Hedging & Diplomatic Language

Article excerpt · target grammar marked

The falconer must constantly calibrate: softening an approach here, withdrawing attention there, never announcing an intention too directly. Macdonald herself admits that early in her training she might have moved too fast.

Grammar Reference · Hedging & Diplomatic Language

Modal hedges

She might be wrong about the timing. — softens certainty politely

Lexical hedges

To some extent, pressure backfires. — adds nuance, avoids absolutes

Distancing

It is often said patience wins trust. — removes speaker from the claim

Approximators

It takes around two months. — avoids false precision

01Exercise 1 — Form · Write the Correct Form

Hedging & Diplomatic Language

1.It be true that hesitation signals respect, not weakness.

2. speaking, most clients resist being rushed.

3.She have misread his silence as agreement.

4.It has been that soft requests succeed more often than direct ones.

5.To degree, every negotiation depends on timing.

6.Many argue that confidence can frighten rather than reassure.

02Exercise 2 — Transform

rewrite with the new structure

1.The bird will attack if you move fast.

2.Pressure destroys trust.

3.Patience always wins.

4.She moved too fast and lost the bird's trust.

5.The training takes two months.

6.Confidence frightens the hawk.

7.Clients resist being pushed.

8.The falconer controls the bird.

03Exercise 3 — About You

in your notebook

Personalise: complete five sentences about yourself using the target grammar.

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