Discourse Markers (So, Right, Okay) : English Grammar Today
Discourse Markers (So, Right, Okay) : English Grammar Today
Discourse Markers (So, Right, Okay) : English Grammar Today
Grammar > Using English > Discourse markers > Discourse markers (so, right, okay)
from English Grammar Today
Discourse markers are words or phrases like anyway, right, okay, as I say, to begin with. We use
them to connect, organise and manage what we say or write or to express attitude:
[friends are talking]
A:
So, I’ve decided I’m going to go to the bank and ask for a car loan.
B:
That sounds like a good idea.
C:
Well, you need a car.
B:
Right.
A:
Anyway, I was wondering if either of you would teach me how to drive.
The discourse markers in this extract have a number of uses:so marks the beginning of a new
part of the conversation.
well marks a change in the focus (from getting a car loan to needing a car).
right marks a response (B is agreeing with C).
anyway marks a shift in topic (from buying a new car to having driving lessons).
We use different discourse markers in speaking and writing. In speaking, the following discourse
markers are very common:
thirdly in sum
Discourse markers do not always have meanings that you will find in your dictionary. However,
they do have certain functions, and some discourse markers, such as well, can have a number of
functions.
See also:
• Actual and actually
• Like
• Look
• Mind
• Okay, OK
• Well
Ending a conversation
[A mother (A) and daughter (B) on the telephone]
A:
So we’ll see you Sunday, Liz.
B:
Right, okay Mum.
A:
Okay, see you then, love.
B:
Bye, Mum. Thanks for calling.
A:
Bye, Liz.
[At the end of a meeting]
A:
Anyway, is that it? Has anyone got any questions?
B:
No. I think we’re done.
A:
Right, fine, thanks everyone for coming. We’ll circulate the documents tomorrow and make some
follow-up calls about the project.
See also:
• So
• Okay, OK
firstly and secondly are more formal than first and second.
A:
I think Sheila might be having some financial problems at the moment.
B:
I don’t think so, Caroline. For a start, she has all the money that her aunt gave her. What’s
more, she has a good job and she seems to have a good lifestyle.
Firstly, we are going to look at how to write an essay. Secondly we are going to look at what
makes a good essay and what makes a bad one. Lastly, we’re going to do some writing activities.
We can use the letters of the alphabet (a, b and c), to list reasons or arguments for something:
There are two reasons why I think it’s a bad idea, a because it’ll cost too much money,
and b because it’ll take such a long time.
See also:
• Numbers: first, second, third
Shared knowledge
When we talk, we think about how much knowledge we share with our listener. We often mark
what we think is old, shared or expected knowledge with you know and we mark new knowledge
that we see as not shared with the listener with phrases like see, you see, the thing is:
You know, hiring a car was a great idea. (The speaker and the listener know about hiring the
car.)
A:
Why don’t you come and stay with me when you’re in Lisbon?
B:
It’d be difficult. I have to be back in Dublin by Friday. You see, my sister is getting married on
Saturday so I won’t have time to visit. (B assumes that A doesn’t know about her sister’s
wedding. This is new information)
See also:
• See
• You know
• You see
exactly no wonderful
A:
So he opened the door.
B:
Yeah.
A:
And he went in very quietly without waking her.
B:
Right.
A:
He opened her bag and…
To show surprise
A:
We’ve decided to go to Africa for a month next year.
B:
Oh really!
To show sympathy
A:
He can’t play soccer for at least six months. He’s broken his leg.
B:
That’s terrible.
See also:
• Adverbs as discourse markers (anyway, finally)
• Of course
If you ask me, Neil is making a big mistake leaving his job to go travelling with his friends.
We will obviously have to pay for the damage done to the window.
The whole problem has been caused, I think, by having too many cars on the road at busy times.
Sadly, Hilda has decided not to come with us.
See also:
• Actual and actually
• Think
Discourse markers: sounding less direct
We are careful when we speak not to sound too direct or forceful. We use words and phrases
such as like, maybe, sort of to soften what we say (hedges).
We often use these words and expressions as hedges:
just
* sort of is more common in British English; kind of is more common in American English.
Can I just ask you a question?
We can probably add some more water to the sauce.
Is this perhaps one of your first times driving a car?
Compare
There’s a new restaurant in town. We should The statement is not hedged and it sounds
try it next weekend. more direct and forceful.
See also:
• Hedges (just)
• Think
• Like
• Mind
• Well
Discourse markers: um and erm
We can use um to introduce a new topic carefully:
Um, could I ask you a personal question?
Um, there’s something else we need to talk about.
We can use erm when we pause before saying something, especially when we are not sure about
what to say:
He’s… erm he’s not very pleased with your work, I’m afraid.
Her last book was called… erm what was it? I can’t remember the name.