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Everyday situations

How to ask questions in class in English

A1

Asking the teacher to repeat, asking for an explanation or the spelling of a word, asking to go to the toilet: the phrases you need in an English lesson.

This page for:

Quick answer

Five phrases cover the whole lesson: Could you repeat that, please? to hear something again, I don't understand to say there is a problem, How do you say … in English? to find a word, How do you spell …? for the spelling and May I go to the toilet? to leave the room.

Asking questions in class is the first step to working on your own in English. Without these 10 phrases, you get stuck as soon as you have a problem. Three rules help. 1) In class, start with Could or May: they sound more polite than Can. 2) Put your hand up and wait: don't interrupt. 3) If you missed something, say honestly Sorry, I didn't understand: it is much better than pretending. A common mistake is to mix up I don't know and I don't understand. In an English lesson, the second one is usually what you mean.

Step by step

Each step follows a typical conversation. Lines marked “or” are other possible answers, depending on the situation.

1. Asking the teacher to repeat or slow down

Don't be afraid to ask. Teachers in the UK and the US expect you to ask when you need help.

  • Other person

    Today we'll look at the past simple. Write down the date and the title.

  • You

    Sorry, could you repeat that, please?

    Formal→ The standard polite phrase.
    or

    Could you say it again, please?

    or

    I didn't catch that.

    or

    I missed the last word.

  • Other person

    Of course. Write down the date and the title.

  • You

    Could you speak more slowly, please?

  • Other person

    Sure. Is that better?

  • You

    Could you speak up, please?

    → To speak up means to speak louder. It is different from to speak slowly.
    or

    What did you say?

    Informal→ Use this with classmates, not with the teacher.

2. Saying that you don't understand

Say what the problem is: one word, an instruction, or the whole explanation.

  • Other person

    Do you all understand the exercise?

  • You

    I don't understand.

    or

    I don't get it.

    Informal
    or

    I'm not sure I follow.

  • Other person

    Which part is difficult?

  • You

    I don't understand the question.

  • Other person

    Let me explain. Number 3 is about last weekend.

  • You

    Could you explain that again?

    or

    Could you give us an example?

    or

    Could you write it on the board?

  • Other person

    Tom is lazy, so he stays in bed all day.

  • You

    What does 'lazy' mean?

    or

    What does that mean?

  • Other person

    It means he doesn't like working.

3. Asking how to say or spell a word

Vocabulary and spelling: two key phrases to learn by heart.

  • You

    How do you say this in English?

    → A very useful phrase for new words. Use it and point at the object or the picture.
    or

    What's this called in English?

  • Other person

    It's 'computer'.

  • You

    How do you spell 'computer'?

  • Other person

    C-O-M-P-U-T-E-R.

  • You

    How do you pronounce this word?

    → The word on the board is island.
    or

    Is it pronounced 'ai-land' or 'ee-land'?

  • Other person

    It's 'ai-land'. The s is silent.

  • You

    Is this past or present?

  • Other person

    It's past: 'went'.

4. Asking for permission

Leaving the room, going to the toilet, borrowing something: use May or Can, depending on how polite you need to be.

  • You

    May I go to the toilet, please?

    FormalUK→ May I is very polite. Teachers in the UK expect it in class.
    or

    May I go to the restroom?

    US→ In the US, restroom sounds more natural than toilet.
    or

    Can I leave the room for a minute?

  • Other person

    Yes, go ahead. Be quick.

    or

    Sorry, not right now. Wait until the end of the exercise.

    → Another possible answer: the teacher says no.
  • You

    Could I borrow your pencil?

    → You say this to a classmate.
  • Other person

    Sure, here you go.

  • You

    Could I have a sheet of paper?

  • Other person

    There's some on my desk.

  • You

    May I open the window?

  • Other person

    Yes, it's very hot in here.

  • You

    Could I drink some water?

  • Other person

    Of course. Go and fill your bottle.

  • You

    Could I sit somewhere else? I can't see the board.

  • Other person

    Yes, there's a free seat in the front row.

5. Taking part and giving your opinion

Putting your hand up, answering, agreeing or disagreeing, saying that you don't know.

  • Other person

    Any questions?

  • You

    I have a question.

    or

    Excuse me, I have a question.

  • Other person

    Yes, go ahead. And what's the answer to number 5?

  • You

    I think the answer is 'went'.

    or

    I'm not sure, but I think it's 'went'.

    or

    I don't know.

    → This is not the same as I don't understand. Here you understand the question, but you don't know the answer.
    or

    Sorry, I don't have an answer.

  • Other person

    Do you agree with Sam?

  • You

    I agree with Sam.

    or

    I disagree.

  • Other person

    Why?

  • You

    In my opinion, we need the past simple here.

6. Understanding the teacher's instructions

The phrases teachers say all the time. Learn to recognise them when you hear them.

  • Other person

    Open your books on page 24.

  • You

    Sorry, which page?

  • Other person

    Page 24. Read the text silently.

  • You

    Is it the whole text?

  • Other person

    Yes. Then close your books and look at the board.

  • You

    OK, we're ready.

  • Other person

    Listen carefully, then repeat after me.

  • You

    Could you say it again, please?

  • Other person

    Of course. Now work in pairs / in groups of three.

  • You

    Can we choose our partner?

  • Other person

    Yes, but be quiet! And hand in your homework.

  • You

    Sorry, I left it at home.

  • Other person

    Anyone want to read? Who can answer?

  • You

    I can, please.

Useful vocabulary

Places and people

  • classroomthe room where lessons happen
  • schoolthe place where children learn
  • teachera person who gives lessons
  • pupila child at school
  • studenta person who studies
  • classmatesomeone in your class
  • headteacher / headmaster(UK)the person in charge of a school
  • principal(US)the person in charge of a school

School things

  • a pen / a penciltools for writing
  • a rubber / an eraser(UK)it removes pencil marks
  • a rulerfor drawing straight lines
  • a textbooka book used for lessons
  • a notebook / a workbooka book to write exercises in
  • a sheet of paperone flat piece for writing on
  • the board / the whiteboardthe big surface the teacher writes on
  • a pencil casea small bag for pens

Classroom activities

  • a lessona period of teaching
  • homework (uncountable)school work you do at home
  • a testa short check of what you know
  • a quiza short, fun set of questions
  • an examan important, formal test
  • an exercisea task to practise something
  • a presentationa talk you give to the class
  • a worksheeta page of exercises

Skills

  • to learnto get new knowledge or skills
  • to teachto help others learn
  • to studyto spend time learning
  • to revise / to review(UK)to study again before a test
  • to memorise / to memorizeto learn by heart
  • to take notesto write down important points
  • to pay attentionto listen and watch carefully
  • to copyto write exactly what you see

UK vs US: what changes

You want to say…UKUS
Child at primary schoolA pupilA student
Young person at secondary schoolA studentA student
Tool that removes pencil marksA rubberAn eraser (avoid rubber in the US!)
The WC (asking in class)The toilet / the looThe restroom / the bathroom
Studying again before a testTo revise (for an exam)To review (for an exam)
Schoolwork you do at homeHomework (uncountable)Homework (uncountable)
Person in charge of a schoolHeadteacher / headmasterPrincipal

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Rubber ❌ in the US

In the UK, a rubber is the thing you use to remove pencil marks. ✓ Could I borrow your rubber? In the US, a rubber is an embarrassing slang word, so avoid it in class. In an American classroom, this question will make everyone laugh. In the US, say an eraser.

2. I don't know ❌ (when you mean I don't understand)

These two phrases are often mixed up. I don't know: you don't have the information. I don't understand: a word or an instruction is not clear to you. In an English lesson, you usually need I don't understand, and the teacher will explain again.

3. Can I go to the toilet? ❌ (too direct in the UK)

In a UK classroom, teachers usually expect May I go to the toilet, please?: may is more polite than can. In informal speech, and in the US, can works almost everywhere. But in class, especially in the UK, may is expected. And always add please.

4. Many homeworks ❌

Homework is uncountable: it never takes a plural -s. ✓ I have a lot of homework. ✓ My homework is done (singular verb). ✗ I have many homeworks. ✗ My homeworks are done. The same goes for information, advice and furniture.

5. How do you say X in english? ❌

In English, nationalities, languages and nationality adjectives always start with a capital letter. ✓ How do you say this in English? ✗ in english. The same goes for I speak Spanish and I'm Italian, and for days and months: Monday, January.

Practice quiz

Question 1 / 4The Big Challenge question bank

You didn't understand what the teacher said. What do you say?

Related pages: In the classroom

Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.

Going further

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Practise on PLAY“In the classroom”: you know what to say. Now say it!

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Frequently asked questions

How do you say you don't understand in English?+

Say I don't understand. More precise options: I'm not sure I follow / I didn't catch that / Could you explain that again? Don't mix it up with I don't know, which has a different meaning. In class, the problem is usually understanding, not knowing.

How do you ask someone to repeat in English?+

Sorry, could you repeat that, please? is the standard polite phrase. Other options: Could you say it again, please? / I didn't catch that. To ask someone to slow down: Could you speak more slowly, please? To ask someone to speak louder: Could you speak up, please? Always start with sorry and add please.

How do you ask how to say a word in English?+

Ask How do you say + word + in English? Other options: What's the word for + word? / What's the English for + word? The typical answer is It's + the English word. If you then want the spelling, ask How do you spell that?

How do you ask to go to the toilet in English?+

May I go to the toilet, please? is the formal UK phrase that teachers expect. In the US, May I go to the restroom? is better, because toilet sounds too direct there. At school, May I is more polite than Can I. Always add please.

How do you politely say you don't know the answer?+

Say Sorry, I don't know. Other options: I'm not sure (softer), I have no idea, I'd rather not guess. This is not the same as I don't understand (you don't understand the question). Once you understand the question, it is better to say I don't know honestly than to invent an answer.

What are common classroom instructions in English?+

These are the key phrases to recognise: Open your books on page X. Close your books. Listen carefully. Repeat after me. Work in pairs / in groups. Look at the board. Read silently. Hand in your homework. Be quiet! Who can answer? Anyone want to read? If you know them, you can follow the whole lesson.

Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →

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