B1 · Module 01 · Class 04 — We Got the Mandate
Narrative Scene
Elena approved the retainer model and cleared the case study issue with legal in under 24 hours. Santiago revised the proposal that evening, resubmitted it Friday morning, and by Friday afternoon had an email from Claire: 'The investment committee has approved. We'd like to proceed with Altius. Please prepare the engagement letter for review on Monday.'
Santiago read the email three times. Then he called his mother in Guadalajara.
By the time he got back to his laptop, there were congratulatory messages from Elena and Marco. Elena wrote that she had rarely seen a pitch turn around so cleanly after pushback. Marco said he had already started pulling the regulatory data sets they would need for Phase 1. Both of them had asked Santiago to lead the kick-off meeting with the Vantage team scheduled for Wednesday.
Now comes the part no one celebrates: the paperwork. The engagement letter must precisely reflect everything that was agreed — the retainer model, the phased deliverables, the payment milestones, the legal clearance requirements Ingrid had specified. Every decision that was made orally over the past two weeks needs to exist in writing, supported by what was said, who said it, and when. Santiago has learned this the hard way before. Verbal agreements don't survive Monday morning.
Vocabularyformalise: to make official through a written agreement or formal procedure verbal agreement: a commitment made in conversation, not yet documented in writing paper trail: a series of documents that record decisions and communications over time benchmark: a point of reference used to measure performance or progress scope of work: a written description of all work that a project will include pursuant to: in accordance with; following (formal legal/business language) hereinafter: from this point forward in this document (formal written language) in witness whereof: a formal phrase meaning "to confirm this agreement" invoice: a formal document requesting payment for goods or services pro-rated: calculated proportionally to a specific time period or quantity force majeure: an unforeseeable event beyond a party's control that excuses non-performance |
Language Focus
Module 1 Reported Speech — Full Consolidation
A. The Four Reported Speech Structures — Summary
Type | Key Verbs | Example |
Statements | said, stated, confirmed, noted, mentioned, explained | She confirmed that the committee had approved the proposal. |
Questions | asked if/whether, asked + wh- + statement order | He asked whether Altius could start in February. |
Commands | told/asked/instructed + obj + infinitive | She told us not to include the case study. |
Advice | advised/recommended/suggested + gerund or infinitive | Ingrid recommended clearing all references in advance. |
B. Formal Acceptance Language
When confirming a professional agreement, use language that is warm but precise — it will become part of the paper trail.
Formal acceptance expressions: • "We are delighted to confirm our acceptance of the mandate." • "Further to our discussions, we are pleased to proceed on the agreed terms." • "As discussed, this letter confirms the terms of our engagement." • "This engagement letter reflects the agreements reached during our meetings of 9 and 16 January 2025." |
Phrasal Verbs in Context — Module 1 ReviewModule 1 phrasal verbs — can you remember them all? follow up · put forward · narrow down · run through · bring up · wrap up · flag up · come back with · stand by Cover the definitions and test yourself before Exercise 3. |
Read the opening section of the engagement letter Santiago drafted. Notice how he uses reported speech to anchor each agreed term to a specific conversation.
ENGAGEMENT LETTER Altius Consulting Group S.A. de C.V. / Vantage Capital Partners Ltd Date: 20 January 2025 Dear Claire, Further to our meetings of 9 January and 16 January 2025, and subsequent discussions, we are pleased to confirm the terms of our engagement with Vantage Capital Partners Ltd ("Client") on the terms set out below. 1. SCOPE OF SERVICES As discussed during our meeting of 9 January, Altius will provide regulatory advisory, risk assessment, and transaction support services in relation to Vantage's proposed infrastructure investments in Mexico. You confirmed at that meeting that the initial focus would be the toll road and energy distribution sectors. 2. FEE STRUCTURE During our call of 16 January, you indicated that the investment committee preferred a retainer model. You asked us to restructure the proposal around monthly payment milestones tied to specific deliverables. Accordingly, the fee is structured as follows: a monthly retainer of USD $70,000, payable upon delivery of each month's agreed output. You also noted that the initial budget estimate was below $420,000; we have therefore structured Phase 1 at USD $210,000 with an option to extend upon mutual agreement. 3. LEGAL AND COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS Your legal counsel, Ingrid Solvang, advised during the meeting of 9 January that all third-party references in materials submitted to Vantage required prior written clearance. She also recommended that an indemnity clause be included in this letter. Both requirements have been incorporated in Schedule B, attached hereto. We look forward to a successful engagement. Please sign and return the enclosed copy at your earliest convenience. Yours sincerely, Santiago Reyes | Senior Account Director, Altius Consulting Group |
Module 1 Complete!
Over the past four classes, Santiago won Altius's biggest engagement in three years — and you built the language to tell that story precisely. You can now report what was said, what was asked, what was commanded, and what was advised, across both spoken and written professional English. Module 2 takes the next step: writing proposals that persuade.
Practice Exercises
3 questionsNew exercises to reinforce what you learned. Different from the lesson material.
Error: "She said that the committee will approve the mandate next week." (Statement backshift) — Correction?
Error: "He asked us had we worked in the energy sector before." (Reported question word order) — Correction?
Error: "She told us not revising the fee structure." (Reported command — negative) — Correction?
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