When you are asked something and you don't understand which of the following is more common, apart from "Pardon?":
I didn't understand. (simple past)
I haven't understood. (present perfect)
I don't understand. (simple present)
Grammarians seem to be confused and confusing! Thank you.
2007-03-21 23:21:08 · 10 answers · asked by gardengate 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Sorry, I meant the MOST common.
2007-03-21 23:22:12 · update #1
To make things clear this is the sentence used in the grammar:
"Sorry, I DON'T UNDERSTAND. Could you say that again?
In my opinion one should have said: SORRY, I DIDN'T understand......
Am I totally wrong???
2007-03-21 23:40:24 · update #2
U WISH 1984 I do think got the point and think is the best choice.
So grammars DO not always specify the context and make people rather confused!!!!
2007-03-21 23:59:14 · update #3
So:
I didn't understand the NUMBER. (Not beacuse I don't know numbers but because it was said too quickly)
I don't understand the last sentence. (I heard it, but the meaning is obscure).
2007-03-22 00:05:36 · update #4
AM I right NOW????
2007-03-22 00:06:28 · update #5
For this context, I would use option 3. I might use one if it continued on, for example, I didn't understand what you just said/the question.
Edit: also, for me it would depend on why I didn't understand. Did I just not properly hear what they said, or am I utterly confused? if it is the former, I could see myself saying, sorry, I didn't understand. Can you repeat that? But if I said "I don't understand". That would just imply I heard exactly what they said, I'm just confused and lost and they need to explain it again.
yes, I would say, I didn't understand the number.
2007-03-21 23:33:19 · answer #1 · answered by u_wish1984 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"I don't understand" is the only choice. You are referring to your present state of mind. It would be polite to preface the words with "sorry" or "excuse me". "Sorry, I don't understand" would be the best word combination for you. But I hope you don't need to say it too often!
2007-03-22 06:35:36 · answer #2 · answered by Doethineb 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't understand.
Any of the other answers will mark you out as a non-native speaker however good your accent/pronunciation is.
2007-03-22 06:31:02 · answer #3 · answered by GrahamH 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
out of the three, the most common is " I don't understand"
but in reality, i'd say, "what?" or "huh?" haha. its true. its easier faster, and everyone says it.
2007-03-22 06:31:07 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
first one but i'm not a native english speaker
2007-03-22 06:28:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
i dont understand
2007-03-22 06:42:36 · answer #6 · answered by booge 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i would say i don't understand
2007-03-22 06:23:51 · answer #7 · answered by Ambah 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I will answer I don't understand.
Are you Hongkonger?
2007-03-22 06:29:18 · answer #8 · answered by Simon's Skinny Cat 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
"I don't understand."
Others would just sound wierd.
2007-03-23 01:38:05 · answer #9 · answered by DJ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"exuse me"
or
"Hey, I have no idea what the fu*k you just said"
2007-03-22 06:36:45 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋