Lesson 4: Acceptance
It’s not going to be easy, but I guess I can live with that.

I can express acceptance.

INTRODUCE

Things don’t always go the way we want them to. It’s important to know how to express acceptance for the things we can’t change.

PRESENT

STEP A EXPRESSIONS

Go over the expressions with your tutor and fill in the blanks.

    1. The expression I can/can’t live with that. can be used to say whether you accept a situation or not.

    The room is big enough for the two of us, but there’s no air conditioning. Are you okay with that?

    It’ll be a little uncomfortable, but I guess I can live with that.

    Q: Your friend found a cheap flight to Europe, but you’re going to have very little legroom. Is that okay?

    A: (Yes / No ), I _____ live with that.

     

     

    2. You can use the phrase might as well do something to say that doing something is better than not doing it.

    You’re leaving now? I thought your plan was to go to the supermarket later!

    Well, I’ve got nothing else to do, so I might as well go now.

    Q: You’re going to meet your friends at the mall at five o’clock, but you mistook the time and got there at three o’clock. What will you do?

    A: Well, I might as well __________.

     

     

    3. Point taken. is an expression used to say that you understand and accept what someone is saying.

    If you don’t tell them the truth right now, the situation will only get worse!

    All right, point taken! I’ll tell them tomorrow.

    Q: Your friend suggested doing first aid training because you never know when something bad might happen. What will you say to him/her?

    A: Point taken. I’ll __________.

STEP B PRONUNCIATION

When the end of one word and the beginning of the next word are the same consonant, the two sounds are often merged.
Phrase Example

point taken

/ poin-tay-ken /

Okay, / poin-tay-ken /.

UNDERSTAND

SPEAKING

After not talking for a few days, Toru and his wife Holly met up at a café.

Holly:

So, um… Thanks for agreeing to have coffee with me. I thought you’d never want to talk to me again.

Toru:

Well, we’ll have to talk about what happened sooner or later. We might as well do it now.

Holly:

Right… (sighs) Um, by the way, I’ve found an apartment. I’ll be getting my things from your place on Sunday.

Toru:

Oh. I see. (sighs) I guess we’re really doing this, huh? I was hoping to change your mind about the divorce.

Holly:

Toru… I’m sorry. I still think that ending this marriage is the best thing to do…

Toru:

I was afraid you’d say that. (sighs) Anyway, point taken. Looking at the state of our relationship right now, I guess you’re right. We did jump straight from being friends to being a married couple, after all. Maybe we weren’t prepared for that.

Holly:

I’m really sorry. I never thought that we’d come to this.

Toru:

Well, it is what it is. All we can do now is move forward. Or backward… Like going back to being friends, just like what you said. (sighs) Honestly, it’s not going to be easy, but I guess I can live with that… At least, for now.

Holly:

For now?

Toru:

Holly, I’ve accepted that I can’t change how our marriage turned out, but I haven’t given up on you yet. I’d like to give this another chance. So, if it’s okay with you, will you go out with me again? This time we’ll take it step-by-step.

Holly:

(sighs) You’re always so persistent. (smiles) Well, we’ll see…

TRIVIA

The phrase shouganai (しょうがない) is usually translated as It can’t be helped. However, another way to say it in English is It is what it is.

PRACTICE

STEP A EXERCISE

The underlined expressions are close but not quite correct. Correct them.

  1. Okay, points taken. We’ll go with your plan.
  2. I’m going to the US for a business trip. I’ll have some free time there, so I might too well do a bit of sightseeing.
  3. Wait, I have to share a room with two strangers? I can’t live on that!

STEP B EXERCISE

Follow the instructions in parentheses using the expressions in the box. The form of some expressions may need to be changed.

I can/can’t live with that.
might as well do something
Point taken.

1.

Tutor: Didn’t the forecast say there’s only a 30 percent chance of rain today?

Student: Yup. (Say that the chance of rain is pretty low, but it’s better to bring an umbrella than not.)

 

 

2.

Tutor: I think you should change your shop’s color scheme. The dark colors aren’t very inviting.

Student: (Say that you agree with the suggestion). Since it was your idea, maybe you should help me repaint it this weekend!

 

3.

Tutor: Have you heard the news? The dress code is getting stricter next month.

Student: (Say that you accept the situation, then explain that you already have a lot of formal clothes).

CHALLENGE

Challenge 1

You’re currently working at your company’s New York branch. However, your boss just told you and a coworker that you’re both being promoted and will have to transfer to the San Francisco branch. Talk about how you feel about the situation with your coworker.

Today's Expressions

  • I can/can’t live with that.
  • might as well do something
  • Point taken.

Challenge 2

Discuss your ideas.

If Time
Allows
1

ACCEPTANCE
2

THINGS YOU CAN/CAN’T LIVE WITH
3

MIGHT AS WELL
1

ACCEPTANCE

  1. What makes a situation difficult to accept?
  2. What do you do when you’re in a situation that’s difficult to accept?
  3. Do you think that people should always just accept the situation they’re in?
  4. Do you think that Japanese people accept situations more than other people?

2THINGS YOU CAN/CAN’T LIVE WITH

  1. Could you live with seeing your parents only once a year?
  2. Could you live with always having to work on Saturday and Sunday?
  3. Could you live with never having internet access again?
  4. Could you live with only sleeping three hours a night from now on for a high-paying job?

3MIGHT AS WELL

  1. The meal you ordered comes with a free dessert, but you’re on a diet. Will you take it or not?
  2. You don’t need new shoes, but a pair you like is on sale for 80% off. Will you buy them or not?
  3. Your coworkers are going out for dinner and invited you to come along. You’re not really close with them, but you don’t have any plans this evening. Will you go or not?
  4. You’re traveling overseas. A famous tourist spot is really close to your hotel, but you’re not that interested in it. Will you visit it or not?

FEEDBACK

I can express acceptance.

LESSON GOAL ACHIEVEMENT

  • 4
    Very Good

    Could complete the task with ease

  • 3
    Good

    Could complete the task with some clarifications

  • 2
    Fair

    Could complete the task with additional instructions

  • 1
    Poor

    Could somehow complete the task with difficulty

PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK