1. Skills
  2. Speaking
  3. B2 speaking
  4. Persuading someone to do something

Persuading someone to do something

In this video, Noelia tries to convince Paul to DJ at the office party. Listen to the language Noelia uses for persuading Paul to do something and practise saying the useful phrases.

Do the preparation exercise first. Then watch the video and do the exercises to check your understanding and practise the language.

Preparation

Speaking B2: Persuading someone to do something – preparation

Transcript

Ana: Hi! I'm Ana. Welcome to What to Say!

Do you know what to say when you want to persuade someone to do something? Listen out for useful language for persuading someone to do something. Then, we'll practise saying the new phrases – after this.

 

Paul: OK. Yeah, all right. I'll send them over tomorrow. OK, yep, bye. People are always asking for favours. Paul, can you do this? Paul, can you do that? 

Noelia: Hey, Paul, have you got a minute?

Paul: Go on, then.

Noelia: I've got a small favour to ask you. 

Paul: Right.

Noelia: So … how would you feel about DJing at the office party next week? 

Paul: Office party? I don't usually do work parties. 

Noelia: Oh, right. So where do you usually DJ then? 

Paul: No, I mean I don't usually go to work parties, let alone DJ at them. 

Noelia: Come on, I think you'd be brilliant at it! 

Paul: Oh, I don't know … 

Noelia: Look, I wouldn't usually ask, but you are the only DJ I know.

Paul: I'm not a very good one though. My music taste is … quite strange. Everyone will probably hate it. 

Noelia: Come on! These guys will dance to anything when they are at a party! Why don't you give it a go? You'll be great!

Paul: Urgh … I think I'm probably busy that day anyway.

Noelia: Come on! There's nothing to lose!

Paul: Except my reputation and credibility …  

Noelia: Paul, you'd really be helping me out. 

Paul: OK, I'll think about it. 

Noelia: Great! Thanks, Paul! 

 

Ana: Hello again! It's very difficult to say no to Noelia! So, did you notice the useful phrases used for persuading someone to do something? Listen to me and then repeat. 

 

I've got a small favour to ask you.

How would you feel about DJing?

You'd be brilliant at it.

I wouldn't usually ask, but you're the only DJ I know. 

Why don't you give it a go?

There's nothing to lose.

You'd really be helping me out.

OK, I'll think about it. 



Ana: Try and use some of these phrases the next time you want to persuade someone to do something in English. Bye for now!

Task 1

Speaking B2: Persuading someone to do something – 1

Task 2

Speaking B2: Persuading someone to do something – 2

Task 3

Speaking B2: Persuading someone to do something – 3

Discussion

Are you good at persuading people to do things?

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Worksheet91.1 KB

Language level

B2 Upper intermediate
Average: 4.8 (27 votes)
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Submitted by Momocompanyman on Tue, 10/11/2020 - 17:38

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Not much, I need a negociation training in this case.

Submitted by Oti on Tue, 20/10/2020 - 09:53

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I am not very able to persuade someone to do something, I don’t use to ask someone a favour, I’m ever available to help friends or colleagues.
Profile picture for user danisep

Submitted by danisep on Tue, 20/10/2020 - 03:41

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I think I am, it all depends on the other person, if you know him or if that person knows you a lot like your sibling or couple could be harder but a colleage or sometimes a stranger or when you're trying to sell something that you really believe at, could be easier.

Submitted by TadyEriel on Mon, 19/10/2020 - 14:04

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Well, In my point of view I'm not as good as i'd want. It means I normally try to show advantages and drawbacks about certain situation, therefore children and teenagers understand it, as opposed to adults, even if my speach it's compelling they have their own poin of view. However, I'm learning that ability.

Submitted by Denise on Sun, 18/10/2020 - 11:32

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I don’t know,I never thought about that but when I normally want something to be done I always find a way.

Submitted by Cami on Thu, 08/10/2020 - 12:14

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I think that I’m good in doing that. Normally I use arguments that I consider being correct in order to convince people doing something that I think they should do. However, if the person with whom I’m speaking doesn’t want to do what I suggested him to do, even after explaining why, for me, it would be better than doing in other way, I don’t insist because I don’t like being too heavy. I think that doing so the other person can stiffen himself and definitely not doing what I said, even if I don’t think that this assumption fits for everyone, it depends from the person with whom you are talking to.

Submitted by cittàutopica on Tue, 29/09/2020 - 18:59

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Sometimes I'm good at persuading one of my relatives to do things which as is only right, but that doesn't happen frequently. After all it's hard to make someone change the opinion about something.

Submitted by StepbroStefan on Tue, 08/09/2020 - 12:14

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Help stepsis, get stuck in the washing machine.

Submitted by Asina9 on Thu, 03/09/2020 - 11:07

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Once I tried to persuade my friend to do a course with me..

Submitted by Asni on Wed, 02/09/2020 - 23:05

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Usually, I'm a quite persuasive woman but when I have to convince my husband to do something, I often fail; he is a tough cookie and I end up losing my temper before finishing the conversation. Even when he is persuaded to do what I ask, he pretends he is not, just to upset me, he finds that funny and then he says 'OK' with a very low voice I can hardly hear.