Negotiating an agreement

The idea

Use negotiate directly with an agreement or its terms, with for the other party, and for for a desired result. The past is negotiated.

Examples

• The neighbours negotiated an agreement about the shared garden.
• Maya is negotiating with the supplier over the delivery date.
• The two teams hope to negotiate a fair contract.
• We negotiated with the landlord for a longer lease.
• The union and the company are negotiating pay.
• After several meetings, the artists negotiated a better fee.

Watch out

Do not use to to introduce the other party: say negotiate with the supplier.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct answer. The partners ___ a deal last month. (negotiated / negotiate)

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   negotiated

   negotiated places the completed deal in the past.

2. Choose the correct answer. She negotiated ___ the publisher about the deadline. (with / to)

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   with

   with identifies the other party in the discussion.

3. Choose the correct answer. They are negotiating ___ a lower price. (for / from)

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   for

   for introduces the lower price they want.

Use it today

Describe something you would negotiate and the person you would negotiate with.