Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

Û

335 Linking in Adjuncts

Turn-taking

505f

A number of the common clusters in the spoken texts function to hand the

speaking turn over to the listener or in some way demand a response from the

listener, even if the response is just a minimal, back-channel response. These

include (do) (you) know what I mean?, interrogative fragments such as do you

think …?

, do you want to …?, what do you …?, and common tags such as … do

you?

, … shall I?, … was it?, … don’t you think?:

A: We have to have it because the law says we have to, do you know what I

mean?

B: Yeah.

A: Now do you all see the view here? It’s quite beautiful, don’t you think? 

B: Mhm.

A: I’ll make some lunch, shall I?

B: Mm, yes, please.

and I/the/then

and I said

and it was

as well as

at the time

but I mean

but it was

at the same time

in the first place

on the other hand

as a result of (the) 

but at the same time

836 | Appendix: Word clusters and grammar

Cambridge Grammar of English

---

I was going to say

features as a preface to a turn, drawing attention to what the

speaker is about to say, or to repeat or reinforce someone else’s turn:

A: What time does it start? Three? 

B: No half past. 

A: Oh. 

B: We can’t expect to be there on time though. 

A: I was going to say, well you wouldn’t want to be there on time.