This section explains how to give explanations. This is an important skill in any language, and when you are speaking a foreign language it is especially important to see how the explanation is structured, and how important information is introduced. It is equally important to ask questions so that you get the information that you want.

Asking for explanations

Direct request.
The easiest way to get an explanation is to ask for one. Here you say that you would like something explained to you using the key phrases

Please could you explain ...
Could/Can you tell me ... ('Could' is a more polite form of 'can'.)

These phrases are followed by a question word (Who, why, what, when, where, how) which tells the person being asked what kind of information is needed. With requests for explanations why (asking for a reason) and how (asking for a method) will be the most common question words used.

Remember: That these requests are indirect questions. Even if the meaning is a question, the grammar is the grammar of a statement.

For example:

"Please explain how is that done." is wrong.

The correct way to say this is:

"Please explain how that is done."

Using question words also gives us another method of asking for an explanation

Why/How is it that ...?

So, imagine we have a friend called Jane who seems to be very upset today. We have several different ways to someone what Jane's problem is

Can you tell me why Jane is so upset?
Why is it that Jane is so upset?
Could you explain to me why Jane is so upset?
(This last request is more formal that the other two.)
Notice that we can also ask Jane herself.

What's wrong?
What's the problem?
What's up?
(All of these are general requests for an explanation when something is wrong.)

Indirect requests for explanations.
The English don't like asking people direct questions because this can lead to confrontations. Instead they often ask implicitly for explanations. This can be confusing for non-native speakers who do not even realize that they are being asked something.

For example:

"This problem seems a bit difficult."
Actually means "Could you explain to me how to solve this problem"
or "I don't understand how to do this."
Actually means "Could you explain how to to this?"

Sometimes an English speaker will tell you something you know because he wants you to explain it.

For example:

"You're late."
The person being spoken to probably knows that he is late, but will understand that the statement is really
"Now explain to me why you are late"

And indirect requests for explanations can also be very strong ones.

For example:

"That's my beer you are drinking."
Actually means "Explain why you have taken my drink - and do so very quickly!"

Conventions
Sometimes requests for explanations can sound like something else - you have to know what you are really being asked.

For example:

"Can I help you?"
Means either "Please explain what you want."
or "Explain what you are doing here."
"What do you think you are doing?"
Actually means "I am angry. Explain and excuse yourself."

"What's going on?" and also "What's up?"
Are both colloquial ways of asking "Please explain the situation."

Checking information
We use this to confirm what someone has told us, or to ask for further information

For example:

"Do you mean that our flight is cancelled?"
or "What do you mean, you have forgotten the tickets?"
or "Are you trying to tell me you can't come?"

Giving explanations.

Explanations can be given for a number of reasons - to excuse yourself, to tell someone how to do something,or just to let someone know what is happening. English people always give their explanations in particular ways.

Null words

Sometimes, if you are asked to explain something, you have to get your thoughts organized first. You use null words while you are doing this. In this context null words do not mean anything; they are used to show the other person that you are working on what you are going to say.

For example:

"Can you tell me how to get to the station?"
"Well, yes, okay, let's see now. You go first left, then along the road..."

Everything in the above sentence up to 'you' is a null word.
Other words and expressions that can be used as null words are Okay, fine, right, actually, as a matter of fact, sure.

How to do things
When explaining how to do things you might sometimes start with some encouragement.

For example:

"I don't see what I'm supposed to do."
"Okay, it's not that hard. "

You might like to break your explanation into steps

"First, you put this here. Next ... "

You can also let your listener know whan you have finished.

"And that's all you have to do. "

Excuses
You have to explain what has gone wrong. You should start by accepting or denying blame.

For example:

"What happened to my car?".
"Sorry, it is my fault. "

You can signal that you are starting your explanation with 'You see ..'

"You see, my brakes are not very good ... "

And you can signal that you have finished with 'That's why ..'

"So that's why there's that big scratch. "

Formal explanations
These are used, for example in business letters. Here you actually say that you are about to explain.

For example:

"May I explain what has happened? Our order was delayed.."
"You must understand that the matter is complicated. There are many ..."
"The reason that we are able to offer such a low price is that ..."

Other ways to start an explanation
There is usually more than one way to say something in English. Other ways to start explanations include

"So why is Jane angry with John?":
"It's like this, he ..."
"Well you see, he ..."
"That's because he ..."

Because
Is used to answer questions starting with 'why'.

For example:

"Why did Sam leave the party so early?"
"Because he wasn't feeling well."
"Why are you looking in your bag?"
"Because I want my car keys."

Finishing an explanation
You usually add a sentence to the end of a long explanation to let your listener know that you have finished. You have already seen some examples above. Others include: "So in the end .."(This is what happened)
"All I can say is .."(Often used after an excuse and apology)
"To cut a long story short .."(I'm about to finish)
"Anyway .."(I am goingto summarize the situation)

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Well, okay.That is how you give explanations. It is not too difficult. First you recognize what sort of explanation is required, and then you either ask or reply in the correct way. Then you wait to see if you need to clarify, and finally you let your listener know you have finished explaining. Does this mean that you are ready for some exercises? I hope so!