The Art of Being Small
Grammar: Embedded Questions
A Business English English lesson exploring business.
What's in this lesson
A Business English ESL lesson on business, practising embedded questions. The worksheet has a reading, target vocabulary, a grammar reference with practice and discussion questions.
From the reading: The Art of Being Small
"We do not have the luxury of choosing our neighbourhood," Vivian Balakrishnan told an audience in Singapore in March 2024. "We have to deal with the world as it is, not as we wish it to be." As Singapore's Foreign Minister since 2015, Balakrishnan has built a reputation for speaking with unusual candour about a central question facing small, trade-dependent states: what it means to preserve strategic autonomy in an era of geopolitical fragmentation. Singapore exports goods and services equivalent to roughly 170 percent of its GDP — a figure that makes the city-state's exposure to global volatility almost unparalleled among developed economies.
Vocabulary
- bilateral relations
- diplomatic posture
- exert pressure
- hedging strategy
Grammar: Embedded Questions
- Embedded question form
- Could you tell me what the minister said? — subject before verb in embedded clause
- whether vs if
- I wonder whether they will reach a deal. — prefer whether in formal writing
Discussion questions
- Would you rather live in a large, powerful country or a small, adaptable one?
- Is it better for a company to specialise deeply or stay flexible across markets?
- Which matters more in diplomacy: what you say, or how you say it?
The Art of Being Small
Grammar: Embedded Questions
What's in this lesson:
Full lesson plan with reading, grammar, vocabulary, and discussion.
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