Pearson Brown English Lesson - 'softening your language 2'.

Softening 2

This is a very simple idea but we find that our students have a lot of problems doing it.
So the explanation is very short but we are giving a lot of practice activities.

If you use a negative adjective, it can sound aggressive and insulting.
You are small.
It’s dirty.
He is stupid.

It is often much better to use not very plus a positive adjective.
You are not very big.
It is not very clean.
He is not very intelligent.

As I said, a simple idea that can make you sound much more professional.

Exercises:

http://www.effective-public-speaking.com/softening2/exercise1.html
http://www.effective-public-speaking.com/softening2/exercise2.html
http://www.effective-public-speaking.com/softening2/exercise3.html
http://www.effective-public-speaking.com/softening2/exercise4.html
http://www.effective-public-speaking.com/softening2/exercise5.html