1

According to Cambridge Dictionary, "move on" could mean

to start a new activity

I'd done the same job for years and felt it was time to move on.

or

to accept that a situation has changed and be ready to deal with new experiences

Since he and his girlfriend broke up, he's been finding it difficult to move on.

In an online classroom, a teacher just finished a section and going to start next section

Teacher: "Do you have any questions in this section?"

Student: "No, I don't have any questions at the moment. Thanks!"

According to the post As a student, how do I answer "do you have any questions"?, the student's response is natural and polite. Is it still natural if the following part is added?

Student: "No, I don't have any questions at the moment. Thanks! Let's move on."

Improve this question
7
  • You might need to be a bit careful here. When a politician, for example, says Let's move on, the strong implication is Let's forget about [whatever we're currently talking about, because it's no longer important]. And that's pretty much the sense implied in your "girlfriend" example. But that implication is probably not appropriate for your "student" example, where the focus is on moving forward to something new, rather than moving away from something old and no longer important or interesting.
    – FumbleFingers
    Jun 12, 2020 at 15:56
  • @FumbleFingersReinstateMonica Thank you. In this particular context (a moment between two sections in a class), is it natural to "let's move on"? Is there another expression more appropriate could be used here?
    – PutBere
    Jul 12, 2020 at 7:45
  • 3
    Sorry - that was me not paying attention. I don't think it would normally be appropriate for a student (very much the "junior partner" in a conversation) to be saying anything like that to his teacher. He should just end with Thanks, and leave it to the more senior addressee to decide when and if to "move on", and if so, to what.
    – FumbleFingers
    Jul 12, 2020 at 15:38
  • 2
    Generally, the "leader" (teacher) would say "Let's move on"; not the "subordinate (student)."
    – Lambie
    Jun 14, 2021 at 15:11
  • 2
    Yeah you would just about never say this to a teacher - it’s really impolite and cocky.
    – FeliniusRex - gone
    Jun 14, 2021 at 15:18

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
1

There is nothing grammatically wrong with it, but I would advise against saying it. I think it sounds slightly disrespectful.

It’s not exactly that it sounds impatient, but rather it sounds like the student is trying to take control of the pacing of the class, which is disrespectful to the teacher, who is supposed to be in charge.

Improve this answer
0

The fact that it is a student-teacher conversation does not allow us to call the use of Let's move on! natural nor polite. It hints at a little impatience there that I would say is out of place.

However, I see nothing wrong with saying in such a conversation:

No, I don't have any questions at the moment. Thank you! Shall we move on?

Note: If I were a student, I would also avoid saying Thanks! to my teacher. Thank you is more polite.

Improve this answer
0

It is natural to say “let’s move on.” The student is saying that they want to start the next question or lesson.

Improve this answer
3
  • Take a careful look at how you have worded your answer. It needs improving.
    – Ronald Sole
    Jun 12, 2020 at 18:11
  • Thanks for the advise
    – Joshua
    Jun 12, 2020 at 19:03
  • Do you think it's "natural and polite", as per the OP's question? I sure don't
    – gotube ♦
    Jun 14, 2021 at 21:49

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .