Italian · Upper intermediate (B2) · Chapter 2 of 12
Work in depth
Riunioni e trattative
Talk about work in more depth: guess with deve, dovrebbe and the futuro anteriore, give feedback, negotiate, and move from Lei to tu.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Make guesses with deve essere, dovrebbe and potrebbe
- Use the futuro anteriore: appena avrò finito, l'avrà dimenticato
- Give and take feedback at work
- Know when to switch from Lei to tu
Listen
In Piacenza, Ornella Ferraro, head of purchasing at a food company, talks to Nicolò, who joined her team a month ago. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Ornella
Nicolò, hai un minuto? Facciamo il punto sulla trattativa con il nuovo fornitore.
Nicolò, have you got a minute? Let's see where we are with the negotiation with the new supplier.
Nicolò
Certo, dottoressa. Mi hanno appena mandato il preventivo: dovrebbe essere più basso dell'ultimo, ma non l'ho ancora letto tutto.
Of course, Ms Ferraro. They've just sent me the quote: it should be lower than the last one, but I haven't read all of it yet.
Ornella
Innanzitutto, chiamami Ornella e dammi del tu: qui ci diamo tutti del tu. Allora, com'è?
First of all, call me Ornella and use “tu” with me: we all say “tu” to each other here. So, what's it like?
Nicolò
Va bene… Ornella. Allora, costa il cinque per cento in meno, ma la consegna è a marzo.
OK… Ornella. So, it costs five per cent less, but delivery is in March.
Ornella
A marzo? Deve essere un errore. Con il signor Rota avevamo parlato di fine febbraio.
In March? It must be a mistake. With Mr Rota we'd talked about the end of February.
Nicolò
Il signor Rota l'avrà dimenticato. Lo chiamo oggi e glielo ricordo.
Mr Rota has probably forgotten. I'll call him today and remind him.
Ornella
Sì, ma prima ti do un consiglio. L'altra volta hai accettato subito il primo sconto che ti hanno offerto. In una trattativa non bisogna cedere troppo presto.
Yes, but first let me give you some advice. Last time you immediately accepted the first discount they offered you. In a negotiation you mustn't give in too early.
Nicolò
Ha ragione… cioè, hai ragione. Avrei dovuto aspettare la loro seconda offerta.
You're right (Lei)… I mean, you're right (tu). I should have waited for their second offer.
Ornella
Non ti preoccupare, succede a tutti. Per il resto hai lavorato molto bene e hai trovato un fornitore più vicino. Complimenti.
Don't worry, it happens to everyone. Apart from that, you've done a very good job, and you've found a supplier who's closer. Well done.
Nicolò
Grazie. Allora, quando lo chiamo, punto sulla consegna e non sullo sconto?
Thanks. So when I call him, I focus on the delivery and not on the discount?
Ornella
Esatto. Se ci garantiscono la consegna entro febbraio, accettiamo. E appena avrai parlato con lui, fammi sapere com'è andata.
Exactly. If they guarantee delivery by February, we'll accept. And as soon as you've spoken to him, let me know how it went.
Nicolò
Certo. Lo chiamo subito: a quest'ora dovrebbe essere in ufficio.
Of course. I'll call him straight away: at this time he should be in the office.
Understand
Must, should, might
and can also say how sure you are. means “it must be”: you're almost sure (). The conditional means “it should be, it's supposed to be”: that's what you expect (). means “it might be, it could be”: it's only a possibility.
For the past, add or + the participle: (He must have forgotten), (He might have left already). , from B1, means “should have”: .
| Italian | English | How sure? |
|---|---|---|
| It must be a mistake. | almost sure | |
| It should arrive today. | expected | |
| It might be late. | possible | |
| He must have forgotten. | almost sure, past |
Guessing with the future, and the futuro anteriore
Italians often use the future to guess about now: (He's probably in a meeting), (I wonder what time it is). The (future perfect) is the future of or + the participle: (I will have finished), (she will have left). It also guesses about the past: (He's probably forgotten).
Its other job is after and (as soon as), for something that will be finished before something else happens. English uses the present or the present perfect here: (As soon as you've spoken to him, let me know).
| Person | ||
|---|---|---|
| / | ||
| / | ||
| / / | / | |
| / | ||
| / | ||
| / |
Lei or tu at work, and giving feedback
In many Italian workplaces, colleagues use , and managers often use with younger staff. A newcomer usually starts with and waits to be offered : (Say to me), (Let's use ). With clients and suppliers, and in formal emails, is still the rule. and are used for anyone with a university degree, not only doctors.
When you give feedback, start with something positive, then be specific: , … To praise someone, say (Well done).
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Let's see where we are. | |
| Let's use . | |
| You've done an excellent job. | |
| Let me give you some advice. | |
| Can we postpone the meeting? | |
| Let me know. |
More in the grammar: Subject pronouns: io, tu, lui, lei, Lei… · The futuro semplice: will
New words
- fare il puntoto take stock, to see where things stand
- la trattativanegotiation
- il fornitoresupplier
- il preventivoquote, estimate (of a price)
- dare del tu ato say “tu” to someone · = to use ; = to use with each other
- la consegnadelivery
- cedereto give in, to give way
- l'offertaoffer · feminine
- Non ti preoccupare.Don't worry. · Lei:
- Complimenti.Well done. / Congratulations.
- puntare suto focus on, to bet on
- garantireto guarantee · like : ,
- fammi saperelet me know · Lei:
Practise
1.You're almost sure there's a mistake. What do you say?
2.Complete with the futuro anteriore of (tu).
As soon as you've spoken to him, let me know.
3.Complete with the futuro anteriore of (lei). You're guessing.
She isn't in the office. She's probably left on holiday.
4.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.At this time he should be in the office.
5.Your new manager says What does she mean?
6.Match the Italian with the English.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
Facciamo il punto sul progetto.
Let's see where we are with the project.
Listen, then say it out loud, as close to the recording as you can.
Check
Five questions on this chapter. Then mark it as finished to add its words to your review deck.
0 of 5 answered.