Hedging & indirect refusal — The Art of the Difficult Conversation
Grammar: Hedging language and indirect refusal structures
Free ESL grammar exercise on hedging & indirect refusal themed around the art of the difficult conversation. Printable worksheet from classplan.ai.
What's on this worksheet
A Business English ESL grammar exercise on business, practising hedging language and indirect refusal structures. The worksheet has a short reading excerpt, a grammar reference and graded practice items.
From the reading
High-EQ professionals rely on a small set of learnable techniques. The first is the labelling technique, developed by FBI negotiator Chris Voss.
Grammar
- Indirect refusal
- That won't be possible by Thursday — I could send a draft next Monday. — clear, no apology
- Labelling emotion
- It seems like the timeline is creating some pressure. — names the feeling, reduces tension
Sample items
- I ______ be able to review the proposal before Monday's meeting.
- ______ like this situation has been building for some time.
- That ______ be possible this week — could we schedule it for next Tuesday?
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