International Negotiations

Suggested answers

The versions from exercise 5 are intended to be improvements on the versions from 

exercise 4, but some trainees may argue that the version from exercise 4 would be more 

appropriate in their own cultures, or at different stages of the negotiation.

The open-ended versions from exercise 5 have the following features:

•  Softeners: Ideally; I’m afraid; If I can be frank for a moment ...

•  Modal verbs: would; might; may

•  Inability phrases: we can’t be very flexible

•  Passive voice: ... would be included

•  Qualifiers: some flexibility; some room for manoeuvre

See Module 9A for more practice of these techniques.

Extension activity

Trainees test each other in pairs or groups of three by reading one of the sentences from 

exercise 4 to elicit from their partner(s) the more open-ended version from exercise 5. 

Afterwards, they can read the sentences from exercise 5 to elicit the sentences from 

exercise 4.