Summary of "How to speak polite English || One simple trick to speak more diplomatic English. FCE, CAE and CPE"

Summary of “How to speak polite English || One simple trick to speak more diplomatic English. FCE, CAE and CPE”

English as a Diplomatic Language English, especially British English, tends to be indirect and diplomatic to avoid offending others. This is important for non-native speakers to understand in order to communicate politely and effectively.
Importance for Cambridge English Exams The diplomatic style of speaking is particularly useful for Cambridge English exams (FCE B2 First, CAE C1 Advanced, and CPE C2 Proficiency), especially in the speaking parts where candidates must collaborate, discuss, and sometimes disagree politely with a partner.
Common Polite Structures in English Examples include:
- “I would like” instead of “I want”
- “Could you tell me the time?” instead of “Tell me the time”
- “I was wondering if it would be possible…” for very polite requests
The Simple Trick to Sound More Diplomatic Use “not very” + opposite adjective to soften statements and sound less direct or offensive. This is a common, natural structure in colloquial English.

Instead of saying something directly negative, use “not very” with the opposite adjective:

Expensive → “It’s not very cheap” (instead of “It’s expensive”)
Ugly → “He’s not very handsome” (instead of “He’s ugly”)
Boring → “It wasn’t very interesting” (instead of “It was boring”)
Bland/tasteless → “The dessert wasn’t very tasty” (instead of “The dessert was disgusting”)

This phrasing is softer, less direct, and culturally appropriate in English-speaking contexts.

Helps in Exam Situations When You Forget a Word If you forget a specific adjective (e.g., “dull”), you can describe it by using the opposite adjective with “not very” (e.g., “not very interesting”). This allows you to keep speaking fluently without awkward pauses or silence.
This strategy is practical not only in exams but also in everyday conversation when you can’t recall a word immediately.

When wanting to express a negative or critical opinion politely:

Identify the adjective you want to use (e.g., expensive, ugly, boring).
Use the opposite adjective (e.g., cheap, handsome, interesting).
Combine it with “not very” to soften the statement (e.g., “not very cheap,” “not very handsome,” “not very interesting”).
Use this structure especially when disagreeing or giving negative feedback in polite conversation or exams.
If you forget the exact adjective, use this method as a fallback to keep the conversation flowing.