Lesson 42 · Speaking
Speaking — Cambridge B2 First Part 3/4 & Writing opinion essay (regret/hindsight topics)
Your task
Speak for 90 seconds about a decision you or someone you know made, and how things would have been different with a different choice. Use at least 3 third conditionals, 2 'should have' sentences, and 1 'I wish' sentence.
How to do it
Regret and hindsight topics reward precise, varied hypothetical language. (1) Set up the real past fact first ('I didn't apply for the job'). (2) Use the third conditional for the imagined alternative ('If I had applied, I would have...'). (3) Add a 'should have'/'shouldn't have' for direct self-criticism. (4) Use 'I wish' for the emotional layer. (5) Avoid 'would of' in writing — always 'would have'.
Use these phrases
Talk about
- • What's one small decision you'd change if you could go back — nothing dramatic, just a 'what if'?
- • Tell your partner about a mistake that turned out to be lucky. If you hadn't made it, what would have happened?
- • What's one thing you should have done differently five years ago?
Model answer
A few years ago I turned down a scholarship abroad because I was scared of leaving my friends. If I had gone, I would have learned the language properly and probably made a completely different set of connections. I should have talked to more people who'd done it before deciding so quickly. I wish I'd been a bit braver at the time — though I try not to dwell on it, because it's genuinely water under the bridge now. If anything, it taught me to ask more questions the next time a big decision came along disguised as a small one.
Pair / class extension: Role-play 'Looking back together' — two old friends or family members discuss a shared decision from the past (a trip not taken, a house not bought, a job not accepted) and imagine how things would have been different. Use at least 4 third conditionals and 2 'wish'/'should have' sentences.
Giving opinions
Share what you think clearly and naturally.
- On the whole, I think…“On the whole, I think remote work suits me better.”
- In my view, …“In my view, schools should teach financial literacy.”
- If you ask me, …“If you ask me, it's not worth the money.”
- To be honest, …“To be honest, I wasn't a fan of the film.”
- I'd say (that)…“I'd say that's the best one.”
Speak out loud: use three of these phrases in a one-minute answer.
Agreeing & disagreeing
Respond to opinions without sounding aggressive or weak.
- Absolutely / Definitely.“Absolutely — that's exactly what I meant.”
- I see your point, but…“I see your point, but I'd look at it differently.”
- I'm not so sure about that.“I'm not so sure about that — it depends on the price.”
- Yes and no.“Yes and no — partly true, but it's more complicated.”
- I'd have to disagree.“I'd have to disagree there — I had a great experience.”
Speak out loud: use three of these phrases in a one-minute answer.
Asking questions politely
Soften questions for strangers, customer service, formal contexts.
- Could you tell me…?“Could you tell me where platform 4 is?”
- Do you know…?“Do you know what time it closes?”
- Would you mind + -ing?“Would you mind repeating that?”
- I was wondering if…“I was wondering if you had a moment.”
Speak out loud: use three of these phrases in a one-minute answer.
Clarifying & checking
Make sure you've understood — without saying 'What?'.
- Sorry, do you mean…?“Sorry, do you mean Monday next week or this week?”
- Just to check, …“Just to check, that's £40 each, right?”
- So what you're saying is…“So what you're saying is we should leave earlier.”
- Could you say that again?“Could you say that again — I missed the last part.”
Speak out loud: use three of these phrases in a one-minute answer.
Reactions & follow-ups
Keep conversations alive instead of letting them die.
- Oh really? / No way!“A: I quit my job. — B: No way! When?”
- Have you? / Did you? / Are you?“A: I've moved to Lisbon. — B: Have you?! How is it?”
- How come?“How come you decided to do that?”
- What's that like?“What's that like — working remotely full-time?”
- How about you?“I love thrillers. How about you?”
Speak out loud: use three of these phrases in a one-minute answer.
Suggesting & negotiating
Make plans, propose solutions, find middle ground.
- Why don't we…?“Why don't we meet halfway?”
- How about + -ing?“How about going to the Thai place?”
- Shall we…?“Shall we say 7pm then?”
- Would it work if…?“Would it work if we pushed it to Friday?”
- I'm easy / I don't mind.“I'm easy — whatever suits you.”
Speak out loud: use three of these phrases in a one-minute answer.
Storytelling & anecdotes
Hold attention when you tell a story or share news.
- You'll never guess what happened.“You'll never guess what happened on the way here.”
- So basically, …“So basically, we missed the train by 30 seconds.”
- All of a sudden, …“All of a sudden, the lights went out.”
- Long story short, …“Long story short, we ended up driving instead.”
- Anyway, …“Anyway, that's how I met your dad.”
Speak out loud: use three of these phrases in a one-minute answer.
Hedging & diplomacy
Soften strong opinions, disagree politely, sound less abrupt.
- It might be worth + -ing“It might be worth checking the schedule first.”
- I'd probably…“I'd probably go for the smaller one.”
- I'm not entirely sure, but…“I'm not entirely sure, but I think it closes at 6.”
- That's a fair point, although…“That's a fair point, although there's another side to it.”
Speak out loud: use three of these phrases in a one-minute answer.