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by Liz Walter

When we want to speak to someone for a specific reason, we don’t usually begin immediately with the thing we want to say. Instead, we often use a phrase that will help the other person get some idea of what sort of conversation it is going to be.

We might simply start by saying something like I want/wanted to talk to you about x, or you could try to get their attention by saying I’ve got/I have something exciting/interesting/important to tell you.:

I want to talk to you about Mum’s birthday plans.

I’ve got something exciting to tell you: I’m getting married!

When we have to give someone bad news, we usually start the conversation with a warning such as I’m afraid I have some bad/sad news (to share), or I’m (very) sorry to have to tell you this, but …:

I’m afraid I have some sad news to share: Peter died last night.

I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but we’ve decided not to offer you the job.

Conversely, we may introduce good news with a phrase such as Great news! or I’ve got some good/great news to tell you:

Great news! You’ve won £1,000!

I’ve got some good news to tell you. Ethan passed all his exams.

When we begin a conversation with a phrase such as I think we need to have a chat (about x), it is often because we are upset or angry with the other person about something. Even more strongly, we might use the idiom I’ve got/I have a bone to pick with you, meaning that we want to tell them off about something they have done:

I think we need to have a chat about the housework.

I’ve got a bone to pick with you. Did you tell Rosie I said she was stupid?

If you want to ask for advice, you could simply say I want/wanted to ask your advice/opinion about x, or more informally Can I pick your brain about x?:

 I wanted to ask your advice about buying a car.

Can I pick your brain about designing a website?

If you want someone to do something for you, you might start the conversation with I need to ask you a favour (UK)/ favor (US):

I need to ask you a favour. Could you drive me to the airport on Sunday?

Finally, if you want to talk to someone about something you think will surprise them, you could use a phrase such as You’ll never believe this!, Guess what?, or You’ll never guess what’s happened!

You’ll never believe this! Laura is going to be on TV tonight!

Guess what? Daniel’s bought a sports car!

You’ll never guess what’s happened! The wind has blown the roof off Grandma’s house!

I hope you will be able to use these phrases your own conversations. Let me know if you can think of any other useful ones.