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Lesson 223 of 240

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Persuade someone in English

Ana is downtown with Marcus. She has a sketch for the library cafe, and she wants to keep one old diner booth in the plan.

Marcus names the cost. He is not sure. Ana makes her case, answers his worry, and asks him to decide today.

You will learn six lines for this: ask someone to try an idea, act now, name reasons, show you get the worry, keep the risk small, and ask for a yes or no.

By the end of this lesson

Make a case, answer a worry, and ask for a decision.

  • I'd like you to give this a try.Please try this; I think it will help.
  • Rather than wait, we should do it now.It is better to act now than to wait.
  • There are three good reasons to do this.I can name three benefits.
  • I get why you'd hesitate.I understand why you might wait.
  • Trying once doesn't cost us much.One try will not hurt us.
  • Can I ask you to decide today?Please make a yes or no choice now.

Scene — the cafe sketch

Ana is at the architecture studio downtown. Long desks, plants, rolled drawings, and a blank whiteboard. Marcus has the library cafe sketch in his hands.

Ana wants one old diner booth in the cafe, like the seats at the Blue Plate. Marcus looks at the cost first. He does not say yes yet.

Marcus unrolls the cafe sketch while Ana points out the diner booth she wants to include.

Learn — make a case

Six lines help you make a case at work.

You ask for a try, act now, name reasons, show you get the worry, and ask for a yes or no.

  1. Ana encourages Marcus to consider the booth as she nudges the cafe sketch toward him.

    I'd like you to give this a try.

    Please try this; I think it will help.

    When to use it: Use this when you want someone to try your idea.

    I'd like you to is a polite ask, and I'd is one piece.

    Say it: I'd is one piece, and stress falls on try.

  2. Ana makes the case for acting now while Marcus considers the extra cost.

    Rather than wait, we should do it now.

    It is better to act now than to wait.

    When to use it: Use this when waiting is worse than acting now.

    Rather than wait means it is better not to wait.

  3. Ana raises three fingers as Marcus looks from her hand to the cafe sketch.

    There are three good reasons to do this.

    I can name three benefits.

    When to use it: Use this when you will name a few benefits next.

    Say the number first, then give each reason.

  4. Ana acknowledges Marcus’s concern as he continues holding the sketch.

    I get why you'd hesitate.

    I understand why you might wait.

    When to use it: Use this when you show you understand their worry.

    I get why means I understand the reason, and you'd is you would as one piece.

    Say it: You'd is one short word.

  5. Ana calmly reassures Marcus that testing a single booth is a manageable first try.

    Trying once doesn't cost us much.

    One try will not hurt us.

    When to use it: Use this when one try is cheap or low risk.

    Doesn't is does not said as one piece. It says the cost stays small.

    Say it: The n't in doesn't is a small sound.

  6. Ana asks Marcus for a clear choice while he is still considering the sketch.

    Can I ask you to decide today?

    Please make a yes or no choice now.

    When to use it: Use this when you need a yes or no now.

    This is a polite way to ask for a choice today.

Story — one old booth

Watch Ana make her case at the studio. Marcus names the cost. She answers, then she asks him to decide.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Marcus unrolls the cafe sketch. The studio is quiet except for the street.
  2. MarcusSo, walk me through the cafe, Ana.He wants her to explain the sketch.
  3. AnaI'd like you to give this a try. Keep one old diner booth.She asks him to try keeping one old diner booth.
  4. MarcusThat booth costs more than a new table. Why not wait?He names the extra cost and wants to delay.
  5. AnaRather than wait, we should do it now.It is better to act now than to wait.
  6. MarcusGive me a reason I can take to the client.He wants a clear reason for the client.
  7. AnaThere are three good reasons to do this.I can name three benefits.
  8. MarcusLike what?Please give me an example.
  9. AnaPeople sit longer. It feels like Logan Square. The drawing is already done.She names three benefits of the booth.
  10. MarcusI hear you, but custom work still makes me nervous.He still worries about the extra work.
  11. AnaI get why you'd hesitate.I understand why you might wait.
  12. MarcusEven one booth is money we may not have.He worries they do not have the money.
  13. AnaTrying once doesn't cost us much. We can try one booth.One try will not hurt them, and they can test one booth.
  14. Marcus taps the sketch. He does not smile yet.
  15. MarcusI'll think about it.I need time before I decide.
  16. AnaCan I ask you to decide today?Please make a yes or no choice now.
  17. MarcusYes, let's do that. One booth. We stop if it fails.He agrees and wants to follow the plan.

Practice — cost and a choice

Ten short exercises wait here. You will listen, pick, build, fill a gap, and swap a word.

They stay small, so the round moves fast.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What does it mean?

    There are three good reasons to do this.

  3. What do you say?

    Your boss wants to wait on a plan. You think acting now is better.

  4. Pick the reply

    Marcus says:

    Custom work still makes me nervous.

    He is worried about the extra work.

    And you reply with:

  5. Fill the gap

    One try will not hurt us.

    Trying ____ doesn't cost us much.

  6. Build the line

    Please make a yes or no choice now.

    ?

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Swap the word

    You want to name helpful reasons, not weak ones.

    There are three ____ reasons to do this.

  8. Pick the reply

    Marcus says:

    There are three good reasons to do this.

    I can name three benefits.

    And you reply with:

  9. What do you say?

    Someone asked you to choose now. You need more time.

  10. True or false?

    You say this when you agree and want to follow the plan.

Say it — ask him to decide

Now you're Ana in the studio with Marcus. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. MarcusWhat would you like me to do with this cafe sketch?He asks what she wants him to do with the sketch.
  2. Ana (you)Ask him to try your idea.

    I'd like you to give this a try.

    Please try this; I think it will help.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
I'd like you to give this a try.Please try this; I think it will help.
Rather than wait, we should do it now.It is better to act now than to wait.
There are three good reasons to do this.I can name three benefits.
I get why you'd hesitate.I understand why you might wait.
Trying once doesn't cost us much.One try will not hurt us.
Can I ask you to decide today?Please make a yes or no choice now.
Next: lesson 224A polite complaint

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