How To Be Diplomatic & More Polite in English PART 2

In this lesson, I share more great tips on how to be diplomatic & polite in English. Learn how to make your English sound more polite and diplomatic and practise what you learn in the task at the end.
PART 1: • How To Be More Diploma...
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Tip number 1 is to change the grammar - for example, sometimes the present simple tense can sound a bit too direct.
In these examples, we’ll change the tense from present simple to past simple:
When is the next meeting?
When did you say the next meeting was?
What’s your name?
What did you say your name was?
By changing the tense, the style becomes more friendly, diplomatic and less direct.
Tip number 2 is to use "I was hoping" to sound more polite and less direct:
I want to finish this meeting by 2pm.
I was hoping to finish this meeting by 2pm
I want you to help me with this email.
I was hoping you could help me with this email.
Tip number 3 is to use "I was wondering" when making requests:
Can I take next Tuesday off ?
I was wondering if I could take next Tuesday off?
Can we meet on Wednesday afternoon?
I was wondering if we could meet on Wednesday afternoon?
Tip number 4 is to use the passive form to make things sound less personal:
Your assistant told us that the documents were sent on Monday.
We were told that the documents were sent on Monday.
You promised that the goods would arrive today.
We were promised that the goods would arrive today.
Tip 5 is to use "Would you mind" when asking people to do things:
Get me a coffee, please.
Would you mind getting me a coffee, please?
Check these figures again, please.
Would you mind checking these figures again, please?
Tip 6 is to avoid 'finger-pointing' statements with the word 'you':
Why don’t you understand?
Perhaps I didn’t make myself clear.
You didn’t explain that very well.
I’m afraid I don’t quite follow.
Task
1.) When is the conference? (tip 1)
2.) We want to finalise the contract today. (tip 2)
3.) Can we change the date? (tip 3)
4.) He told us that we would get a 5% discount. (tip 4)
5.) Give Tom a hand with the report, please. (tip 5)
Timestamps
0:00 Intro
1:16 Tip 1 - Change the grammar
2:22 Tip 2 Use "I was hoping"
3:06 Tip 3 - Use "I was wondering"
3:42 Tip 4 - Use the passive voice
4:32 Tip 5 - Use "Would you mind"
5:22 Tip 6 - Avoid "finger-pointing" statements
6:07 Your turn - practise what you've learned
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Music credits: Intro music: Far Away by MK2
Background music: Honey and Milk by The 126ers

[@7810]

Very useful lesson! Thanks. Tip1: Change the grammar - Present simple -> Past Simple When is the next meeting? -> When did you say the next meeting was? When is the conference? -> When did you say the conference was? Tip2: Use "I was hoping" We want to finalize the contract today -> We were hoping to finalize the contract today. Tip3: Use "I was wondering" Can we change the date? -> I was wondering if we could change the date? Tip4: Use the passive form to make it sound less personal He told us that we would get a 5% discount -> We were told that we could get a 5% discount. Tip5: Use "Would you mind" when asking people to do things Give Tom some help with the report, please. -> Would you mind giving Tom some help with the report, please.

[@derekcallan-englishforpros]

Excellent work! Glad you find it useful 👍

[@salmanubaid104]

Your way of teaching is matchless.

[@derekcallan-englishforpros]

Glad you think so!

[@imarithkongtho]

Thank you so much for such a useful video. I was hoping you could further develop this kind of video.

[@Sai_Bhargavi_vlogs]

Superb! Thanks a lot for the wonderful content.

[@derekcallan-englishforpros]

Glad you liked it!

[@robertmukhooli4830]

Very educative take I have found,I will emulate the idea

[@derekcallan-englishforpros]

😊👍

[@anailopez82]

It's perfectly clear. Thank you for this vídeo!

[@derekcallan-englishforpros]

My pleasure!

[@mailtopanicker1]

Your way of presentation is very simple and easy to follow. Thank you.

[@derekcallan-englishforpros]

You’re very welcome, Vinod!

[@imaalfares7322]

Thanks

[@derekcallan-englishforpros]

👍😊

[@mahwashzafar7769]

wonderfully done Sir !

[@derekcallan-englishforpros]

Thank you!

[@trivo3937]

Great lesson! Thanks

[@derekcallan-englishforpros]

No worries!

[@mohammedajaz5930]

Your videos is highly useful for me .... Thanks sir for making the videos for us....

[@derekcallan-englishforpros]

Happy to hear that, Mohammed 😊

[@ArunBamania]

Excellent! 👍

[@derekcallan-englishforpros]

😊👍

[@halilgergin7388]

Thank you so much 👏👍👌

[@derekcallan-englishforpros]

No problem!

[@sabrinasabrina2767]

Excellent you can explain witvout efforts. Keep doing

[@derekcallan-englishforpros]

Thanks Sabrina 😊

[@ashishjain4986]

When is the conference? -> When did you say the conference was? We want to finalize the contract today -> We were hoping to finalize the contract today. Can we change the date? -> I was wondering if we could change the date? He told us that we would get a 5% discount -> We were told that we be getting a 5% discount. Give Tom some help with the report, please. -> Would you mind helping Tom with the report, please.

[@erezafazliu7689]

MAKE A PART 3 PLEASE !

[@derekcallan-englishforpros]

I'll keep that in mind 😉

[@marias.8322]

Your channel is Amazing . I been looking for a channel like yours. With helping to write professional and diplomatic. Specially now that we work from work we use more the writing. Please do more videos for writing emails . I have to write to directors and I have hard time please help with more introduce sentences and examples. By the way I will share your channel

[@derekcallan-englishforpros]

Hi Maria! Thanks very much for your comment. I will do my best to upload more email writing lessons. Here’s a playlist of all the ones I’ve uploaded so far:kzbin.info/aero/PL2fUZ7TZy_xdRNAVRIARitkqDAxeUXVJ-

[@saisarojarani4109]

1.When fid you say the conference was? 2.we are hoping to finalize the contract today. 3.would you mind changing the date please? 4.we were told we would get 5% discount 5.would you mind to give some help with the report

[@derekcallan-englishforpros]

Sorry I missed this one! Great work indeed. Tip for number 5: Would you mind giving some help with the report? (Would you mind is always followed by the -ing form)

[@oleksandrlymar8144]

Hello Derek, Thank you for such a helpful lesson. 1) When did you say the conference was? 2) We were hoping to finalize the contract today. 3) I was wondering if we could change the date? 4) We were told that we would get a 5% discount. 5) Would you mind giving Tom some help with the report?

[@derekcallan-englishforpros]

Hi Oleksandr! You’re very welcome! Excellent work too 👍

[@darktempest]

1.) When is the conference? (tip 1) When did you say the conference was? 2.) We want to finalise the contract today. (tip 2) I was hoping we could finalise the contract today. 3.) Can we change the date? (tip 3) I was wandering if we could change the date? 4.) He told us that we would get a 5% discount. (tip 4) We were told that we would get a 5% discount. 5.) Give Tom a hand with the report, please. (tip 5) Would you mind giving Tom a hand with the report, please?

[@darktempest]

wondering*

[@MutintaMwiinga-pf9dp]

Kindly need a format

[@alinaadilbekkyzy3520]

When did you say the conference was ? We were hoping to finalize the contract today. I was wondering if we could change the date? We were told that we would get a 5% discount. Would you mind helping Tom with the report, please.

[@derekcallan-englishforpros]

Excellent!

[@user-cz9rs5id8m]

Also I was hoping that you might provide useful word set to speak in English.

[@derekcallan-englishforpros]

I'll do my best!

[@mariavittoriabevilacqua9372]

when did you say the conference was? - I was hoping to finalise the contract today- I was wondering if we can change the date - We were told we would get a 5% discount - would you mind giving some help to Tom with the report?

[@derekcallan-englishforpros]

Brilliant work, Maria!

[@hassanmgao2795]

How can I improve my communications skills especially speaking and writing skills

[@lily-bm6ro]

This is great 👍🏼 but can u please do a video of tips to so say in a student counsil presentation please i really need some tips I really want to be the student counciler

[@derekcallan-englishforpros]

That is very specific! maybe my presentation lessons will help - kzbin.info/aero/PL2fUZ7TZy_xfTR2Go-QhyQET5Bu7jpb1t

[@lily-bm6ro]

Oh ok thank you

[@derekcallan-englishforpros]

No problem!

[@vezirmertcan]

British people be like 5:32

[@user-cz9rs5id8m]

1) when did you say the conference was? 2) we were hoping to finalize contract today. 3) I was wondering if we can change the date. 4) we were told that we wont get 5% discount. 5) would you mind giving tom some help with the report? How about these corrected phrases??

[@derekcallan-englishforpros]

Very good! Tip: 2.) the contract 3.) if we could change

[@derekcallan-englishforpros]

4.) we would get a 5% discount Great effort 👍

[@vaibhavmishra1436]

When did you say that conference was I was hoping to finalise the contract today I was wondering if you could change the date We were told that we could get 5 % discount. Would you mind helping tom in the report please.

[@derekcallan-englishforpros]

Excellent!

[@yukayori]

Thank you very much for this video! I have 2 questions ; 1. When you use "I was wondering", do you normally put "?" at the end of the sentence? The order of the words at the beginning of the phrase is a subject (I) followed by a verb (was wondering) so I've always thought "?" is not needed. 2. Can you say "a coffee" instead of "a cup of coffee"? I don't think it's grammatically correct to say "a coffee" but is it common to use anyway among native speakers? I find your channel very useful, especially because it's hard to find actually relevant and natural English to use in a workplace. I'm looking forward to your new videos to come 🤗

[@derekcallan-englishforpros]

Hi Yukari! 1. To be honest, using a question mark at the end of "I was wondering ..." is actually not grammatically correct - you're right. However, we don't always follow the rules and sometimes do this in writing to make it clear that we want an answer. In speech, we often use raised intonation at the end of a "I was wondering...." statement, so it kind of sounds like a question. 2. Absolutely! It's probably more common to ask for a coffee than a cup of coffee. So glad you find the channel useful! Take care, Derek

[@yukayori]

@@derekcallan-englishforpros Thank you so much Derek for clarifying everything! I didn't know all of these things after 15+ years of learning english in my life. There seems to be still a lot to learn for me. Looking forward to your new videos:)

[@derekcallan-englishforpros]

@@yukayori no problem at all! Learning a language is a never-ending process! I’ve been learning German for over 20 years - my fluency is pretty good, but there are still a lot of things for me to learn and improve on too!

[@yukayori]

@@derekcallan-englishforpros Thanks Derek, it's nice that you speak German too! I think the best way to learn languages is to enjoy the journey of itself. Easier said than done because oftentimes frustration comes in our way but let's keep going with positivity :)

[@lukeenglishaddict6928]

Maybe lesson is short but full of content.

[@derekcallan-englishforpros]

Thanks 😊