Spoken grammar: heads, tails and response tokens
How conversation really works: headers (That guy, he...), tails (..., that film), vague language (stuff, -ish), response tokens (Fair enough, I know, right?)
I can use headers, tails, vague language and response tokens like a native conversationalist.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
That sourdough place by the canal, have you been? - Brilliant, it is. Bit pricey, though.
That sourdough place by the canal, have you been? - Brilliant, it is. Bit pricey, though.
Come round seven-ish, bring crisps and stuff. - Fair enough. - I know, right?
Come round seven-ish, bring crisps and stuff. - Fair enough. - I know, right?
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Conversation has its own syntax:
| Device | Example |
|---|---|
| header (topic first) | That new café, have you tried it? |
| tail (afterthought) | It's brilliant, that film. |
| vague language | seven-ish, and stuff, sort of |
| response tokens | Fair enough. No way! I know, right? |
| ellipsis | (Do you) Want some? (I) Wouldn't know. |
None of this is 'broken English' - it's the spoken system: headers stage the topic, tails add evaluation, vagueness is politeness, tokens keep the channel alive.
- Textbook full sentences in chat: learn the spoken system
- Vague markers read as sloppiness: they are politeness tools
Common Error Patterns
Written syntax in conversation
Headers, tails and ellipsis are the spoken norm
Vagueness avoided as error
-ish, sort of, and stuff do polite work
That sourdough place by the canal, have you been? - Brilliant, it is. Bit pricey, though.
That sourdough place by the canal, have you been? - Brilliant, it is. Bit pricey, though.
Header + tail + trailing though in four beats.
Come round seven-ish, bring crisps and stuff. - Fair enough. - I know, right?
Come round seven-ish, bring crisps and stuff. - Fair enough. - I know, right?
-ish + and stuff + two response tokens.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in C2 course exercises