Actually, anyway, besides, though — these words carry no real meaning on their own, and yet a conversation without them sounds like a list. Learn where each one sits and your English stops sounding flat.
1. Not Quite Right
Ola: Coffee, wasn't it?
Ravi: Tea, actually.
Ola: Sorry. Milk?
Ravi: No milk. Actually, a slice of lemon if you have one.
Ola: I do.
2. Back to the Point
Sana: ...and then the dog ate the whole cake.
Milo: The whole cake?
Sana: Anyway, the meeting. Are you coming?
Milo: What time?
Sana: Two.
Milo: I'm coming.
3. A Change of Plan
Ute: The cinema's sold out.
Jed: Let's walk instead.
Ute: In this cold?
Jed: Instead of sitting indoors all evening, yes.
Ute: Fine. Coats on.
4. One in Particular
Cato: You like Italian food.
Noor: I do. Especially the south.
Cato: What's different about the south?
Noor: Tomatoes. Especially in summer.
Cato: Now I'm hungry.
Noor: That was the plan.
5. Another Reason
Kirra: Why not take the car?
Sol: Parking costs nine pounds.
Kirra: That's not so bad.
Sol: Besides, the train drops us at the door.
Kirra: Train, then.
6. A Small Complaint
Bea: How was the hotel?
Ken: Lovely. Small rooms, though.
Bea: How small?
Ken: You open the case on the bed.
Bea: That's small.
Ken: The breakfast made up for it, though.
7. Or Else
Yusuf: Leave at half seven.
Marta: Why so early?
Yusuf: Otherwise you'll hit the school run.
Marta: Good warning.
Yusuf: Half seven. Otherwise it's an hour extra.
8. One More Thing
Toni: That's everything, then.
Hui: By the way, the printer's fixed.
Toni: Since when?
Hui: This morning. New cable.
Toni: That's the best news today.
Hui: It's a low bar.
Words to know
| actually | in fact — used to correct or to add a surprising detail Coffee, wasn't it? Tea, actually. |
| anyway | used to return to the main subject Anyway, the meeting. Are you coming? |
| instead | in place of the other thing The cinema's sold out. Let's walk instead. |
| especially | more than the others I do. Especially the south. |
| besides | used to add a second, stronger reason Besides, the train drops us at the door. |
| though | but — placed at the end of a spoken sentence Lovely. Small rooms, though. |
| otherwise | if not; if you don't do that Otherwise you'll hit the school run. |
| by the way | used to add something off the subject By the way, the printer's fixed. |
Quick practice
Complete each sentence with an expression from the lessons.
1. A: Coffee, wasn't it?
B: Tea, ________.
2. A: ...and then the dog ate the whole cake.
B: ________, the meeting. Are you coming?
3. A: The cinema's sold out.
B: Let's walk ________.
4. A: You like Italian food.
B: I do. ________ the south.
5. A: How was the hotel?
B: Lovely. Small rooms, ________.
6. A: That's everything, then.
B: ________, the printer's fixed.
Show the answers
1. actually 2. Anyway 3. instead 4. Especially 5. though 6. By the way
Common mistakes
Not: Actually I'm in the kitchen, call me later.
Say: Right now I'm in the kitchen, call me later.
Actually means in fact, not at this moment. For time, say right now or at the moment.
Not: Instead of go out, we stayed in.
Say: Instead of going out, we stayed in.
Instead of is always followed by the -ing form.
Not: Though, the rooms were small.
Say: The rooms were small, though.
Spoken though goes at the end. At the front you need although: Although the rooms were small...
Your turn
Take any story you've told this week and tell it again with these words in it. Say these five things aloud.
- Correct a wrong guess about yourself, using actually.
- Change the subject back to work, starting with Anyway.
- Say what you do when a plan falls through, using instead.
- Name a food you like and the one kind you like most, using especially.
- Say one warning to a friend, using otherwise.
Quick review
Position is everything here. Actually and anyway open a sentence, though closes one, by the way opens a new subject. Say one sentence with each in its correct place tonight. Eight words, and your English stops sounding like a list.