Negotiation
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EN: The phrase 'thanks for' is followed by a Gerund (V-ing) or a Noun to express gratitude for a specific action or thing. 'Meeting' here is a gerund acting as the object of the preposition 'for'.
Thanks for helping me with the presentation.
EN: The preposition 'on' is used here to specify the subject or topic of the 'advice'. It indicates that the advice is regarding a particular matter.
Can you give me some advice on how to save money?
EN: In Western business culture, 'meeting for lunch' is a common way to discuss semi-formal matters or seek advice in a more relaxed environment than an office. Starting with a expression of gratitude is a standard polite way to open such a conversation.
EN: Linking Verbs (Sense Verbs): Verbs like 'sound', 'look', or 'feel' are followed by adjectives to describe the subject's state rather than an action.
He sounded disappointed when he heard the news.
EN: Present Continuous for Current Situations: 'What's going on?' uses the present continuous tense to ask about current events or immediate situations.
What is going on in the office right now?
EN: In Western workplace culture, it is common for colleagues who are also friends to acknowledge each other's emotional state (like being 'stressed') as a way to show support and build rapport before diving into business details.
EN: Present Perfect Continuous (have/has been + V-ing): This tense is used to describe an action that started in the past and is still continuing in the present, emphasizing the duration or ongoing nature of the process.
They have been working on this project for three months.
EN: Prepositional Phrases for Context: The sentence uses multiple prepositional phrases ('with a major supplier', 'for our new campaign') to add specific details about the action, showing who is involved and the purpose.
I am discussing the budget with my manager for the upcoming event.
EN: In Western business culture, 'negotiating' is seen as a standard collaborative process. Using 'well' at the beginning of a sentence often signals that the speaker is about to provide background information or explain a problem in a polite way.
EN: The use of 'way' as an intensifying adverb before adjectives or adverbs. In informal contexts, 'way' is used to mean 'much' or 'far' to add emphasis.
This new project is way more complicated than the last one.
EN: The structure of the ditransitive verb 'send'. It follows the pattern: Subject + Verb + Indirect Object (us) + Direct Object (an initial offer).
She sent me the report this morning.
EN: In business negotiations, calling an offer 'way too expensive' is a direct way to signal that the gap between the offer and the budget is significant, often serving as a starting point for serious counter-offering.
EN: Present Perfect Tense (Have + past participle): Used here to ask about an action that happened at an unspecified time in the past, with relevance to the present moment.
Have you finished the report yet?
EN: Collocation 'Have a chance to': A common phrase meaning to have the opportunity or time to do something.
I didn't have a chance to call him back.
EN: In professional settings, asking 'Have you had a chance to...' is a polite way to check on progress without sounding too demanding or accusatory, compared to 'Did you read it?'.
EN: The structure 'spend + time + V-ing' is used to indicate how much time is dedicated to a specific activity. The preposition 'in' is often omitted before the gerund.
He spent three hours fixing his car.
EN: The phrasal verb 'go through' means to examine or check something carefully, often in a sequence or detail.
We need to go through the contract before signing it.
EN: In a business context, 'the numbers' usually refers to financial data, budgets, or statistical reports. Using this phrase shows a focus on the analytical side of a deal.
EN: The preposition 'above' is used to indicate that a number or level is higher than another specific value or limit.
The temperature today is five degrees above the average.
EN: The adverb 'about' is used as a modifier to indicate an approximate amount or degree, similar to 'approximately'.
The project will take about two weeks to complete.
EN: In business negotiations, using precise percentages (like 'thirty percent') rather than vague terms (like 'too much') helps in making a more professional and objective argument. It provides a clear baseline for the counter-offer.
EN: The Present Continuous tense (am/is/are + V-ing) is used here to describe an action that is currently in progress or a process that is ongoing at the moment of speaking.
We are developing a new marketing strategy for the product launch.
EN: The coordinating conjunction 'but' is used to connect two independent clauses, introducing a contrast or a potential conflict between the action being taken and the desired outcome.
I want to accept the job, but the commute is too long.
EN: In Western business culture, negotiation is often seen as a collaborative process rather than a zero-sum game. Maintaining a 'good relationship' is crucial because long-term partnerships are often more valuable than the immediate gains from a single contract.
EN: The use of 'In my experience' as a sentence starter provides context and softens the delivery of an opinion, making it sound more professional and less like a direct command.
In my experience, clear communication prevents most workplace conflicts.
EN: The structure 'The key is to [verb]' uses an infinitive phrase as a subject complement to define the most important factor of a situation.
The key is to remain calm during the negotiation.
EN: In Western business culture, maintaining a 'partnership' is often prioritized over winning a single deal. Using words like 'value' and 'partnership' signals a collaborative rather than adversarial negotiation style.
EN: The Present Perfect Tense (have + past participle) is used here to ask about a past action that has relevance to the present moment, focusing on the experience or result of thinking.
Have you considered the consequences of this decision?
EN: Indirect Questions within a sentence: The phrase 'which terms you're willing to be flexible on' acts as the object of the preposition 'about'. Note that the word order follows a statement (Subject + Verb) rather than a question.
I don't know which path we should take.
EN: In Western business culture, 'flexibility' is highly valued as it shows a willingness to reach a 'win-win' solution. Asking this question helps identify the 'Bargaining Mix'—the set of issues up for negotiation.
EN: Present Perfect Continuous (have/has + been + V-ing): This tense is used to describe an action that started in the past and has continued up to the present moment, often emphasizing the duration or the ongoing nature of the activity.
I have been working on this project since morning.
EN: Adverbial usage of 'Actually': Used as a discourse marker to introduce a statement that adds information, corrects a misunderstanding, or signals a transition in thought.
Actually, I don't think that's a good idea.
EN: In English-speaking business cultures, using 'Actually' followed by a continuous tense is a common way to show that you are actively engaged in the problem-solving process and are taking the other person's suggestions seriously.
EN: First Conditional (Real Condition): Used to talk about possibilities in the present or future. The structure is 'If + present simple, will/can/could + base verb'. Here, 'could' is used to express a polite possibility or proposal.
We can finish the project early if you provide the data today.
EN: The use of 'could' for suggestions: In business negotiations, 'could' is often preferred over 'can' or 'will' because it sounds less demanding and more like a tentative proposal open for discussion.
We could offer a discount if you order in bulk.
EN: In Western business culture, negotiation is seen as a 'give-and-take' process. This sentence structure (We could X if you Y) is a classic way to propose a trade-off, showing flexibility while maintaining one's own interests.
EN: The phrase 'That way' is used as a cohesive device to introduce a result or a method, functioning similarly to 'In that manner' or 'So that'.
Eat a healthy breakfast; that way, you won't feel hungry before lunch.
EN: The modal verb 'would' is used here to express a hypothetical result or a future possibility within a proposed plan.
If we hired more staff, we would finish the project faster.
EN: In Western business culture, emphasizing 'win-win' outcomes and 'the long run' is a common strategy to build trust and move away from aggressive, short-term bargaining.
EN: Linking Verbs (Sensory Verbs): The verb 'sounds' is a linking verb used to describe the speaker's impression of a situation. When followed by a noun phrase, we use 'sounds like' + [noun phrase].
That sounds like a great idea for the project.
EN: Adjective Usage: The word 'solid' is used here figuratively to mean reliable, dependable, or well-thought-out, rather than its literal meaning of being physically hard.
He provided some solid evidence during the meeting.
EN: In Western business culture, reaching a 'compromise' is often viewed positively as a sign of successful negotiation and flexibility, rather than a sign of weakness. Using words like 'solid' reinforces that the agreement is fair and sustainable for both parties.
EN: The structure 'would be + -ing' is the Future Continuous in the Past. Here, it is used as a conditional form to describe a hypothetical situation that would be ongoing if a certain deal were made.
If we signed the contract, we would be working together for three years.
EN: The verb 'give' is a ditransitive verb, meaning it takes two objects: an indirect object (the recipient) and a direct object (the thing being given).
She gave the client a discount.
EN: In business negotiations, focusing on 'win-win' outcomes is a standard professional strategy. The phrase 'guaranteed business' is a powerful incentive for suppliers because it reduces their financial risk.
EN: The Present Continuous tense (be + verb-ing) is frequently used to talk about future arrangements or intentions, especially when a plan has already been made.
We are meeting the client tomorrow morning.
EN: The verb 'plan' is followed by a 'to-infinitive' (to + base verb) to indicate the action intended for the future.
They plan to expand their business next year.
EN: In Western business culture, a 'counter-offer' is a standard part of negotiations. It is expected that the first offer is just a starting point, and presenting a counter-offer is seen as a professional way to reach a mutually beneficial agreement rather than an insult.
EN: The Present Perfect Passive ('has been' + past participle) is used to describe an action that was completed at an unspecified time in the past, emphasizing the current state or result rather than who performed the action.
The report has been sent to the manager.
EN: The structure 'have + object + past participle' (Causative Verb) is used here to express the desire for a certain state to be achieved for an object by a specific time.
I need to have my car repaired by tomorrow.
EN: In professional settings, 'by then' is a crucial phrase for setting deadlines. It implies that the action must be completed NO LATER than the specified time, showing a sense of responsibility and planning.
EN: The imperative mood is used to give commands, warnings, or advice. It typically starts with the base form of the verb. To make it negative, 'don't' is added before the verb.
Don't forget to bring your umbrella.
EN: The infinitive phrase 'to set...' acts as the direct object of the verb 'forget'. In this context, 'forget to do something' means failing to perform a future task.
I need to set a reminder for the meeting.
EN: A 'walk-away point' is a crucial concept in Western business negotiation. It refers to the absolute limit where a negotiator will stop bargaining and leave the table if their minimum requirements aren't met. It demonstrates a strategy of knowing one's value and avoiding bad deals.
EN: First Conditional: Used to talk about real and possible situations in the future. The structure is 'If + present simple, will/should/can + base verb'.
If it rains tomorrow, we should cancel the picnic.
EN: Phrasal Verb 'Walk away': In a business context, this means to stop being involved in a negotiation or deal because it is not satisfactory.
They weren't willing to lower the price, so we had to walk away.
EN: In Western business culture, having a 'walk-away point' (BATNA - Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement) is considered a sign of strength and preparation, not necessarily rudeness. It prevents one from making a bad deal due to emotional pressure.
EN: The use of the adverb 'absolutely' to modify the adjective 'right'. This is an intensifier used to express complete agreement or certainty.
The movie was absolutely fantastic.
EN: The contraction 'You're' stands for 'You are'. In spoken English, contractions are used to maintain a natural rhythm and flow.
You're doing a great job.
EN: In Western business culture, explicitly agreeing with someone's advice ('You're absolutely right') is a way to build rapport and show that you value their expertise, especially after a collaborative discussion.
EN: Gerund as Subject: The word 'Having' is a gerund (verb + -ing acting as a noun). Using a gerund phrase as the subject allows you to talk about an action or state as a concept.
Setting a budget helps you save money.
EN: Causative Verb 'Make': The structure 'make + object + adjective' is used to describe how something causes a change in someone's state or feeling.
The good news made him happy.
EN: In Western business culture, a 'walk-away point' is a standard negotiation concept. It represents the minimum acceptable terms. Being prepared to leave the table is seen as a sign of strength and preparation, rather than rudeness.
EN: The verb 'help' can be followed by an object and then either a bare infinitive (verb without 'to') or a 'to-infinitive'. In this sentence, 'help me see' uses the bare infinitive pattern, which is very common in modern English.
Could you help me carry these boxes to the car?
EN: The phrase 'from a ... perspective' is a fixed prepositional phrase used to describe the viewpoint or angle from which something is considered. 'From' indicates the origin of the viewpoint.
We need to look at the problem from a financial perspective.
EN: In Western business culture, showing appreciation for a colleague's emotional intelligence or problem-solving perspective is highly valued. It builds rapport and encourages a collaborative environment beyond just technical tasks.
EN: The phrase 'close a deal' is a common business collocation meaning to successfully finalize a negotiation or agreement.
After months of negotiation, we finally closed the deal with the international client.
EN: The structure 'Let me know how it goes' uses a noun clause (how it goes) as the object of the verb 'know'. It is used to ask for an update on a future situation.
Good luck with your job interview; let me know how it goes!
EN: In Western business culture, 'Anytime' is a warm, informal way to respond to thanks, emphasizing that the person is happy to help again. It helps build rapport and a supportive professional relationship.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
To examine or check something carefully.
To withdraw from a negotiation or situation because it is not satisfactory.
Over a long period of time; eventually.
To successfully complete a business agreement.
The specific point or limit at which a negotiator will stop bargaining and leave.
The specific conditions, requirements, or stipulations set out in a legal agreement or contract.
A planned set of activities, particularly in marketing or advertising, designed to achieve a specific business goal.
The fixed prices or fees charged for a particular service or product, often calculated per unit or time.