Shadowing Practice: How to Say NO! - Learn English Speaking with Video
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108 sentences
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When you have to say no, sometimes you want to add nuance.
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How can you say no without being rude?
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Also, what do
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Americans really mean when they say, I don't think so?
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Do they mean no?
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There are lots of ways you can say no while being kind and showing appreciation.
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When I was living in Germany, I was frustrated that I didn't have any phrases to use in these kinds of situations.
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I wished I had various ways to say no or to turn down an invitation.
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Today, we're going to go over lots of ways to say no in English, in various situations.
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Situation 1.
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You're out to eat, and you've eaten, and your server asks if you'd like dessert, or if you'd like to see a dessert menu,
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or if there's anything else you'd like to order.
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You could say a simple, no thank you, or no thanks, or I don't think so.
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We use I don't think to mean we're not sure.
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Rachel, do they sell diapers at the corner store?
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I don't think so, but I'm not sure.
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Are they open late?
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I don't think so.
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Again, that means probably not, but I'm not 100 % sure.
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So if we're asked if we know something, and we're not sure, we can say I don't think so.
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But if we're asked if we want something, I don't think so means no. Do you want to try this on in another size?
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I don't think so.
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Do you want dessert?
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I don't think so.
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Do you want to super -size that order?
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I don't think so.
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Situation two.
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Someone asks you to do something you don't want to do or can't do.
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This could be a colleague at work asking you to do work on a project, or someone, say, at church, asking if you can do something.
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Can you help plan the retreat this year?
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This is, someone asks you to do something extra, to take on an extra task or extra work.
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Not something social, we'll get to that in a minute.
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Here are some phrases you could use to turn down something like this.
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Sorry, I've got too much going on already.
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Sorry, I can't take on any extra work.
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Sorry, I can't take on any extra work.
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Take on a phrasal verb.
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Sorry, I can't take on any extra work.
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Sorry, I don't have time.
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Sorry, I don't have time.
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That one is nice and simple.
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Sorry, I don't have time.
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Unfortunately, I'm not going to have time to do that.
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Unfortunately, I can't take that on.
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Using the word unfortunately shows that you have some level of disappointment.
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It's something you'd like to do, or you can see that it would be good for you to do,
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Or you can see that you're disappointing someone by saying no. Unfortunately, I can't.
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You could also say, I'd like to, but I've got too much on my plate to take that on.
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Too much on my plate.
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That's an idiom that means you're busy.
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And last week, I did a video that went over 16 different ways to say you're busy.
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Often when you decline something, you add that you're busy or what your plans are.
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So check out that video if you haven't already you'll learn some great phrases to use when you need to decline something.
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You could say, I don't think I can make that work.
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I don't think I can make that work.
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Again, we're using I don't think here to mean no.
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It's sort of a softer way than just saying a flat no. Rachel, can you help set up for the event on Monday?
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I don't think I can make that work.
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Sorry.
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Hey, can you stay tonight for a client phone call?
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I don't think I can make that work.
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I have to pick up my kid at 6.
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You could say, not this time, if it's something you're interested in in the future.
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You could even say something like, not this time, but please ask me again.
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I'd like to try to do that next time.
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You could also try showing your appreciation.
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For example, thanks for thinking of me, but I can't.
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Or, I'm honored, but I can't.
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Or, I'd really like to, but I can't make it work this time.
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These all have but.
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This kind of statement plus but, is something we would use a lot in social situations with friends, too.
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That brings us to situation three.
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A friend asks you to do something social, but you can't.
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Maybe you're too busy, or you've already got plans.
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You could say, I wish I could but, and your excuse.
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I wish I could but we have guests in town then.
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Or, I wish I could but I'm busy tonight.
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So, I wish I could plus your excuse.
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I could replace I wish I could with I'd love to.
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Or, that sounds lovely.
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That sounds lovely but I'll be out of town.
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Or, I already have plans.
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Or, but I'm helping my friend move that day.
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You could also say, I'd like to.
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I'd like to, but I'm not free tonight.
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I'd like to, but I'm not free tonight.
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Oh, it's out of tune.
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I'd like to, but I really can't make it work this time.
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Or, what about this one?
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Shoot, that sounds fun.
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Sorry I can't make it.
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Or, sorry I can't come.
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You get the idea.
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Situation 4.
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You get a phone call, a sales call, someone wants to talk to you about switching phone companies,
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or you're walking down the street and someone wants to sell you something, or have you give money to their charity.
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You can be brief.
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You can simply say, sorry, or not today, or I'm not interested, thanks.
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There are lots of different ways to express no.
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Memorizing some of these phrases will make it easier for you to decline an invitation, or not to do something you're asked to do.
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It feels nice to have creative ways to express yourself other than a blunt NO, doesn't it?
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Here's last week's video on ways to say you're busy.
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Lots of really useful phrases and idioms there.
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If you've already seen that one, then check out another Rachel's English video in the suggested videos.
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And don't forget to subscribe if you haven't already.
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What other situations do you need English phrases for?
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Let me know in the comments below.
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That's it and thanks so much for using Rachel's English.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “How to Say NO!”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: situation, phrases, busy, extra, wish. This video has 108 sentences and 1088 words to shadow. The speech runs for 6:28. The speaker talks at a natural 168 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 87% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| phrase noun | /ˈfɹeɪ̯z/ | A short written or spoken expression. |
| decline verb | /dɪˈklaɪn/ | To move downwards, to fall, to drop. |
| dessert noun | /dɪˈzɝt/ | The last course of a meal, consisting of fruit, sweet confections etc. |
| invitation noun | /ɪnvɪˈteɪʃən/ | The act of inviting; solicitation; the requesting of a person's company. |
| appreciation noun | /əˌpɹiː.ʃiˈeɪ.ʃən/ | The act of appreciating. |
| server noun | /ˈsɝvɚ/ | A program that provides services to other programs or devices, either in the same computer or over a computer network. |
| charity noun | /ˈtʃæɹɪti/ | An organization, the objective of which is to carry out a charitable purpose. |
| tune noun | /tjuːn/ | A melody. |
| menu noun | /ˈmɛn.juː/ | The details of the food to be served at a banquet; a bill of fare. |
| rude adjective | /ɹuːd/ | Lacking in refinement or civility; bad-mannered; discourteous. |
| retreat noun | /ɹɪˈtɹiːt/ | The act of pulling back or withdrawing, as from something dangerous, or unpleasant. |
| subscribe verb | /səbˈskɹaɪb/ | To write (one’s name) at the bottom of a document; to sign (one's name). |
| disappointment noun | /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntmənt/ | The feeling or state of being disappointed: a feeling of sadness or frustration when something is not as good as one hoped or expected, or when something bad… |
| colleague noun | /ˈkɒliːɡ/ | A fellow member of a profession, staff, academic faculty or other organization; an associate, a workmate. |
| blunt adjective | /blʌnt/ | Having a thick edge or point; not sharp. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| check out verb | To record the departure or withdrawal of someone or something (such as guests, employees, books, etc.). |
| go over verb | To look at carefully; to scrutinize; to analyze. |
| turn down verb | To refuse, decline, or deny. |
| pick up verb | To lift; to grasp and raise. |
| walk down verb | To continually advance (on an opponent) and punch (the opponent) in order to control the fight and dominate the opponent, while shrugging off the opponent's… |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- How can you say no without being rude?
- Americans really mean when they say, I don't think so?
- I don't think so, but I'm not sure.
- Do you want to super -size that order?
- Can you help plan the retreat this year?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Conditional sentences if + clause, will/would + verb — a condition and its result | if there's anything else you'd like · if you haven't already you'll learn |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | you've eaten · you've already seen |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | we'll get · you'll learn · I'll be |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | we're using · I'm helping · you're walking |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 82 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, can't, you're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: invitation /ɪnvɪˈteɪʃən/, appreciation /əˌpɹiː.ʃiˈeɪ.ʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: invitation /ɪnvɪˈteɪʃən/, appreciation /əˌpɹiː.ʃiˈeɪ.ʃən/, disappointment /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntmənt/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like phrase, decline, dessert.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.