* 6 Positive Attitude in a Conversation (p.2 of 2)
6.6 When you express acceptance of a thing, offer or suggestion
It’s fine. Listen <“It might be cold at night. I’m getting another blanket for you.” – “OK, it’s fine.”>
It’s fine with me. Listen A “It is acceptable as far as I am concerned.” <“Do you care if we get mineral water rather than soda pop?” – “It’s fine with me. Ask the others in our group, though.”>
I think it’s fine. Listen <“Bill, I want to do the children’s room in yellow and orange.” – “Yes, dear. I think it’s fine.”>
It suits me fine. Listen A “It is acceptable to me.” <“Let’s walk to the grocery store. I don’t want to take a car this time.” – “It suits me fine. Let me put my walking shoes on.”>
That’s OK with me. Listen <“I want to go to the beach today.” – “That’s OK with me. To what beach are we going?”>
Why not? Listen A “I don’t see any reason to object. I accept it.” <“Do you want to go for a walk?” – “Why not? Where do you want to go?”>
With pleasure. Listen A “I will do it with my eager consent.” <“Why don’t you throw away your old shoes?” – “With pleasure. Do you need to throw out anything else?”>
With my blessing. Listen A “Do it with my consent.” <“Can I throw away this old rug?” – “With my blessing. And don’t forget to discard the old magazines you are keeping in the closet.”>
It’s satisfactory. Listen A “It is acceptable.” <“Is your new lawn mower OK?” – “It’s satisfactory. It suits its purpose.”>
It’s good enough. Listen <“How do you like his new movie?” – “It’s good enough. The public likes it.”>
I’ve seen worse. Listen A “There are worse things than this one which makes this one acceptable.” < “What do you think about this car?” – “I’ve seen worse. But this one is far from the best.”>
Not bad. Listen A “I believe it is satisfactory. It is good.” <“How do you rate your new washing machine?” – “Not bad. It’s better than my old one.”>
It works for me. Listen <“Do you mind if I cancel your doctor’s appointment tomorrow? I don’t think you can make it. I’ll schedule a new one.” – “It works for me. Schedule it for the next week.”>
It’ll work. Listen <“I bought you a new vacuum cleaner to clean carpets and rugs. What do you think?” – “It’ll work. Thank you.”>
It’ll do. Listen A “It will do the job.” <“I have to get to the top of the window to clean it. What do you think about this ladder? Is it long enough?” – “It’ll do. I can see it.”>
It’ll serve the purpose. Listen <“I only have large nails and a small hammer.” – “Give me the hammer. Let me take a look. I think, it’ll serve the purpose.”>
I can live with that. Listen A “You have my approval. I can gradually get used to it.” <“I want to move our bed closer to the window.” – “OK. I can live with that.”>
I’m easy to please. Listen A “I accept that because I am not particular.” <“I’m sorry, Samantha. They didn’t have chocolate ice cream, so I got vanilla for you.” – “That’s fine. I’m easy to please.”>
I like it. Listen <“This is my new car.” – “I like it. It’s kind of cool.”>
I love it. Listen <“Have you ever read Jack London’s White Fang?” – “Oh, this is one of my favorite books. I love it.”>
It’s great. Listen <“How do you like your new bicycle?” – “It’s great. I like it.”>
It’s wonderful. Listen <“What can you tell us about your new school?” – “It’s wonderful. I’ve made a few friends already.”>
It’s fabulous. Listen <“You have traveled to Italy a few times. Tell me about that country.” – “It’s fabulous. Italian art and architecture are magnificent.”>
It’s ideal. Listen <“This painting would look great in our living room.” – “Yes, darling. It’s ideal. I don’t think we have enough money to buy it, though. It’s a Leonardo.”>
It’s a masterpiece. Listen <“Do you like Vivaldi’s Four Seasons?” – “Oh, yes! It’s a masterpiece.”>
It’s perfect. Listen <“I like the sound of this violin.” – “You bet! It’s perfect. The violin is a Stradivari.”>
It’s excellent. Listen <“What do you think about my chocolate cake?” – “It’s excellent. You’re a great cook.”>
I’ve never seen anything like it. Listen <“Look at this Redwood tree! It is so thick and tall.” – “You’re right. I’ve never seen anything like it.”>
That’s just what I needed. Listen <“This power tool is six-in-one. It is very handy and versatile.” – “That’s just what I needed. I’ll buy it.”>
That beats everything! Listen A “That exceeds everything.” <“I highly recommend this car to you. It shows the best mileage in its class.” – “That beats everything! I like it.”>
You can’t beat that. Listen A “Nobody can offer anything better.” (Here you may be impersonal and mean one) <“Look at this wonderful view! You can’t beat that.”>
You can’t top that. Listen A “Nobody can do anything better.” (Here you may be impersonal and mean one) <“My sister had a magnificent wedding. You can’t top that.”>
6.7 When you agree with a point with some reservations
I guess. Listen <“It looks like it’s going to rain.” – “I guess.”>
I suppose. Listen <“Are they going to give us food on this flight?” – “I suppose.”>
I guess so. Listen <“Will your uncle attend our wedding?” – “I guess so. He is much better now.”>
I suppose so. Listen <“Are we going to show profit this year?” – “I suppose so, unless the market crashes unexpectedly.”>
I believe so. Listen <“Are we arriving on time?” – “I believe so. What can go wrong?”>
I think so. Listen <“Are you going to have a vacation this year?” – “I think so, unless something comes up at the last moment.”>
So it seems. Listen <“So, is it a done deal?” – “So it seems.”>
So it would seem. Listen <“The only way out of this recession is for the Government to print more dollars.” – “So it would seem. Don’t forget, excessive printing may cause the fall of the dollar and its expulsion from international trade.”>
So it would appear. Listen <“Technology has made our life better.” – “So it would appear. Technology creates a number of new problems that it has to solve, as a result of which further problems arise.”>
So to speak. Listen A “As one could say even though it might not be exactly accurate.” <“Do you believe that Americans are just Europeans who moved across the Atlantic Ocean?” – “So to speak. At least Margaret Thatcher believes so.”>
In a manner of speaking. Listen A “This could be said although it might not be exactly true.” <“So, your sister is your financial coach.” – “Yes, in a manner of speaking. She believes she is.”>
Kind of. Listen A “Yes, to some degree.” <“Do you like your new schoolteacher? – “Kind of.”>
Sort of. Listen <“Although this hotel is not fashionable, it’s nice and quaint.” – “Sort of.”>
It depends. Listen A “The answer may be positive, but it actually depends on a variety of factors.” <“Are we going to meet again?” – “It depends.”>
I hear you. Listen A “I’ve heard your point, but I have doubts.” <“I think we need to make a decision.” – “I hear you. But I don’t think we are ready yet.”>
I hear what you’re saying. Listen <“A time has come to do something about it.” – “I hear what you’re saying. But what exactly do you want to do?”>
6.8 When you agree with a point with indifference or resistance
Anything you say. Listen A “I acquiesce in anything you say.” <“Aren’t you going to carry my groceries?” – “Anything you say.”>
Whatever you say. Listen <“I want you to stop fooling around and start studying.” – “Yes, dad. Whatever you say.”>
As you say. Listen A “Let it be as you say.” <“I don’t want to take this phone call. Let the telephone ring.” – “As you say, sir.”>
If you say so. Listen A “I agree only because you insist.” <“I’m telling you, this is the best car of the year.” – “If you say so.”>
I’m afraid so. Listen A “Although I don’t like it, I believe that the answer is positive.” <“Do you really have to go to war?” – “I’m afraid so. I’m a soldier.”>
Have it your way. Listen A “Do it your way although I don’t agree with it to some extent.” <“Do you really like this light pine furniture? I prefer dark oak.” – “OK. Have it your way. Let it be dark oak.”>
Suit yourself. Listen A “Have it your way.” <“I like the red skirt and the blue blouse.” – “Suit yourself. But they don’t match.”>
Be my guest. Listen A “Do it the way you want although I can’t approve of it.” <“I think I want to quit my job. It’s boring.” – “Really? OK, be my guest. But don’t complain later when you run out of money.”>
6.9 When you confirm that something is a done deal
It’s a done deal. Listen A “This arrangement is complete or can be considered as complete.” <“Both sides have signed the contract. It’s a done deal.”>
It’s a sure thing. Listen <“The agreement will be signed tomorrow. It’s a sure thing.”>
It’s for sure. Listen <“The transaction will be finalized soon. It’s for sure.”>
It’s certain. Listen <“We are moving to Arizona. It’s certain.”>
It’s in the bag. Listen A “I am sure I caught it.” <“My job interview was successful. I got the job. It’s in the bag unless something unexpected happens.”>
It’s as good as done. Listen <“They are still counting votes, but the result of the election is already clear. It’s as good as done.”>
It’s been settled once and for all. Listen A “It has been done finally and permanently.” <“Both sides are in agreement now. It’s been settled once and for all.”>
6.10 When there is a strong reason to do something
All the more reason for doing that. Listen A “What you have said makes the reason for doing that even stronger.” <“The English language is officially spoken in many countries.” – “All the more reason for learning it.”>
All the more reason to do that. Listen <“It’s going to rain. I don’t think we can go to the beach today.” – “All the more reason to stay at home and watch television.”>
6.11 When you express confidence in the success of something
It’s going to happen. Listen <“They will sign the contract. It’s going to happen.”>
There’s no doubt in my mind. Listen <“You’re so smart. You will be promoted soon. There’s no doubt in my mind.”>
There’s not a doubt in my mind. Listen <“They are a cute couple. They will have a long, happy life together. There’s not a doubt in my mind.”>
What can go wrong? Listen <“You are going to pass the test. You’ve been studying for so long. What can go wrong?”>
What’s to go wrong? Listen <“We are the strongest team in town. We will win the championship. What’s to go wrong?”>
Nothing can go wrong. Listen <“All systems were tested several times. Our space mission will be successful. Nothing can go wrong.”>
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