Grammar and the Economy: Negotiations
2023-06-23
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1Imagine you are shopping at a market.
2Perhaps you are in a situation in which you need to negotiate a price. How do you do so?
3In today's Everyday Grammar, we will explore a point of connection between grammar and the economy.
4You will learn about some of the terms and structures we use to reach agreement on prices.
5In an earlier Everyday Grammar, we explored questions about prices.
6We discussed the term "how much" and explained why it is central to talking about prices.
7When we negotiate prices, we have a few more important elements.
8Of special importance are the words "this" or "that" -- and their related plural forms "these" and "those."
9In some cases, we use "this" or "that" as pronouns - meaning they take the place of nouns.
10We use "this" if the item or object is close to you.
11We use "that" if the item or object is at a distance or farther away.
12"These" is the plural form of "this."
13"Those" is the plural form of "that."
14When you use "this" and "that" as pronouns, you might also need to point with your finger.
15The reason we point is because "this" and "that" can be unclear to the listener.
16But when you point with a finger - or pick up an object - the listener will understand what you are talking about.
17The advantage of using "this" and "that" is that it allows you to ask about an object even if you do not know the name for it.
18As a result, you might feel more confident in your speaking.
19Let's explore an example. Imagine you are at a market and you pick up an object. A discussion might go like this:
20Buyer: How much is this?
21Seller: 20 dollars.
22Our question involves "how much," the verb BE, and "this," a pronoun.
23So, we have our basic ingredients. How might a further discussion about price go?
24Buyer: How much is this?
25Seller: 20 dollars.
26Buyer: Would you take 15?
27Seller: I would take 17 for it.
28Buyer: Ok, that works.
29Notice that our buyer asked the question "Would you take 15?"
30This question involves the modal "would" along with the main verb "take." The speaker used "15" in place of "15 dollars."
31Notice that the seller uses the modal "would" in the response:
32"Person: I would take 17 for it."
33So, we have the modal "would" and the main verb "take" playing important parts in our price discussions.
34But there are other ways that price discussions take place.
35We could propose a different price in a negotiation by using the phrase "How about...."
36Let's listen to how this might sound:
37Person 1: How much is this?
38Person 2: 20 dollars.
39Person 1: Would you take 15?
40Person: How about 17.
41Person 1: Ok, sounds good.
42"How about 17" is called a fragment because it is not a complete sentence.
43The fragment "how about 17" suggests something like the following language: "How about you pay me 17 dollars."
44But instead of using a full sentence, speakers often use a shortened version. This is how we arrive at "How about 17."
45Let's take some time to work with these ideas.
46Ask about the price of a pair of shoes that are near to you.
47Pause the audio to consider your answer.
48Here is one possible answer:
49How much are these?
50The reason we used "these" is because we are talking about a pair of shoes - not one shoe. As a result, we use a plural form of the verb BE as well.
51Now imagine that the discussion continues.
52How much are these?
53Ten dollars.
54How might you negotiate a lower price?
55Pause the audio to consider your answer.
56Here are a couple possible answers.
57You might say
58"Would you take 8?"
59Or
60"How about 8?"
61There are, of course, other ways to ask about lowering the price. But "Would you take...?" and "How about...." are two nice possibilities.
62Today we explored a few ways to negotiate a price. There are, of course, many other ways to do so.
63In future lessons, we will explore negotiations in greater detail - as well as many other fun, useful grammar issues that connect with everyday life.
64I'm John Russell.
1Imagine you are shopping at a market. Perhaps you are in a situation in which you need to negotiate a price. How do you do so? 2In today's Everyday Grammar, we will explore a point of connection between grammar and the economy. You will learn about some of the terms and structures we use to reach agreement on prices. 3Asking about a price 4In an earlier Everyday Grammar, we explored questions about prices. We discussed the term "how much" and explained why it is central to talking about prices. 5When we negotiate prices, we have a few more important elements. Of special importance are the words "this" or "that" -- and their related plural forms "these" and "those." 6In some cases, we use "this" or "that" as pronouns - meaning they take the place of nouns. 7We use "this" if the item or object is close to you. 8We use "that" if the item or object is at a distance or farther away. 9"These" is the plural form of "this." 10"Those" is the plural form of "that." 11When you use "this" and "that" as pronouns, you might also need to point with your finger. The reason we point is because "this" and "that" can be unclear to the listener. But when you point with a finger - or pick up an object - the listener will understand what you are talking about. 12The advantage of using "this" and "that" is that it allows you to ask about an object even if you do not know the name for it. 13As a result, you might feel more confident in your speaking. 14Let's explore an example. Imagine you are at a market and you pick up an object. A discussion might go like this: 15Buyer: How much is this? 16Seller: 20 dollars. 17Our question involves "how much," the verb BE, and "this," a pronoun. 18Negotiation 19So, we have our basic ingredients. How might a further discussion about price go? 20Buyer: How much is this? 21Seller: 20 dollars. 22Buyer: Would you take 15? 23Seller: I would take 17 for it. 24Buyer: Ok, that works. 25Notice that our buyer asked the question "Would you take 15?" 26This question involves the modal "would" along with the main verb "take." The speaker used "15" in place of "15 dollars." 27Notice that the seller uses the modal "would" in the response: 28"Person: I would take 17 for it." 29So, we have the modal "would" and the main verb "take" playing important parts in our price discussions. But there are other ways that price discussions take place. We could propose a different price in a negotiation by using the phrase "How about...." 30Let's listen to how this might sound: 31Person 1: How much is this? 32Person 2: 20 dollars. 33Person 1: Would you take 15? 34Person: How about 17. 35Person 1: Ok, sounds good. 36"How about 17" is called a fragment because it is not a complete sentence. 37The fragment "how about 17" suggests something like the following language: "How about you pay me 17 dollars." 38But instead of using a full sentence, speakers often use a shortened version. This is how we arrive at "How about 17." 39Practice 40Let's take some time to work with these ideas. 41Ask about the price of a pair of shoes that are near to you. 42Pause the audio to consider your answer. 43Here is one possible answer: 44How much are these? 45The reason we used "these" is because we are talking about a pair of shoes - not one shoe. As a result, we use a plural form of the verb BE as well. 46Now imagine that the discussion continues. 47How much are these? 48Ten dollars. 49How might you negotiate a lower price? 50Pause the audio to consider your answer. 51Here are a couple possible answers. 52You might say 53"Would you take 8?" 54Or 55"How about 8?" 56There are, of course, other ways to ask about lowering the price. But "Would you take...?" and "How about...." are two nice possibilities. 57Closing Thoughts 58Today we explored a few ways to negotiate a price. There are, of course, many other ways to do so. 59In future lessons, we will explore negotiations in greater detail - as well as many other fun, useful grammar issues that connect with everyday life. 60I'm John Russell. 61John Russell wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English. 62_______________________________________________________________ 63Words in This Story 64modal - n. a verb (such as would) that is usually used with another verb to express ideas such as possibility, necessity, etc.