Hedging Language — The Language of Yes
Grammar: Hedging and softening language
Free ESL grammar exercise on hedging language themed around the language of yes. Printable worksheet from classplan.ai.
What's on this worksheet
A Business English ESL grammar exercise on business, practising hedging and softening language. The worksheet has a short reading excerpt, a grammar reference and graded practice items.
From the reading
'No' shuts a door. 'Perhaps we could try X instead' leaves it open. Trainers call this reframing. You keep the honest message. You change the delivery. A blunt 'that's wrong' becomes 'I see it slightly differently'.
Grammar
- Softening with could
- We could try a different approach. — offers an option, not a command
- Tentative might
- It might help to review the numbers first. — gentle suggestion, not certainty
Sample items
- We ______ rethink the whole plan before Friday.
- It ______ be a good idea to ask the client first.
- ______ there's a kinder way to say that.
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