Cover of the textbook English File Advanced - Student's Book

The key answer of exercise 2

The key to exercise solutions in chapter Colloquial English 1 for the textbook English File Advanced - Student's Book with authors Christina Latham-Koenig, Clive Oxenden, Jerry Lambert and Kate Chomacki from Oxford University Press

Question

How do the discourse markers affect the meaning of what Eliza says in each extract?

Answer

  1. basically introduces an important or fundamental point
  2. really introduces an interesting or unexpected fact
  3. I mean introduces more details or clarification
  4. apparently introduces something that she learnt from someone else (she doesn't remember it herself, but she's been told)
  5. in a way shows that she is uncertain
  6. of course introduces a clear fact
  7. As to introduces a point she wants to address
  8. anyway shows that she's introducing a new angle on the topic