English · B1 · vocabulary · 5 minutes
Relationships and social boundaries
Express trust, support, disagreement, compromise, and respectful limits.
Understand the choice
Relationship language works best when it names behavior rather than labeling a whole person. A reliable action can build trust, while an apology may repair a specific conflict.
Core rule: Trust and respect are built; support is offered; boundaries are set; a conflict is resolved; a compromise is reached.
Notice it in context
We disagreed about the plan but reached a fair compromise.
No estuvimos de acuerdo sobre el plan, pero llegamos a un compromiso justo.
Disagreed takes about + issue; reached collocates with compromise; but signals a constructive outcome.
A sincere apology and reliable support can rebuild trust.
Honest regret plus dependable help may restore confidence.
Apology, reliable, support, and trust describe repair.
Respecting a boundary can prevent a small conflict from growing.
Honoring a personal limit may stop disagreement becoming more serious.
Boundary, conflict, and respect describe prevention.
What to remember
- Agree with a person but agree on/about an issue or agree to a proposal.
- Compromise can be positive middle ground or, as a verb, weakening a principle or system.
Common trap: Do not translate compromiso automatically as commitment; English compromise usually involves concessions.