student asking question

Is "actually" used when you say about things that someone doesn't know? What are the other situations can "actually" be used?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

When we use "actually," we mean to say that what we are saying is the truth, or "literal." In this case, the speaker has used "well, actually" to mean something like "in fact," or to share what the situation is actually like. Thus, you can consider using this expression to share a story or information that other people don't know. Ex: Tell me what actually happened. Ex: Actually, she wasn't late to school. The teacher made a mistake. You can also use "well, actually" to correct facts about a situation, or to clarify a misunderstanding. Ex: Well, actually, John wasn't first in class. I was. Ex: Well, actually, I'm not calling you about work. I have a personal problem.

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