Knowing how to express your position, set conditions, and respond to proposals during a business negotiation can make the difference between closing a deal and losing one. Mastering the right phrases in English gives you confidence and credibility at the table, whether you are discussing prices, delivery schedules, or order volumes.
How do you make your position clear in a negotiation?
In any business negotiation, both sides need to understand exactly where the other stands. There are several professional-sounding phrases that help you communicate your stance without ambiguity.
- "I suggest starting small and scaling up later." This tells the other party what you recommend as a first step [01:42].
- "We are thinking about starting with around 100 units per order." You share what is on your mind and set an initial expectation [02:00].
- "We'd prefer to keep things flexible." You express a clear preference while remaining polite [02:18].
Each of these structures — I suggest, we are thinking about, we'd prefer — allows you to state your position directly and professionally. They sound cooperative rather than aggressive, which is essential in professional financial English.
Why are open-ended questions so powerful?
Compared to close-ended questions, which typically produce a simple yes or no, open-ended questions use WH words (what, how, when) to draw out more detailed information from the other party [03:05]. For example:
- "What do you have in mind exactly?"
- "What kind of volumes are we looking at?"
- "What's the situation regarding production and delivery?"
A useful conversational technique is leaving a sentence unfinished after or: "And that would be per month or…" This creates a natural gap for the other person to fill in their answer [03:22]. Keep in mind, though, that this technique works in spoken negotiation, not in formal writing.
How do you set conditions using if sentences and modal verbs?
One of the most practical tools in negotiation English is the conditional sentence with if. It lets you propose a scenario and ask the other side to respond with their best offer [04:38].
- "If we are ordering around 100 units at one time, what kind of price per unit can you offer?" [04:22]
- "If we need higher volumes, would you be able to go lower?" [05:08]
- "If we commit to a minimum volume over a six-month period, but with a flexible delivery schedule, could you offer us the same price?" [05:18]
Notice how modal verbs such as can, would, and could appear in the second part of the sentence. These soften the request and invite the other party to share their position. You learned about modal verbs in previous classes, and here they become especially useful because they keep the tone respectful while still asking for concrete answers.
What is the difference between assuming, supposing, and as long as?
Beyond if, there are three additional ways to set conditions, each with a different level of certainty [05:55].
- Assuming and supposing are more speculative. You are saying, "Let's imagine this scenario and see what we can do."
- "Assuming that you need a flexible schedule, we could offer $4 for leather straps and $6 for stainless steel straps." [06:15]
- "Supposing you could commit to a minimum monthly volume, we could go down to $3 and $4.75." [06:35]
- As long as sets a firm, non-negotiable condition. It means this requirement must be met.
- "As long as there were some limitations on delivery timing, I think that would be acceptable." [06:55]
Choosing the right word signals how flexible or rigid you are on a particular point, which is valuable information for both sides of a negotiation.
How can you accept or reject proposals professionally?
Throughout the role play, both parties demonstrated how to accept and reject proposals without damaging the relationship. Phrases like "That's possible, but we won't be able to offer the lowest prices" [02:50] show a conditional rejection: you acknowledge the request while explaining your limit. On the other hand, "I think that would be acceptable" [05:40] is a clear and professional acceptance.
The key takeaway is that every response in a negotiation should be paired with a reason or a counter-condition. This keeps the conversation moving forward productively.
When was the last time you had to negotiate something important? Was it successful, and what phrases did you rely on? Share your experience in the comments.
