Fill in the Gaps:Common English Filler Words (کلمات پرکننده مکث)

?What Are Filler Words

Filler words are words (and phrases) that are used to fill silence when you’re speaking. They’re words that don’t add any real value to the sentence. They simply keep you going while you come up with the rest of your sentence

You might already use filler words without realizing it. When you can’t think of the right word to use in a sentence, you might say “umm.” This gives you a break while you think, without an awkward, silent pause

Many filler words actually have other meanings, so not every “like” is a filler word, for example. We can see a real example of this in the following conversation from the show “Community,” when Pierce tries to stop Shirley from using filler words

When Are Filler Words Used in English

:Filler words are used for a number of reasons

To show that you’re thinking. Use filler words when you need to think about your answer or statement. For example
I have basically… ten more years of college

To make a statement less harsh. When your friend has some broccoli stuck between his teeth, you could just tell him, You have something in your teeth, but that might make him embarrassed. It might be nicer to say something more like
Well, you have, um, you have a little something in your teeth

To make your statement weaker or stronger. While filler words don’t add anything to sentences, they can be used to change the sentence tone-the attitude of the sentence. See how different these three statements sound
I think pugs are cute is just a regular statement
Actually, I think pugs are cute shows contrast-that someone else doesn’t agree
At the end of the day, I think pugs are cute is something you might say as a conclusion to a discussion about pugs and their ugly (or cute!) wrinkles

To stall for time. To stall for time means to do something to try and gain more time. Filler words are an excellent way to stall when you don’t know how to answer a question, or when you don’t want to. For example, if your teacher asks you Where’s your homework?, your response might sound a bit like this
Uhh. Umm. Well, you see.. My dog ate it

To include the listener in the conversation without ending your sentence. A conversation takes at least two people. Some filler words and phrases can include the other person in the conversation. It’s a bit like reaching out to them as you’re speaking to keep their attention. For example:
?It was a really big bear, you know

This sentence includes the listener without ending your speaking turn. Your listener might nod in agreement, allowing you to continue telling him about your pet bear

!As you can see, filler words seem useless at first, but they can be really important

Common English Filler Words You Should Know

 Well
Well can be used in a few different ways. You can use it to show that you’re thinking

Well, I guess $20 is a good price for a pair of jeans

You can also use it to put a pause in a sentence

The apples and cinnamon go together like, well, apples and cinnamon

You can even use the word to stall

Well… fine, you can borrow my car

Like
Like is sometimes used to mean something is not exact

My neighbor has like ten dogs

In the above example, the neighbor probably doesn’t have exactly ten dogs. Rather, the neighbor has a lot of dogs

Usually, though, the word is used when you need a moment to figure out the next word to use

My friend was like, completely ready to like kick me out of the car if I didn’t stop using the word like

Keep in mind that the word like as a filler is seen as a negative thing. The word is often overused by young females, and can make you sound like you’re not sure what you’re talking about

Actually/Basically/Seriously

Actually, Basically and Seriously are all adverbs-words that describe actions. Many adverbs (though not all of them) have an “-ly” at the end of the word, which makes it easier to recognize them. All these words can be used as fillers which change the strength of a statement

For example, the word actually is used to point out something you think is true, when others might not agree

Actually, pugs are really cute

Basically and seriously change the sentence in slightly different ways too. Basically is used when you’re summarizing something, and seriously is used to show how strongly you take the statement

Basically, the last Batman movie was seriously exciting

Other adverbs that are often used as fillers are totally, literally and clearly

The word literally means something that is true, but many times in conversation it’s used with a different meaning: to state strong feelings. For example, you’re not just laughing you’re literally dying from laughter
Totally means completely, and is used to emphasize (show that you feel strongly) about something
The word clearly means the same as obviously, and is used to state something that is very obviously true
:These three words don’t have to be used together either, but here they are in one sentence

Clearly you totally didn’t see me, even though I was literally in front of your face

You see
You see is used to share a fact that you assume the listener doesn’t know

I was going to try the app, but you see, I ran out of space on my phone

You know
You know is used to share something that you assume the listener already knows

We stayed at that hotel, you know, the one down the street from Times Square

It can also be used instead of an explanation, in cases where we feel the listener just understands what you mean

?When the elevator went down, I got that weird feeling in my ears, you know

I mean
I mean is used to clarify or emphasize how you feel about something

I mean, he’s a great guy, I’m just not sure if he’s a good doctor

It’s also used to make corrections when you misspeak

The duck and the tiger were awesome but scary. I mean, the tiger was scary, not the duck

The cave is two thousand-I mean-twenty thousand years old

?You know what I mean
You know what I mean? is used to make sure the listener is following what you’re saying

?I really like that girl, you know what I mean

 At the end of the day
At the end of the day is a phrase that means in the end or in conclusion

At the end of the day, we’re all just humans, and we all make mistakes

Believe me
Believe me is a way of asking your listener to trust what you’re saying

Believe me, I didn’t want this tiny house, but it was the only one I could afford

It’s also used to emphasize what you’re about to say

Believe me, this is the cheapest, tiniest house ever

I guess-I suppose
I guess and I suppose are used to show that you’re hesitant, or not really sure about what you’re saying

I was going to eat dinner at home, but I guess I can go eat at a restaurant instead

I guess is used more often in speech, but I suppose can sound classier a bit smarter

Or something
Or something is a sentence ending that means you’re not being exact

The cake uses two sticks of butter and ten eggs, or something like that

Okay-so
Okay and so are usually used to start sentences, and can be a sign that a new topic is starting

?So what are you doing next weekend

They can also be used to introduce a summary

Okay, so we’re going to need to buy supplies for our trip this weekend

Right-mhm-uh huh
Right,mhm and uh huh are all affirmative responses—they all mean a yes response

Right, so let’s prepare a list of all the things we’ll need

Uh huh, that’s exactly what he told me too