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DOWNTONING YOUR LANGUAGE
by
Marisa de Dios
.
Choose the expressions that can go under the headings.
Modifiers
Frankly
I think those figures are a little optimistic.
I’m afraid we can’t offer any more than that
I’m afraid your prices are a bit high.
If you could just..
It won’t be too expensive if…
It won’t take so long if…
Maybe you could
Maybe you should rethink the question of
Perhaps we should consider
Perhaps you have more expenses than you can really afford
Perhaps/Maybe
Quite honestly
That sounds a bit too…
There may be one or two
To be honest
Unfortunately
We could all think about
We need a little bit more time
Wouldn’t you agree that...?
Frankly
I think those figures are a little optimistic.
I’m afraid we can’t offer any more than that
I’m afraid your prices are a bit high.
If you could just..
It won’t be too expensive if…
It won’t take so long if…
Maybe you could
Maybe you should rethink the question of
Perhaps we should consider
Perhaps you have more expenses than you can really afford
Perhaps/Maybe
Quite honestly
That sounds a bit too…
There may be one or two
To be honest
Unfortunately
We could all think about
We need a little bit more time
Wouldn’t you agree that...?
Frankly
I think those figures are a little optimistic.
I’m afraid we can’t offer any more than that
I’m afraid your prices are a bit high.
If you could just..
It won’t be too expensive if…
It won’t take so long if…
Maybe you could
Maybe you should rethink the question of
Perhaps we should consider
Perhaps you have more expenses than you can really afford
Perhaps/Maybe
Quite honestly
That sounds a bit too…
There may be one or two
To be honest
Unfortunately
We could all think about
We need a little bit more time
Wouldn’t you agree that...?
Frankly
I think those figures are a little optimistic.
I’m afraid we can’t offer any more than that
I’m afraid your prices are a bit high.
If you could just..
It won’t be too expensive if…
It won’t take so long if…
Maybe you could
Maybe you should rethink the question of
Perhaps we should consider
Perhaps you have more expenses than you can really afford
Perhaps/Maybe
Quite honestly
That sounds a bit too…
There may be one or two
To be honest
Unfortunately
We could all think about
We need a little bit more time
Wouldn’t you agree that...?
.
Frankly
I think those figures are a little optimistic.
I’m afraid we can’t offer any more than that
I’m afraid your prices are a bit high.
If you could just..
It won’t be too expensive if…
It won’t take so long if…
Maybe you could
Maybe you should rethink the question of
Perhaps we should consider
Perhaps you have more expenses than you can really afford
Perhaps/Maybe
Quite honestly
That sounds a bit too…
There may be one or two
To be honest
Unfortunately
We could all think about
We need a little bit more time
Wouldn’t you agree that...?
Use of modal verbs
Frankly
I think those figures are a little optimistic.
I’m afraid we can’t offer any more than that
I’m afraid your prices are a bit high.
If you could just..
It won’t be too expensive if…
It won’t take so long if…
Maybe you could
Maybe you should rethink the question of
Perhaps we should consider
Perhaps you have more expenses than you can really afford
Perhaps/Maybe
Quite honestly
That sounds a bit too…
There may be one or two
To be honest
Unfortunately
We could all think about
We need a little bit more time
Wouldn’t you agree that...?
Frankly
I think those figures are a little optimistic.
I’m afraid we can’t offer any more than that
I’m afraid your prices are a bit high.
If you could just..
It won’t be too expensive if…
It won’t take so long if…
Maybe you could
Maybe you should rethink the question of
Perhaps we should consider
Perhaps you have more expenses than you can really afford
Perhaps/Maybe
Quite honestly
That sounds a bit too…
There may be one or two
To be honest
Unfortunately
We could all think about
We need a little bit more time
Wouldn’t you agree that...?
Frankly
I think those figures are a little optimistic.
I’m afraid we can’t offer any more than that
I’m afraid your prices are a bit high.
If you could just..
It won’t be too expensive if…
It won’t take so long if…
Maybe you could
Maybe you should rethink the question of
Perhaps we should consider
Perhaps you have more expenses than you can really afford
Perhaps/Maybe
Quite honestly
That sounds a bit too…
There may be one or two
To be honest
Unfortunately
We could all think about
We need a little bit more time
Wouldn’t you agree that...?
Vague language
Frankly
I think those figures are a little optimistic.
I’m afraid we can’t offer any more than that
I’m afraid your prices are a bit high.
If you could just..
It won’t be too expensive if…
It won’t take so long if…
Maybe you could
Maybe you should rethink the question of
Perhaps we should consider
Perhaps you have more expenses than you can really afford
Perhaps/Maybe
Quite honestly
That sounds a bit too…
There may be one or two
To be honest
Unfortunately
We could all think about
We need a little bit more time
Wouldn’t you agree that...?
Frankly
I think those figures are a little optimistic.
I’m afraid we can’t offer any more than that
I’m afraid your prices are a bit high.
If you could just..
It won’t be too expensive if…
It won’t take so long if…
Maybe you could
Maybe you should rethink the question of
Perhaps we should consider
Perhaps you have more expenses than you can really afford
Perhaps/Maybe
Quite honestly
That sounds a bit too…
There may be one or two
To be honest
Unfortunately
We could all think about
We need a little bit more time
Wouldn’t you agree that...?
Frankly
I think those figures are a little optimistic.
I’m afraid we can’t offer any more than that
I’m afraid your prices are a bit high.
If you could just..
It won’t be too expensive if…
It won’t take so long if…
Maybe you could
Maybe you should rethink the question of
Perhaps we should consider
Perhaps you have more expenses than you can really afford
Perhaps/Maybe
Quite honestly
That sounds a bit too…
There may be one or two
To be honest
Unfortunately
We could all think about
We need a little bit more time
Wouldn’t you agree that...?
Frankly
I think those figures are a little optimistic.
I’m afraid we can’t offer any more than that
I’m afraid your prices are a bit high.
If you could just..
It won’t be too expensive if…
It won’t take so long if…
Maybe you could
Maybe you should rethink the question of
Perhaps we should consider
Perhaps you have more expenses than you can really afford
Perhaps/Maybe
Quite honestly
That sounds a bit too…
There may be one or two
To be honest
Unfortunately
We could all think about
We need a little bit more time
Wouldn’t you agree that...?
Use of negatives for modifying
Frankly
I think those figures are a little optimistic.
I’m afraid we can’t offer any more than that
I’m afraid your prices are a bit high.
If you could just..
It won’t be too expensive if…
It won’t take so long if…
Maybe you could
Maybe you should rethink the question of
Perhaps we should consider
Perhaps you have more expenses than you can really afford
Perhaps/Maybe
Quite honestly
That sounds a bit too…
There may be one or two
To be honest
Unfortunately
We could all think about
We need a little bit more time
Wouldn’t you agree that...?
Frankly
I think those figures are a little optimistic.
I’m afraid we can’t offer any more than that
I’m afraid your prices are a bit high.
If you could just..
It won’t be too expensive if…
It won’t take so long if…
Maybe you could
Maybe you should rethink the question of
Perhaps we should consider
Perhaps you have more expenses than you can really afford
Perhaps/Maybe
Quite honestly
That sounds a bit too…
There may be one or two
To be honest
Unfortunately
We could all think about
We need a little bit more time
Wouldn’t you agree that...?
Use of I’m afraid
Frankly
I think those figures are a little optimistic.
I’m afraid we can’t offer any more than that
I’m afraid your prices are a bit high.
If you could just..
It won’t be too expensive if…
It won’t take so long if…
Maybe you could
Maybe you should rethink the question of
Perhaps we should consider
Perhaps you have more expenses than you can really afford
Perhaps/Maybe
Quite honestly
That sounds a bit too…
There may be one or two
To be honest
Unfortunately
We could all think about
We need a little bit more time
Wouldn’t you agree that...?
Frankly
I think those figures are a little optimistic.
I’m afraid we can’t offer any more than that
I’m afraid your prices are a bit high.
If you could just..
It won’t be too expensive if…
It won’t take so long if…
Maybe you could
Maybe you should rethink the question of
Perhaps we should consider
Perhaps you have more expenses than you can really afford
Perhaps/Maybe
Quite honestly
That sounds a bit too…
There may be one or two
To be honest
Unfortunately
We could all think about
We need a little bit more time
Wouldn’t you agree that...?
Intonation
Intonation plays a very important role in downtoning.
Using adverbs of attitude
Frankly
I think those figures are a little optimistic.
I’m afraid we can’t offer any more than that
I’m afraid your prices are a bit high.
If you could just..
It won’t be too expensive if…
It won’t take so long if…
Maybe you could
Maybe you should rethink the question of
Perhaps we should consider
Perhaps you have more expenses than you can really afford
Perhaps/Maybe
Quite honestly
That sounds a bit too…
There may be one or two
To be honest
Unfortunately
We could all think about
We need a little bit more time
Wouldn’t you agree that...?
Frankly
I think those figures are a little optimistic.
I’m afraid we can’t offer any more than that
I’m afraid your prices are a bit high.
If you could just..
It won’t be too expensive if…
It won’t take so long if…
Maybe you could
Maybe you should rethink the question of
Perhaps we should consider
Perhaps you have more expenses than you can really afford
Perhaps/Maybe
Quite honestly
That sounds a bit too…
There may be one or two
To be honest
Unfortunately
We could all think about
We need a little bit more time
Wouldn’t you agree that...?
Frankly
I think those figures are a little optimistic.
I’m afraid we can’t offer any more than that
I’m afraid your prices are a bit high.
If you could just..
It won’t be too expensive if…
It won’t take so long if…
Maybe you could
Maybe you should rethink the question of
Perhaps we should consider
Perhaps you have more expenses than you can really afford
Perhaps/Maybe
Quite honestly
That sounds a bit too…
There may be one or two
To be honest
Unfortunately
We could all think about
We need a little bit more time
Wouldn’t you agree that...?
Frankly
I think those figures are a little optimistic.
I’m afraid we can’t offer any more than that
I’m afraid your prices are a bit high.
If you could just..
It won’t be too expensive if…
It won’t take so long if…
Maybe you could
Maybe you should rethink the question of
Perhaps we should consider
Perhaps you have more expenses than you can really afford
Perhaps/Maybe
Quite honestly
That sounds a bit too…
There may be one or two
To be honest
Unfortunately
We could all think about
We need a little bit more time
Wouldn’t you agree that...?
Check
OK
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