How to Negotiate in English

Manuel Campos

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Now we are going to learn about how to negotiate in English, something you should know how to do if you have a job or are involved in business meetings.

Negotiate means “having a formal discussion with someone in order to reach an agreement with them

These are some examples of sentences with the verb “negotiate”:

  • We want to negotiate a settlement that is fair to both sides.
  • This company requires that we don’t negotiate with any other company.
  • I’m negotiating a new contract.
  • The CEO negotiated a deal with their rival.

To negotiate, you need to learn how:

#1Get the Attention you Need
#2State your Position / Make a Request
#3Reject a Request
#4Accept a Request
#5Expressions for Clarification
#6Closing the Deal

Now let’s check everything you need to know to negotiate in English

Useful Phrases Before Stating your Requests

These are some useful phrases that you can use before starting a negotiation:

#1I would like to have a word with you
#2Can I have a word with you?
#3Can I ask you a question?
#4Can I have a quick word with you?
#5Can I make a suggestion?
#6Can I talk to you for a minute?

State your Position: Would Like to

First, you have to state your position in a clear and concise way.

For example:

You can use the expression “I would like the company to” to state what you want the company to do for you

This is the structure to make these kinds of sentences

StructureExample
PhraseI would like the company to
Verbprovide
Complementfor transportation

These are some examples of sentences with that structure:

  • I would like the company to give us additional days off in December.
  • I would like the company to pay for our lunch.
  • I would like the company to give us days off so we can finish our major.
  • I would like the company to provide free transportation.
  • I would like the company to give us more perks.

State your Position: Want to

You can use the expression “I want the company to” to state what you want the company to do for you

This is the structure to make these kinds of sentences:

StructureExample
PhraseI want the company to
Verbprovide
Complementfree transportation

These are some examples of sentences with that structure:

  • We want the company to pay the school bonus by the end of January.
  • We want the company to fix the air conditioning.
  • We want the company to rent a parking lot for the employees.
  • We want the company to give us custom email addresses.

How to Reject a Request

Second, you can deny the request and provide reasons for that.

There are many expressions we can use to reject a request:

#1I’m afraid that’s out of the question.
#2I’m afraid that’s not acceptable to us.
#3I understand your position but…
#4I understand where you are coming from but…
#5I am afraid we can not accept that.
#6I’m afraid that we can not accept your offer
#7That’s not exactly as we see it.

These are examples of exchanges in which requests are rejected:

  • We want the company to rent a parking lot for the employees
  • I don’t think it is possible, we don’t have a budget for that
  • I would like the company to pay for our lunch
  • I am sorry but that’s a benefit we don’t offer here
  • We want the company to pay the school bonus by the end of December
  • I don’t think that’s possible, Human Resources won’t approve it
  • I would like the company to give us days off so we can continue the university
  • I am afraid we can’t do that since many employees are university students

Accept the Request or Point

These are some expressions to accept a request or point:

#1This is a fair suggestion.
#2That’s a fair suggestion
#3I agree with your suggestion
#4You have a strong point there
#5You have a good point.
#6I don’t see any problem with that.
#7I think that’s a great idea.
#8I think your proposal is acceptable.

Now we are going to check some examples in which requests are accepted

  • We want the company to fix the air conditioning
  • We are doing our best effort to fix the problem
  • I would like the company to give us additional days off in December
  • I think that you can have a few more days off around Christmas day
  • I would like the company to give us days off so we can continue the university
  • I think that’s a great idea. Let me help you with that.
  • I think we should hire more university students
  • I think your proposal is acceptable.

Expressions for Clarification

These are some common expressions for clarification

#1Let me see if I got your point.
#2I’m not sure I understood your position.
#3What do you mean by that?
#4If I understand you correctly
#5Please correct me if I’m wrong
#6As I understand it, you’re saying that
#7What do you have in mind exactly?

Closing the Deal

These are some useful expressions to indicate that the requests have been formally accepted

  • I’m willing to work with that.
  • I’m satisfied with this decision.
  • I think we should get this in writing.
  • Let me communicate this to the human resources department

Conversation: Negotiation in English

This is an example of a negotiation conversation in English with more than one exchange.

MikeHello boss
JessicaHi Mike
MikeI have a question
JessicaHow can I help you?
MikeYou know I study Business
JessicaI am aware of that
MikeI would like to finish my major. I need some days off
JessicaThat’s great news, What days do you need?
MikeI need Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays
JessicaWow, That’s a lot of days
MikeI know, can we do something about it?
JessicaI can give you two days off but you have to work on the weekends
Mike That would be fine
Jessica Let me talk to Human Resources
MikeThank you

Pronunciation: Negotiate

If you are struggling to pronounce the word “negotiate”, you can watch the video and listen to the pronunciation as many times as you want

In addition to that, you can listen to the US and UK pronunciations using the Cambridge Online Dictionary

More English Lessons

I hope that you have found some key phrases that will help you negotiate in English in a basic way

These are some English lessons that you might want to check before you leave

  1. How to Describe People: Appearance and Personality
  2. How to Express Feelings in English
  3. How to Describe Jobs in English
  4. How to Talk about Facilities in English
  5. How To Make Comparisons in English
  6. How To Make a Reservation in English
  7. How to Talk about Movies in English
Manuel Campos, Docente de Inglés

About manuel Campos

I am Jose Manuel, English professor and creator of EnglishPost.org, a blog whose mission is to share lessons for those who want to learn and improve their English

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