Sometimes you may want to clarify someone’s argument. There are various ways to do it.
You may ask Yes/No Questions to invite some examples:
- Can you be a bit more specific?
- What you mean is … (right)?
- Does that happen?
You may ask WH Questions to invite reason or example”
- What’s wrong with … ?
- What do you mean?
- What do you mean by …?
- How do you mean (exactly)?
- What’s (it) for?
- In what way (…)?
- What does that involve?
- What sort of … ?
- Why’s that (…)?
- Why not (…)?
- How come (…)?
If someone hasn’t understood your argument, you may say:
- That’s not what I meant.
- That’s not what I was trying to say/explain/…
- No, what I meant was …
- What I’m trying to say is …