NHKラジオ英会話のディクテーション「否定④：強い表現とのコンビネーション2」L118 2021/9/22

Ohnishi: うーん福岡かぁ、もつ鍋がおいしいんですよねぇ。

ラジオ英会話ハートでつかめ英語の極意、講師の大西泰斗です。

Roza: Hey guys. Akino Roza here.

Chris: Chris McVay here. Roza, I have some small presents for you.

Roza: Some small presents? Woo, what are they?

Chris: The presents are my presents.

Roza: Ah ….

Ohnishi: いやいや、もう始めましょう。

Roza: Our textbook is an English language paradise. Check it out.

Chris: OK guys, “That’s not exactly right.” Let’s practice this together. The position of “not” before the strong word, that makes a perfect combination. But today, I want to focus on a useful native speaker’s strategy to soften what you want to say using a negative. So here, instead of saying, “That’s wrong.” which would be very direct and heartful, we use the negative and we say, “That’s not exactly right.” So, it’s the same meaning but much more adult and soft way of expressing yourself. So, with that in mind with the softening feeling in mind, let’s practice together. Are you ready? “That’s not exactly right.” Try?

OK, but not, that’s not exactly right. Have this softening feeling, “That’s not exactly right.”, can you try that?

That’s beautiful. Please try this strategy yourselves.

Ohnishi: Roza, you are not exactly the most beautiful woman in the world.

Roza: Oh, I got it. You are trying to say I’m second best. I can live with that.

Chris: Oh, we’d better to be careful with what we say here, you know.

・・・・

Ohnishi: いやいや、というわけで、今日はこの辺にしましょう。

All: Bye!