Specific feedback can help someone understand the impact of an action and decide what to change.

The idea

Describe the action and its effect, then make a clear request or tentative suggestion with Could you or might.

Examples

  • When the report arrives late, I have less time to check the figures.
  • Could you let me finish my point before responding?
  • I appreciate your ideas; a shorter introduction might help the audience follow them.
  • I felt left out when the plans changed without a message.
  • Next time, would you mind putting the tools back after using them?
  • The instructions were clear, though an example would make the final step easier to understand.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic English voice on your device. Quality and availability vary; it does not assess pronunciation.

Watch out

Avoid calling someone careless when you mean that a particular report was late; describe the action instead.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the respectful request: ___ send the agenda earlier? (Could you / You must)

    Show answer or example answer

    Could you

    Could you introduces a polite request to send the agenda earlier.

  2. Choose the phrase that describes a personal reaction: ___ confused when the time changed. (I felt / You are)

    Show answer or example answer

    I felt

    I felt names the speaker’s reaction to the changed time.

  3. Choose the tentative suggestion: Adding a label ___ make the chart clearer. (might / must)

    Show answer or example answer

    might

    might presents a possible improvement without claiming certainty.

Use it today

Think of a recent situation and describe its effect, then suggest one specific change.