Comparative adjectives opposites negotiations

Comparative adjectives opposites negotiations

Choose a situation below, take opposite sides, and try to negotiate an agreement by compromising, suggesting alternatives, softening your position, persuading your partner, etc. It may help to decide more about the situation before you start (if the negotiation is internal or external, who you are – e.g. a union rep or boss, why you are negotiating, etc). When you reach agreement, choose another situation and do the same.

• a bigger order/ a larger order – a smaller order
• broader duties/ wider responsibilities – narrower duties/ more specific roles
• a bulkier product – a more compact product
• a more casual dress code – a more formal dress code
• cheaper delivery – more expensive delivery
• a clearer schedule/ an emptier schedule – a fuller schedule
• closer company accommodation – more distant company accommodation
• more complicated design – simpler design
• more comprehensive insurance – more limited insurance
• more concentrated projects – more spread-out projects
• more confidential disciplinary proceedings/ more secretive disciplinary proceedings – more open disciplinary proceedings/ more public disciplinary proceedings/ more transparent disciplinary proceedings
• a cooler office – a warmer office
• more custom-made products/ more tailor-made products/ more variable products – more standardised products
• more difficult to join a union/ harder to join a union – easier to join a union
• an earlier deadline – a later deadline
• more energetic working culture/ more high-pressure working culture – more laidback working culture/ more relaxed working culture
• more fixed working hours – more flexible working hours
• flatter decision-making structures – more hierarchical decision-making
• more frequent telecommuting – rarer telecommuting
• more general training – more specialised training
• harder office chairs – softer office chairs
• a higher price – a lower price
• more irregular meetings – more regular meetings
• longer contracts – shorter contracts
• looser budget controls – stricter budget controls
• louder music – quieter music
• more modern design – more traditional design
• investment in newer companies such as startups – investment in older companies such as blue-chip companies
• employing older staff – employing younger staff
• invest in more stable markets – invest in more unstable markets/ invest in more turbulent markets
• thicker employee manuals – thinner employee manuals

Ask about any situations which you don’t understand, are not sure what to say in, etc.

 

Without looking above, try to remember the opposite of each comparative adjective below. Some have more than one possible answer, including words not above.

a bigger order/ a larger order

broader duties/ wider responsibilities

a bulkier product

a more casual dress code

cheaper delivery

a clearer schedule/ an emptier schedule

closer company accommodation

more complicated design

more comprehensive insurance

more concentrated projects

more confidential disciplinary proceedings/ more secretive disciplinary proceedings

a cooler office

more custom-made products/ more tailor-made products/ more variable products

more difficult to join a union/ harder to join a union

an earlier deadline

more energetic working culture/ more high-pressure working culture

more fixed working hours

flatter decision-making structures

more frequent telecommuting

more general training

harder office chairs

a higher price

more irregular meetings

longer contracts

looser budget controls

louder music

more modern design

investment in newer companies such as startups

employing older staff

invest in more stable markets

thicker employee manuals

 

Mixed answers

Use the mixed answers below to help, putting them into the correct comparative forms as you use them.

• compact
• distant
• easy
• expensive
• flexible
• formal
• full
• hierarchical
• laidback
• late
• limited
• low
• narrow
• old
• open
• public
• quiet
• rare
• regular
• relaxed
• short
• simple
• small
• soft
• specialised
• specific
• spread-out
• standardised
• strict
• thin
• traditional
• transparent
• turbulent
• unstable
• warm
• young

Check above.

Test each other on the comparative and opposites of the adjectives above:

• Say a basic adjective and see if your partner can make the comparative
• Say a comparative and see if your partner can say the opposite comparative
• Say a basic adjective and see if your partner can say the comparative and its opposite