"[...] some really native natural Expressions in English which is ALSO valued in exams!" I do love this friendly and positive tip 🥰😁

[@mastos2370]

Hi Greg l just want to tell you that l love your way of teaching.

[@olgacornejo3030]

i have been sharing your videos. Thank you. xx

[@thuylai6645]

Thanks

[@mardiameskine353]

Luv it🥺🥺💙💙

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You are great! Your lessons are so easy to remember.!

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Always useful lessons.

[@nonstoprider1623]

And it's Lovely 😍

[@facundoroman4109]

The final tip is the greatest.

[@justinawougno5635]

I really appreciate all your videos 🙏🙏

[@monarou3084]

I'm used to following American English videos, but now I found you, I think I'll become addict to your lessons! 220717

[@muhammadnaeem7440]

Good one

[@nataliamorganti5640]

Great

[@yesesalazar1489]

Great Greg! Thanks a lot, You’re fantastic 😊

[@uriysharp]

thans a lot

[@EnglishWithGreg]

You're welcome, Uriy! 😀

[@irmarosita8607]

I have learned a lot from you..thanks..🙏🙏🙏

[@gabrielbarbosa6975]

Thanks teacher, your lessons are improve my skills!

[@nerlandedorsinvil6313]

Good expressions

[@hanadlp9305]

Keep going

[@Andy-ig9ky]

Hi Greg,I'm new to Ur channel but have to say Ur lessons are very good and the way you put a bit of humour into this. Brilliant stuff. Greetings from Poland. Thanks a lot mate.

[@restaurantlebouquetgarni9333]

It really brought some memories back from my time living in the UK, to my point of view British English sounds great, is the one I personally prefer.

[@andini9061]

Great video, Sir Greg. I love learning English from your channel because really simple and clear. I hope I can get your frre book.

[@mestrejedidaanalisetecnica2489]

Very good!

[@EnglishWithGreg]

Thanks a lot! Please share the channel if you know anyone else who will find it useful 😉

[@servillanonaoe9089]

Over here in USA ..you must listen to the speaker's declarative sentences very carefully. Do not say " pardon me" twice or more if you missed it the speaker's statement or else you will end up to habitual attitude already...(excuse me,my apology or pardon) Avoid saying: pardon me,excuse me,or my apology at work ( your habitual if you want to keep your job)

[@sergeyd5777]

your habitual what? possessive + adjective what?

[@Micro-Moo]

Pardon me, but your judgment sounds like a sign of not politeness, but a kind of authoritarian/submissive attitude, something like 'dress code' or other dirty things. By the way, have you heard that 'you must' is a very strong expression, generally impolite? Please correct me if I'm wrong or misunderstood you.

[@koffifranckkouadio7367]

Hallo i want to thanks you for all the things you do every day for us to improve our english

[@sameddinnasibov9198]

You are brilliant. I have just started watching your videos. You are making excellent job.

[@EnglishWithGreg]

Thank you so much!

[@nadiyanadi182]

A few words to remember in case of need with pleasure👍

[@jacquesclouseau2274]

In radio communication in aviation the standard phrase is "Say again".

[@santiagoyamberla9727]

Hi...I need to talk in ENGLISH ADVANCED AND INPROVE IT....what can I Do????thanks greg...your expressions are very clear.....

[@EnglishWithGreg]

Hi Santiago. The first step you should take is to read my book (book.englishquickfix.com). If you are a Spanish speaker you may also be interested in my course for intermediate Spanish speakers: www.englishquickfix.com. Speak soon 😀

[@hussen8595]

My dear teacher am arafad from uae but my nationality Ethiopia 🇪🇹. Really you are fantastic teacher i don't say you are good teacher. I can say you are amazing teacher ❤️. Now i learn how to say how are you a person the best of the world. All right ✅️. Thank you very

[@tekabyden1763]

English usage in the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and so on all evolved and continue evolving to be slightly different. Idioms, for example, change fast - what was in use goes out of fashion. I’d recommend you watch as many movies and TV series as you can, always remembering that US usage, for example, isn’t always the same as in the UK, etc. And speak to as many English speakers as you can. There’s only so much you can learn from books.

[@carmelorodriguez6898]

Greg eres muy bueno, de lo mejor que he visto en vídeos. Pero para los que llevamos poco con el Ingles el quitar expresiones como "what, I want, give me........ Danos un poco más de tiempo. Thanks.

[@joaofernandodasilva681]

hello teacher Greg I'm Juan Fernando I have wanted to perfect my English or better say I wanted to revise English lessons by suddenly I've stumbled on your KZbin channel and it's been a total blessing to me because you deepen some topics about the English that we must have clear in moment we have to speak or have a conversation with an English native speaker. thank you so much I'm watching your videos from Colombia and I will continue watching your videos because they help me to improve my English.

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😊😊😊😊Oiboib😊😊😊is boilingiobiobIOBBOIiboOIBIboIBO

[@yeehahuphupwahooyipyip]

In my first year in Britain, cashiers in shops would ask me if I wanted a bag, butI could never understand what they were saying, even after having them repeat themselves multiple times. "Do you want a bag?", "Sorry?", "Do you want a bag?", empty embarrassed look, "Do you want a bag?" I suppose I figured it out when I finally needed a bag.

[@emiliavarga1866]

Hi Greg, in American films I heard sometimes: "come again" - Is this used only in America, or do they use this in England, too?

[@user-zl3xj7sd6w]

How to organise my note to avoid disorder, when l learn English? Thanks ❤️

[@alnahararrahman1980]

What is the right preposition of the sentence... the door was concealed...... the curtain. By/with plz let me know

[@andrestech1364]

Thanks Greg! What about 'come again please'?

[@joanmassat8938]

That is usually considered an insult. Do not say this!!!! It may start a fight! It is used to suggest that you have heard something you find insulting and you are daring someone to repeat it. I am a native English speaker in America. I don't know about British English but do not say that in the USA!

[@EnglishWithGreg]

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[@jessical7823]

Grey you are super funny.

[@joanmassat8938]

I'm American and born here. Lots of people say "what?" all the time and it isn't considered rude in many places but that depends where you are and in what setting. It also depends what tone you use. If you keep saying excuse me, pardon me etc people will think you are declaring your incompetence so don't do that- at least in the mid-west where I live. Just ask questions directly if you need to. I suggest saying something like "could you please repeat that?"

[@Micro-Moo]

It is strongly defined by the tone. I guess the advice to avoid 'What?' is related not to the rudeness of the expression itself, but due to the correlation with the attitude of the person using it. I mean, the typical intonation does not conduct "could you please repeat that?" but it shouts: "I don't care what you say". Really, it feels that way. One more observation: unfortunately, using 'What?' is more typical for younger people. What is that, moral regress of the society? I don't know...

[@joanmassat8938]

@@Micro-Moo I have not heard young people say what more often where I live. I have heard very few people use that word to imply an insult although it is done at times. 'What' is often used to convey surprise rather than to ask a question or to insult someone.

[@Micro-Moo]

​@@joanmassat8938 Agree on 'often', but not every time. And the expression of surprise is a good point; we did not mention this meaning before. And even the insult... What I mean was the case when it sounds insulting not because someone wanted to insult intentionally, but because the person does not care; it is also indicated by the tone. I'm sure you can remember or picture such a case. As to younger people (I actually meant younger adults), the observation can always be a matter of impression, so I'm not 100% sure. After all, the recommendation to avoid 'what?' cannot be completely baseless. Some parents I knew tried to correct their children when they said so, I think for a good reason.

[@joanmassat8938]

@@Micro-Moo what? What! and what. Definitely are not the same. Formality is definitely a thing where geographic location matters also. I would just say "I didn't catch that" if I didn't hear something someone said. I have noticed that foreigners sound very formal compared to native English speakers as well. In some places formality is good and in others it will sound rude because it implies that you are attempting to distance yourself from whoever you are speaking to. I don't think many people who are not native English speakers realize that they do this... speaking casually rather than formerly can be a sign that someone is your friend rather than a stranger so treating someone you already know too formally might come off as rude. So many things are situational.

[@Micro-Moo]

@@joanmassat8938 For sure...

[@nonstoprider1623]

Can I use could you please to make it as more formal.. or could you alone is enough?

[@galaxygalaxy4429]

English is my second language and I use ' come again?'

[@SlavomirDanas]

Is using phrase "Come again" formal, informal or even rude? Is it used in British English?

[@simonasramkova6520]

Hi, Greg:-) great video. I am learning english and your videos are very helpful for me; thanks. So for now I need subtitles; my ears don´t guite perceive individual words yet / sometimes whole sentens sounds like one loooooooooooooong word- unintelligible, of course :-) but with you it is easy:-) Thanks, SŠ :-)

[@simonasramkova6520]

repai! I am studying......one studies by mistakes😉

[@Zbyszek-xp2om]

Hi Greg! What do you think about the phrase "you were saying"?

[@ABC-ed8cg]

Thanks for the great lesson! I like your clear diction and enlightening tips. I have a question though: Do we say ‘You went with who?’ or ‘ You went with whom?’

[@tekabyden1763]

‘Whom’ is correct but is very rarely used in colloquial English. A more commom way to ask the question you posed is, ‘Who did you go with?’ even though ‘whom’ is used as or with the direct object of a sentence, i.e. ‘You (subject) went (verb) with (conjunction) John/Mary (object). ‘Whom’ would replace the object of the sentence here, the person’s name in this case; but it’s falling into disuse as archaic. It’s a little more common in written English.

[@manuelornelas7544]

What about 'come again ' ?

[@dd8912]

🙏🏻

[@patbaca2452]

I said “ What again?”to my husband all the time,haha!

[@JaseBach]

Joan is perfectly right about people in the US using 'what' all the time. I imagine it's a legacy from the British colonials. Any native English knows the stuff Greg talks about, but it is of little use to people outside the British Isles. Worst of all, I am not sure he is properly qualified! I beg your pardon and pardon are the two standard polite expressions. This is what the English and non-English should say. Other variants are nice - telephone receptionists are excellent at these. Pardon, despite sounding old-fashined, is middle class, educated and correct. In contrast, 'What?' is decidedly upper class. You would expect Prince Charles to say that. While Greg saying 'what' is a no-no, an older well-educated person, regardless of nationality, saying it in high society brings a touch of class. Highly recommended.

[@Micro-Moo]

Hmm... maybe we observe that in different parts of the US. 😊 I don't hear 'What?' often. Maybe it depends on social settings. Unfortunately, this behavior is more typical for younger adults, but I socialize more with children or middle-aged people, or older. The upper-class observation is fair enough, which is brilliantly illustrated by P. G. Wodehouse's "Jeeves and Wooster". (Strange term, 'upper class' for the very bottom of the society :-)

[@mabbelt]

Copy that!! 😀👍🏽

[@sergeyd5777]

A life lesson: When I came to the USA with some level of English, I immediately learned a "paradox". If I needed to subscribe to a service or make an appointment, I had an impression that the other party did not understand a word I was saying. I was silly enough in the beginning to answer all phone calls. When a telemarketer wanted to sell me something, they understood each and every of my word. They really did, judging by their replies.

[@Micro-Moo]

Great observation! I also came across one of the paradoxes: when you ask 'Pardon me... Could you say this again?' the most typical reply is to repeat exactly the same in the same tempo and intonation. No attempts to use alternative words or break down the sentence into smaller steps, no slowing down, no more distinct pronunciation... However, after two repetitions or so the person can immediately jump to... spelling each word. That is so English way of thinking!

[@pshadyyx]

Hello, just stumbled upon your channel by an accident. Anyway, I am not a native speaker and if you asked me any of the alternatives with the intonation you do in the video, I'd always suspect you are surprised to hear what I just said and not that you've misheard 😅 As you say, the intonation plays a huge role, you can use all the polite ways and still express a surprise - a positive and negative one differently, annoyance, but I'd never suspect you missed something I just said. I am using a slightly longer phrase which leaves no doors open: "sorry, I missed that, can you repeat?" or, if I want to more polite, I'd add "please" before "reoeat". Now in pandemics and people talking over meetings I've encountered many times people (not native speakers) just say "come again?" - what do you think of this phrase? I personally find only a slightly less rude than asking "what?".

[@sanartvideos]

It's a great tip but when you say "You went when?" or " You went with who?" without "Do" or "Did" is confusing me. I need to rethink a lot of concepts. Regards!

[@winbongbong4362]

Beg ur pardon!

[@JashimUddin-rm5zk]

Ta! Please make a video on COVID-19

[@EnglishWithGreg]

Pffff, really? It's everywhere you look. I'd rather be a little 'escape from reality' than push even more COVID-19 depression in your faces.

[@JashimUddin-rm5zk]

Innit.

[@StefanoMaddalena]

what about "come again?". I use that a lot, is it incorrect? please help

[@fazbell]

I seldom have problems unless the speaker is a Geordie. On those occasions, I just smile and nod.

[@joelmasamba6762]

Provided that i use potato i do indeed think that I'm not gonna be understood

[@alnahararrahman1980]

Where is the bell icon

[@muhammadalikhan8077]

Where do i get your book

[@EnglishWithGreg]

Here 👉 book.englishquickfix.com/

[@muhammadalikhan8077]

@@EnglishWithGreg its not downloading

[@muhammadalikhan8077]

It has downloaded

[@mamymimma]

Which is ruder, " what" or "huh"? If I may ask, is your origin Italian? Thanks Greg 🙂

[@EnglishWithGreg]

“What” is ruder, for sure. And yes, my grandfather’s family emigrated from Tuscany to England about 100 years ago. 😊

[@mamymimma]

@@EnglishWithGreg So I could also call you Gregorio 😉

[@Micro-Moo]

@@EnglishWithGreg You answered the obviously incorrect question. There is no such thing as a total order relationship based on 'rudeness' on the set of expressions. At the same time, the answer is fair enough.

[@mychannel224]

🙏🏻🙏🏻🤚🏻

[@sameddinnasibov9198]

Did you have online course ? I mean by zoom or Skype? I would like to be your student.

[@EnglishWithGreg]

My personal courses are here: www.englishwithgreg.com And my online academy offers conversation classes with native teachers via Zoom here: www.onlinelanguageacademy.com 😀

[@ibrahimmasri1017]

Pardon : is it " you went with who ," or "you went with whom " ? Which is the correct one ?

[@EnglishWithGreg]

Hi Ibrahim. Great question!! "You went with whom?" is correct, and "You went with who?" is incorrect. However, in spoken English, we don't always use the word "whom" as it can sound a bit pretentious. 😂 This is why I used the more common (though grammatically incorrect) version.

[@ibrahimmasri1017]

@@EnglishWithGreg Thanks Greg

[@sigitpurnama2217]

What about I say you went with whom?

[@EnglishWithGreg]

Great question!! The truth is that "You went with whom?" is correct, and "You went with who?" is incorrect. However, in spoken English, we don't always use the word "whom". It can sound a bit pretentious. 😂 Personally, I would always write "whom" as I know it's correct, but I would never say it. Oh dear... English is crazy!

[@Micro-Moo]

@@EnglishWithGreg English is crazy?! This is because you are not familiar enough with really crazy languages. 😊 By the way, I've been informed of the humorous expression used to mimic foreigners' speech: "Whom how..." with the meaning "it depends on one's personality". 😊

[@ndayiragijenarcisse9093]

Good teacher

[@muhammadalikhan8077]

Sir i want to speak english fluently

[@OmerKose-tq1is]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@veramart3043]

Greg, hello! Why are you pronouncing /g, k/ in -ing words? Is this standard English pronounciation?.. I'm confused.

[@EnglishWithGreg]

Great comment, Vera. I think I do it in the word ‘nothing’ but not for gerunds / verbs in present continuous. It’s not “standard”. I’m not even sure why I do it to be honest... probably a regional thing from where I grew up! 😄

[@Micro-Moo]

@@EnglishWithGreg Frankly, it sounds unusual but not unnatural. In my US region, [g], [k] in -ing is rare.

[@Instinct11123]

"I beg your pardon" reminds me of Lucifer 🤣

[@MihaiAlexandruPreda]

Tell that to stone cold steve austin 3:16 WHAAAAAT

[@Sohrab220]

I didn't quite catch what you said... 🤭

[@jessical7823]

Ｌｏｖｅ　ｙｏｕｒ　ｖｉｄｅｏ！

[@likes4172]

Говорите вместо what ШО

[@Dr.Nagyonfaj]

It's always struck me as odd that the Queen and the upper crusties always say 'what' - never pardon me, or excuse me. . .

[@ronenr1405]

I an wondering why Lucy, who is very much mediocre teacher, has got so many subscribers, and you, who is such a great adept, so few....

[@monarou3084]

Who is Lucy ?

[@ronenr1405]

Lucy is a teacher.

[@monarou3084]

@@ronenr1405 La jolie blonde? The pretty blonde one?

[@ronenr1405]

@@monarou3084 Just a regular girl who is usually dancing in the end of every lessson

[@monarou3084]

@@ronenr1405 I've sometimes seen a Lucy but I never saw her dancing ! "My" Lucy seems to be quite a lot a good teacher !

[@emillupu8790]

"He said captain! I said wot?" He, he... Do you know this one Greg?

[@user-tk2jy8xr8b]

Come again?

[@monarou3084]

At about 8 min I heard : "You went with who?" I'd said "whom" : is this a mistake ? 230717

[@leiocera2433]

WHAT?

[@albertaowusu3536]

I must be deaf.

[@__M7MD]

Is what really that bad ? I just don’t get the logic behind it and wouldn’t a smart person know that if a non native speaker said what that they don’t meant in a bad way ? It’s just hard to believe that someone would actually get offended if I said what like chill out 🤣 it’s not that serious