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Lesson 162 of 240

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Soften the no in English

Ana is in a meeting about the library. Marcus still wants glass walls. Ana still does not like them.

She does not say a hard no. She puts a soft line first, then her real view.

Marcus is kind when he disagrees. He lets her finish.

By the end, you'll add a cushion before you say no. You'll agree in part, then share the rest.

By the end of this lesson

Soften a no at work, agree in part, then share the rest.

  • Can I add something?May I say one more idea?
  • I agree up to a point.I agree with part of this, not all of it.
  • I might be wrong, but ___.This is only my view, but ___.
  • I'm not saying you're wrong, but ___.I respect your view, and I still think ___.
  • That's true, but the timing is tight.You are right, but we do not have much time.
  • I'm not convinced that this will work.I still have doubts that this plan will succeed.

Scene — the glass walls

Same downtown studio. Marcus stands at the long desk with rolled drawings under his arm. The blank whiteboard is behind him.

Ana sits with her tote bag. The library plan still shows glass walls. She wants a quieter room, and she will say so with a soft start.

Marcus unrolls the glass-wall library drawings while Ana sits nearby with her tote bag.

Learn — a soft start

Six lines help you soften a no at work.

You start with a cushion, then you share the part you do not agree with.

  1. Ana lifts a hand from the desk to ask for a chance to add an idea.

    Can I add something?

    May I say one more idea?

    When to use it: Say this when you want a turn in a meeting.

    Can I is the casual ask, so keep it as one piece.

    Say it: Stress add, and keep Can short.

  2. Marcus gives Ana a small nod and lets her continue.

    I agree up to a point.

    I agree with part of this, not all of it.

    When to use it: Say this when you agree with only part of a plan.

    Up to a point means you only agree with part.

  3. Ana points to the glass panels as she acknowledges what she likes about the plan.

    I might be wrong, but ___.

    This is only my view, but ___.

    When to use it: Use this before a view that may not match theirs.

    After but, put your real view in the blank.

    Say it: Might is a full word, so do not cut it short.

  4. Ana shares her concern with open hands while Marcus listens across the desk.

    I'm not saying you're wrong, but ___.

    I respect your view, and I still think ___.

    When to use it: Use this when you respect their view but still differ.

    Keep I'm and you're whole as you say them.

    Say it: You're sounds like one short piece.

  5. Marcus suggests an additional wall for a later stage of the plan.

    That's true, but the timing is tight.

    You are right, but we do not have much time.

    When to use it: Say this when you accept a fact, then name the time problem.

    That's is one piece, and tight here means there is little time.

    Say it: That's starts with a voiced th.

  6. Ana studies the glass-wall plan, still unsure that it will work.

    I'm not convinced that this will work.

    I still have doubts that this plan will succeed.

    When to use it: Say this when you still have doubts about a plan.

    I'm is one piece, and not convinced means you still have doubts.

    Say it: Stress the second syllable in convinced.

Story — he lets her finish

Watch Ana soften her no in the studio. Marcus wants glass. She still does not.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Marcus unrolls the drawings. The glass walls are still on the plan.
  2. MarcusSo, I still want glass walls for the reading room.He still wants glass in that room.
  3. AnaCan I add something?May I say one more idea?
  4. MarcusGo ahead. I want the plan in a few sentences.He lets her speak. He wants a short plan.
  5. AnaI agree up to a point. The light is nice.She agrees with part. She likes the light.
  6. MarcusBut you still don't like the glass.He thinks she still does not want the glass.
  7. He waits. He does not cut her off.
  8. AnaI might be wrong, but the glass will bounce the sound.This is only her view, but the glass may send sound around.
  9. MarcusKids need to see in. That's the idea.He wants children to look into the room.
  10. AnaI'm not saying you're wrong, but the room needs quiet.She respects his view, and she still wants a quiet room.
  11. MarcusWe can add a second wall later.He offers another wall at a later time.
  12. AnaThat's true, but the timing is tight.You are right, but we do not have much time.
  13. MarcusSo you still have doubts about this plan?He checks that she still has doubts about the plan.
  14. AnaI'm not convinced that this will work.I still have doubts that this plan will succeed.
  15. MarcusOkay. Let's come back to this later.We will talk about this again another time.
  16. AnaThanks. I know we still need a plan.She thanks him and knows they must still decide.

Practice — pick the cushion

Ten short exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, swap a word, and build a line.

They stay small, so the round moves fast.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What does it mean?

    I'm not convinced that this will work.

  3. What do you say?

    Marcus shares a plan. You like only part of it.

  4. What did you hear?

  5. Build the line

    May I say one more idea?

    ?

    Tap the words in order.

  6. Swap the word

    You are not fully sure. Soften your view before you share it.

    I ____ be wrong, but ___.

  7. Pick the reply

    Marcus says:

    Kids need to see into the reading room.

    He thinks children should be able to look inside.

    And you reply with:

  8. What do you say?

    You cannot agree yet. You want to stop this topic for now.

  9. True or false?

    This line means the meeting still has many hours left.

  10. Match the pairs

    English

    Can I add something?Drop the Simple English here
    I agree up to a point.Drop the Simple English here
    That's true, but the timing is tight.Drop the Simple English here
    I'm not convinced that this will work.Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

    Drag a Simple English line onto its English, or tap one and then the other.

Say it — say it in the meeting

Now you're Ana in the studio meeting. 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. MarcusI still want the glass walls.He still wants glass in the plan.
  2. Ana (you)Ask to speak. You have one more idea.

    Can I add something?

    May I say one more idea?

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
Can I add something?May I say one more idea?
I agree up to a point.I agree with part of this, not all of it.
I might be wrong, but ___.This is only my view, but ___.
I'm not saying you're wrong, but ___.I respect your view, and I still think ___.
That's true, but the timing is tight.You are right, but we do not have much time.
I'm not convinced that this will work.I still have doubts that this plan will succeed.
Next: lesson 163Going along with it

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these cushions handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your soft no ready for meetings.

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