Speak 17
Phrase of the Day: NOT REALLY
Your goal: Use not really to give a gentle negative response.
REVIEW
NOT REALLY often means no, not very much or not exactly.
“Are you tired?” — “Not really.”
You can add a short explanation to make your meaning clear.
CHOOSE TWO AND RESPOND
Read each question aloud. Choose two responses that make sense together. Use not really or wasn’t really / isn’t really / don’t really in at least one. Say them together as your answer. Then try a different combination.
“Are you tired?”
Not really.
I slept well.
Not really, I feel fine.
I can keep going.
I’m not really tired.
I’m ready for a walk.
“Was the assignment difficult?”
Not really.
The examples helped.
It wasn’t really difficult.
I understood most of it.
Not really, just a little long.
It took about an hour.
“Do you need any help?”
Not really.
I’m almost finished.
Not really, but thank you.
I’ll ask if I need something.
I don’t really need help.
I know what to do now.
“Is the office far from here?”
Not really.
It’s about ten minutes away.
It isn’t really far.
You can walk there.
Not really, it’s nearby.
It’s just past the library.
“Do you watch much television?”
Not really.
I usually read.
I don’t really watch much.
I prefer going for walks.
Not really, just sometimes.
I watch a show on weekends.
COMPLETE THE RESPONSE
Choose a word from the box. You may use a word more than once. More than one answer may work.
tired • difficult • help • far • much • hungry
“Do you need to rest?”
“I’m not really _____.”“Was the lesson hard?”
“It wasn’t really _____.”“Should I explain it again?”
“I don’t really need _____ now.”“Is the store a long way from here?”
“It isn’t really _____.”“Do you watch television every day?”
“I don’t really watch _____.”“Would you like a snack?”
“I’m not really _____.”
EXTEND THE CONVERSATION
Choose an ending. Say the whole response aloud.
“Are you tired?”
“Not really. _____”
I feel pretty good.
I slept well last night.
Are you?
“Do you need help?”
“Not really, but thank you. _____”
I’m almost done.
I’ll ask if I need anything.
The instructions are clear.
“Was it difficult?”
“Not really. _____”
The examples helped.
I just needed more time.
It was easier than I expected.
