Words (Core Vocabulary)
- disagreement / misunderstanding / concern / issue
- I see your point / at the same time / could we…
- impact / noise / mess / schedule / expectation
- compromise / middle ground / trade-off
- next steps / timeline / check-in
Phrases (Acknowledge → state impact → suggest → agree)
Soft openers
- I see what you mean; at the same time, I’m worried about [impact].
- Can we talk about [topic] for a minute?
State the issue & impact
- When the music’s loud after 10, it’s hard to sleep.
- I felt left out when plans changed without a message.
Suggest options
- Could we try headphones after 10 or keep it low?
- Maybe we could post updates in the group chat before meeting.
Agree & close
- Let’s try that this week and check in Friday.
- Thanks for understanding—appreciate you working with me.
Contextual Examples (Natural, everyday)
- Roommates: Hey— music’s been late a few nights; could we keep it low after 10?
- Friends: I’m on a budget— could we pick a cheaper spot?
- Plan fix: We double-booked; how about moving to Sunday?
Collocations & Phrases (bold the key words)
- acknowledge the other view
- describe the impact
- propose options
- choose a compromise
- set next steps
- check in later
Canadian Cultural Context (How to sound natural & polite)
- A calm tone and softeners go a long way.
- Concrete asks (time, volume, schedule) beat vague complaints.
- A quick follow-up (“Thanks—last night was better”) builds trust.
Extra Mini-Patterns (plug-and-play)
- Noise: “Would you mind keeping volume low after 10? Thanks—really helps.”
- Plan change: “Could we switch to Sunday so everyone can make it?”
- Follow-up: “Appreciate you adjusting—it worked well.”