Sticking to the Deal: Managing Supplier Risk
CEFR: B2
Read/Listen first
Yesterday, while I was finalising a supply contract, my colleague called to warn me that our vendor might back out at the last minute. I had already set up a payment schedule, and we had stuck to the agreed timeline for weeks, so the message was unsettling. As we were checking the figures, we realised the vendor has run out of stock twice this month, although they have promised stable delivery. They said cash was tied up in a delayed project, and I wondered whether they were about to go under. To protect our launch, I suggested we could take over the shipping ourselves if the situation gets worse, or ask them to knock off a small percentage as a goodwill gesture. By the time the call ended, we had drafted a calmer plan: we will keep the partnership, but we will monitor it closely and renegotiate if needed, after we review the next delivery report.⚡ Learning goals
- Can summarise a supplier risk clearly and propose a practical response.
- Can negotiate a small concession while keeping the tone professional.
- Can agree next steps and monitoring actions after a short call.
✨ Key language
- Could we add a safety clause? “Could we add a delay clause today?”
- We need to stick to the timeline. “We need to stick to the agreed timeline.”
- They might back out at the last minute. “They might back out at the last minute.”
⚙️ Rules & Grammar — 4 Structures
1️⃣ Past continuous + past simple (interruption)
Rule: Use was/were + -ing for a background action, and past simple for the event that interrupts it.Examples: I was finalising the contract when my colleague called; We were checking the figures when we realised the issue; The call ended and we drafted a plan.
Common pitfall + fix: Using only past simple for both actions — use the -ing form for the longer action.
Which option correctly describes the first sentence?
Tip: Look for ‘was finalising’ (background) + ‘called’ (interruption).
Fill with the best answer:
Yesterday, while I ____ finalising the contract, my colleague called.Tip: Use ‘was’ with an -ing verb for the background action.
2️⃣ Present perfect (recent repeated issues)
Rule: Use has/have + past participle to talk about events up to now, especially with time phrases like this month.Examples: The vendor has run out of stock twice this month; They have promised stable delivery; We have monitored the situation closely.
Common pitfall + fix: Saying ‘ran out twice this month’ with no link to now — prefer present perfect with ‘this month’.
Choose the best sentence for a problem that continues up to now.
Tip: Use present perfect with ‘this month’ for a time period that includes now.
Fill with the best answer:
The vendor ____ run out of stock twice this month.Tip: Use ‘has’ with a singular subject (the vendor).
3️⃣ Modals of speculation (might / be about to)
Rule: Use might to express uncertainty, and be about to for something that seems likely to happen very soon.Examples: Our vendor might back out at the last minute; I wondered whether they were about to go under; The situation might get worse before it improves.
Common pitfall + fix: Making a certain statement when you only guess — soften it with ‘might’ or ‘seem to’.
What does ‘might’ show in the mini-text?
Tip: ‘Might’ means you are not sure; it is a cautious prediction.
Fill with the best answer:
I wondered whether they were about to ____ under.Tip: The phrasal verb is ‘go under’ (go bankrupt).
4️⃣ First conditional (if + present, will/could + base)
Rule: Use if + present to describe a possible situation, then will or could to talk about the result or suggestion.Examples: If the situation gets worse, we could take over the shipping; If we review the next report, we will know what to do; If they delay again, we will renegotiate.
Common pitfall + fix: Using ‘will’ in the if-clause — say ‘If it gets worse’ (not ‘If it will get worse’).
Choose the correct conditional sentence.
Tip: In first conditional, use present in the if-clause: ‘gets’, not ‘will get’.
Fill with the best answer:
If the situation ____ worse, we could take over the shipping.Tip: Use present simple ‘gets’ in the if-clause for a real possibility.
✍️ Vocabulary
back out
Meaning: to withdraw from an agreement after saying yesSynonyms: withdraw, pull out
Chunk/Idiom: back out at the last minute
Example: The vendor might back out at the last minute.
Morphology: verb: back out (phrasal verb); noun: usage; adj: related; adv: —
Self-practice: Write one sentence about a deal you almost backed out of.
set up
Meaning: to arrange or organise something so it is readySynonyms: arrange, establish
Chunk/Idiom: set up a payment schedule
Example: I had already set up a payment schedule.
Morphology: verb: set up (phrasal verb); noun: usage; adj: related; adv: —
Self-practice: List three things you need to set up before a launch.
stick to
Meaning: to follow a plan or rule without changing itSynonyms: follow, adhere to
Chunk/Idiom: stick to the agreed timeline
Example: We had stuck to the agreed timeline for weeks.
Morphology: verb: stick to (phrasal verb); noun: usage; adj: related; adv: —
Self-practice: Say how you will stick to your plan this week.
run out of
Meaning: to have no more of something because it is finishedSynonyms: use up, exhaust
Chunk/Idiom: run out of stock
Example: The vendor has run out of stock twice this month.
Morphology: verb: run out of (phrasal verb); noun: usage; adj: related; adv: —
Self-practice: Describe a time you ran out of something important.
go under
Meaning: to fail financially and stop operatingSynonyms: go bankrupt, collapse
Chunk/Idiom: be about to go under
Example: I wondered whether they were about to go under.
Morphology: verb: go under (phrasal verb); noun: usage; adj: related; adv: —
Self-practice: Explain one sign a company might go under.
take over
Meaning: to take control or responsibility for somethingSynonyms: assume control, take charge
Chunk/Idiom: take over the shipping
Example: We could take over the shipping ourselves.
Morphology: verb: take over (phrasal verb); noun: usage; adj: related; adv: —
Self-practice: Choose one task you could take over to reduce risk.
☁️ Examples (+ audio)
We had stuck to the plan, but the warning made us rethink the timeline.
The vendor has run out of stock twice, so we are reviewing the risk clause.
If the situation gets worse, we could take over the shipping ourselves.
They might back out, although they have promised stable delivery.
✏️ Exercises
Grammar
Which sentence best matches a problem that matters up to now?
Tip: Use present perfect with ‘this month’ because the time period includes now.
Choose the correct first conditional sentence.
Tip: In first conditional, the if-clause is present simple: ‘gets’.
Fill with the best answer:
Yesterday, while I ____ finalising the contract, my colleague called.Tip: Past continuous uses ‘was/were + -ing’.
Fill with the best answer:
The vendor ____ run out of stock twice this month.Tip: With ‘the vendor’ (singular), use ‘has’.
Vocabulary & Comprehension
In the mini-text, what does “back out” mean?
Tip: It is the opposite of committing to the deal.
Why did the speaker mention “go under”?
Tip: ‘Go under’ means a business stops operating because of money problems.
Fill with the best answer:
I had already ____ a payment schedule before the call.Tip: It means “arrange” or “organise”.
Fill with the best answer:
We had ____ the agreed timeline for weeks.Tip: Use it when you keep following a plan or rule.
✅ Guided practice
Mini-dialogue:
A: If the vendor backs out, what should we do?B: We could take over shipping and renegotiate the terms.
A: Good. Let’s stick to the timeline and monitor the next delivery report.
Why this matters:
In real negotiations, you often need to stay calm, protect your plan, and keep the relationship workable. Clear wording helps you discuss risk without sounding accusatory.Verb & Adjective Pack:
monitor — “We will monitor the vendor closely.”unsettling — “The message was unsettling.”
reliable — “We need a more reliable delivery plan.”
Try & compare:
Fill with the best answer: If the situation gets worse, we ____ take over the shipping.
Tip: Use ‘could’ for a practical option, not a guarantee.
Self-correction: Fix the sentence: They promised stable delivery, although they have ran out of stock twice this month.
Tip: Use ‘have run’ (past participle), not ‘have ran’.
Practice aloud: Listen, repeat, then type the sentence.
We will monitor it closely and renegotiate if needed.
Tip: Keep the rhythm steady on “monitor it closely”.