International Negotiations

5 

 2.36 

Trainees work alone to transform the sentences and then compare their answers in 

pairs. Play the recording and then go through the answers on page 76 with the class. You 

could also elicit any rules: Which modal verbs can have this effect? Which qualifiers can be 

used in which contexts? 

Language notes

•  We can use may, might, could and would to make negative-sounding statements 

less direct. We can also use should to be diplomatic, but normally only with positive-

sounding statements (e.g. That isn’t a problem 

 That shouldn’t be a problem.)

•  We can use rather, a little and somewhat before adjectives. We can use slight and small 

before nouns.

6 

 2.37 

Trainees work alone to transform the sentences and then compare their answers in 

pairs. Play the recording and then go through the answers on page 76 with the class.