noteswale
Noteclass 11 12

Discourse markers

Lesson 66 of 84

B2

Discourse marker = baat ka ishara: well, actually, on the other hand. Formal jod however / although / therefore = 53. and / but / so = 30. Idioms = 65. Paragraph glue extra = 73.

1. Kya hai

Marker = listener / reader ko raasta (ishara). Naya fact nahi — kaise bol rahe ho.

Job This page Not this page
Soft start / soch Well, … I am well. (health)
Correct / surprise Actually, … asli mein on every line (I9)
Doosri side On the other hand, … however (53 exam sentence)

Writing me aksar comma: Well, … / Actually, … / On the other hand, … zyada comma / semicolon = 67. Bank letter me well / anyway / by the way kam (69).

2. well / actually / I mean

Marker Job Example
Well, soft start, soch, naya turn Well, shall we take the metro?
Actually, galat soch theek / unexpected I thought it was 8. Actually, it was 9.
I mean, clear karna The fees — I mean, the exam fees — are due.
To be honest, / In fact, seedha / extra force To be honest, I missed the local.

Actually har line pe mat lagao. Hindi asli wala overuse = I9, yahan nahi.

3. on the other hand / anyway / by the way

Marker Job Example
On the other hand, pehli side ke baad doosri The metro is cheap. On the other hand, it is crowded.
Anyway, main point pe wapas / close Anyway, let's fill the form.
By the way, side note By the way, did you bring the ID?

On the other hand = do sides. Ek akeli line me mat chhodna. Spoken So, shall we go? = thoda yahan; result so = 30. Picture-idiom = 65. Paragraph chain extra = 73.

4. Examples

Bold = marker.

  1. Well, shall we take the metro or an auto?
  2. I thought the local was at 8. Actually, it was at 9.
  3. The fees — I mean, the exam fees — are due on 15 May.
  4. To be honest, I missed cricket after the queue.
  5. The metro is cheap. On the other hand, it is crowded.
  6. Chai is ready. On the other hand, Papa wants to leave now.
  7. Anyway, let's fill the form before the hall closes.
  8. By the way, did Mr Khan send the ID copy?
  9. In fact, the train was early, not late.
  10. Well, I'm not sure about Diwali travel yet.
  11. Ravi likes the local. On the other hand, Amma prefers the metro.
  12. We talked about fees. Anyway, the match starts at 6.
  13. By the way, the clinic is next to the station.
  14. I didn't fail. Actually, I passed with a good mark.
  15. Well, call me after chai.

5. Common mistakes

Well I am fine. (as the 66 start) / Well cricket is good.
I'm well, thanks. (health) Well, shall we take the metro?
Actually I go to school every day. Actually I like chai. Actually…
I go to school every day. Keep actually for correction / surprise. (I9)
On other hand, the metro is cheap. / On the other hand. (no first side)
The auto is fast. On the other hand, the metro is cheap.
Well, the metro is cheap. However it is crowded. (dono ek saath mat lagao)
Spoken: On the other hand… Essay contrast: However, … (53)
By the way, I request leave. (bank / exam letter)
I request leave from 15 May. well / by the way / anyway = 69 galti
Anyway I mean well actually you know…
One marker. Then the point.
a piece of cake (as 66) / therefore (as 66 ki form)
Idiom = 65. therefore = 53. Here: well / actually / on the other hand.
So I am going. (forced as only 66) / And but so yahan poori list nahi
Spoken So, shall we go? = thoda 66. Result so = 30.
Hindi note. Well = soch / narmi, tabiyat nahi. Actually = theek karna / surprise, har line asli nahi (I9). On the other hand = doosri taraf, pehli baat ke baad. Exam essay me however (53); chai-baat me ye markers.

6. Practice

A. 10 MCQ

1. ______, shall we take the metro?
2. I thought it was 8. ______, it was 9.
3. The metro is cheap. ______, it is crowded.
4. ______, did you bring the ID?
5. ______, let's fill the form.
6. The fees — ______, the exam fees — are due.
7. Don't start every line with ______.
8. Exam essay contrast (pehle padha, 53): ______, the metro is crowded.
9. ______, I missed the local.
10. Health, not a 66 start: I am ______, thanks.

B. 5 fill-in

1. ______, shall we take the metro? (soft start)

2. I thought it was 8. ______, it was 9. (correction)

3. The metro is cheap. ______, it is crowded. (four words)

4. ______, let's fill the form. (back to the point)

5. Sahi karo: On other hand, the metro is cheap.

C. 3 sentences

Model answers neeche. Ek well, ek actually, ek on the other hand.

  1. well: Well, shall we take the metro?
  2. actually: I thought it was 8. Actually, it was 9.
  3. on the other hand: The metro is cheap. On the other hand, it is crowded.

7. Answer key

MCQ
  1. a) Well — soft start. However = 53. piece of cake = 65.
  2. b) Actually — correction. By the way = side note.
  3. a) On the other hand — second side. By the way nahi.
  4. b) By the way — side note. therefore = 53.
  5. a) Anyway — back to the point / close.
  6. a) I mean — clarify the noun. not a second side.
  7. b) Actually — I9 galti: not every line.
  8. b) However — exam essay contrast = 53, not Well / By the way.
  9. a) To be honest — seedha. therefore = 53. cats and dogs = 65.
  10. c) well — health adjective. 66 start = Well, shall we…
Fill-in
  1. Well — soft start.
  2. Actually — correction.
  3. On the other hand — four words; yeh words yaad rakho.
  4. Anyway — back to the point.
  5. On the other hand, the metro is cheap.
Model sentences
  1. Well, shall we take the metro?
  2. I thought it was 8. Actually, it was 9.
  3. The metro is cheap. On the other hand, it is crowded.

Check: well / actually / on the other hand / anyway / by the way / I mean; thodi comma; however yahan nahi (53); but/so yahan nahi (30); idiom yahan nahi (65); actually overuse = I9; letter kapde = 69; paragraph glue extra = 73; punctuation deep = 67.