Modulating Business Fidelity
Level: CEFR B1+ (Intermediate English)
Published: 2025-08-27
By Haitham Almughairbi
From The Language Sentinel Dispatch Desk at the Learn Hive Language Labs.
In international business, it’s not enough to speak English.
You have to speak with precision — and that means using structures that match the formality, clarity, and expectations of professional communication.
At The Language Sentinel Dispatch blog, we regularly analyze common mistakes made by professionals operating in cross-border environments. In today’s post, we explore a phrase we often hear from well-meaning but grammatically off-track business owners:
“We buy from you long time. You give me good price?”
Although the intention is clear — the speaker wants to reference past business activity and negotiate a better deal — the sentence fails on multiple levels. It damages the speaker’s credibility, flattens their tone, and misses a chance to assert their position diplomatically.
Let’s break down why.
1. The Wrong Tense: “We buy from you long time.”
The biggest problem here is the mismatch between verb tense and intended meaning.
Incorrect ❌ We buy from you long time
Correct ✅ We’ve placed many orders from you before
In English, when you describe a repeated action that began in the past and continues into the present, the correct structure is the present perfect. Not simple present (we buy), which makes the sentence sound generic and flat. The present perfect gives your message temporal depth and continuity — it tells your listener, “this is an ongoing business relationship, and it matters.”
Alternate versions:
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We’ve bought from you many times before.
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We’ve been working with your company for years.
Each of these immediately increases the professional weight of your statement.
2. The Problem with Tone: “You give me good price?”
This sentence has two critical problems:
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It’s missing an article (“a good price” is correct).
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It uses a blunt, imperative tone that can feel aggressive or transactional.
In business English — especially in international contexts — tone isn’t just politeness; it’s strategy. Polished language can imply disappointment, assertiveness, expectation, or even pressure — all without ever sounding rude.
Let’s see a better version:
Correct ✅ I would have expected a better offer than this.
This line introduces:
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A past modal of expectation (would have expected)
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A comparative structure (better offer)
It expresses clear dissatisfaction, but does so in a way that’s professional, contained, and effective.
Other variations might include:
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Considering our history, I was hoping for a more competitive rate.
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Is there any flexibility on the pricing?
These phrases demonstrate control — you’re not begging, you’re negotiating.
3. Why This Matters
When you’re operating in international supply chains — whether ordering containers of car parts from China or negotiating grain imports from Ukraine — the way you speak reflects your competence as a business leader.
Misusing tense or tone might not just cause confusion — it might:
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Undermine your authority
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Affect the terms you’re offered
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Reduce trust in your professionalism
That’s why we call this series Modulating Business Fidelity.
Because in global business, your language is not just a message — it’s a signal. And when the signal lacks clarity or formality, you’re not operating at full fidelity.
Learn to Speak at Full Fidelity
At Learn Hive, we don’t teach English like a school subject.
We teach it as a precision tool for professionals. We help entrepreneurs, engineers, architects, importers, and executives adjust their speech — not just for accuracy, but for strategic clarity.
If you see your own language habits reflected in this post, consider booking a private session with us. We’ll help you modulate your language to match the demands of the work you’re doing.
Explore more insights like this on The Language Sentinel Dispatch blog, and make sure to follow us on TikTok for short video explanations of each upgrade.
🎥 Watch the video for this post here:
https://www.tiktok.com/@learn.hive