Touchstone 2nd Edition • Language summary • Level 2

Unit 7 • Lesson C: That's a great idea.

Vocabulary
Travel
tourist (n)
drive along the coast (v)
go backpacking (v)
go to an exhibition (v)

Other words
quit your job (v)
take a few days off (v)

Conversation strategies
Responding to suggestions
You can use these expressions to respond to suggestions that you like:

That's a great idea. That sounds great. I'd love to.

A We could go to Mexico or something.

B That's a great idea.

You can use these expressions to respond to suggestions that you don't like:

Maybe. I guess we could, but . . . I don't know. I'd like to, but . . .

After making a negative response, people usually offer an explanation or excuse:

A We could just quit our jobs and go backpacking for a few months.
B I don't know. I'd like to, but I need to keep this job to pay for school and stuff.

I guess
You can use I guess when you're not 100% sure about something or if you don't want to
sound 100% sure. It can make what you say sound softer:

A I guess I need to keep this job.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 Unit 7, Lesson C, Page 1

Touchstone 2nd Edition • Language summary • Level 2
B Yeah, me too, I guess.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 Unit 7, Lesson C, Page 2