PRACTICE WITH THE LANGUAGE OF CONTRACT

Exercise 1. Match the words or phrases with the definitions below. (in đậm: ngôn
ngữ hợp đồng)
a. an area of land: territory: lãnh thổ
b. amount or level: extent: số lượng, mức độ (amount – noun ko đếm đc, level –
những thứ trừu tượng hơn)
c. payment for something that is lost or damaged: compensation: sự bồi thường
d. have the right to something: entitled to: có quyền làm gì
e. ended: terminated: chấm dứt hợp đồng
f. if something happens: in the event of
g. immediately: forthwith (adv): ngay lập tức (thông báo/giao hàng/…) (without
delay)
h. the method or way of doing something: manner: cách thức (trong hợp đồng)

Exercise 2. Lawyers sometimes use expressions that are very formal when they
draft contracts. Here is a list of formal expressions that you will often see in
contracts.
a. in the near future: soon:
b. at the present time: now
c. in the event of: if
d. during such time as: while = during
e. until such time as: until = until
f. on the part of: by (bởi ai)
g. due to the fact that: because (the fact = sự/việc) (thêm the fact that trc mệnh đề
=> cụm danh từ)
h. not less than/no late than: at least (ít nhất là…)

Complete the alternative sentences with a more modern word or expression from
the blue box in Exercise 2.
a. During such as time as this contract is in effect the parties agree to the following
terms.
While this contract is in effect the parties agree to the following terms.
b. In the event of a breach the party in breach must provide a remedy within seven days.
If there is a breach of contract the party in breach must provide a remedy within seven
days.
c. This contract will continue until such time as one of the parties terminates it by giving
four weeks’ notice in writing.
This contract will continue until one of the parties terminates it by giving four weeks’
notice in writing.
d. Due to the fact that there was fire at the premises of Forum Marketing Ltd we cannot
hold our meeting there next week.
Because there was a fire at the premises of Forum Marketing Ltd we cannot hold our
meeting there next week.
e. The meeting cannot take place on Wednesday but it is important that we have it in the
near future.
The meeting cannot take place on Wednesday but it is important that we have it soon
f. We cannot consider employing any more people at the present time, as we do not have
enough work for them.
We cannot consider employing any more people now, as we do not have enough work for
them.
g. Due to some very hard work on the part of employees the new business was very
profitable in its first year of trading.
Due to some very hard work by employees the new business was very profitable in its
first year of trading.
h. A party who wishes to terminate this contract must give not less than four weeks’
notice in writing.
A party who wishes to terminate this contract must give at least four weeks' notice in
writing.

Exercise 3. There are two important formal expressions that lawyers often use in
contracts
Use the correct expression, ‘notwithstanding’ or ‘inasmuch as’, in the following
sentences.
Not with standing = Despite = In spite of
Inasmuch as (+ mệnh đề): ở một phương diện nào đó/tính trên phương diện nào đó
a. Some good has come from my uncle’s death inasmuch as he left a lot of money to a
children’s charity in his will.
 Sự ra đi của chú tôi cũng mang lại một điều tốt đẹp khi chú để lại rất nhiều tiền cho tổ
chức từ thiện cho trẻ em theo di chúc của ông ý.
b. I agree to sign this contract notwithstanding the fact that I have some doubts about
your ability to deliver the goods to me on the due date.
Tôi đồng ý ký kết hợp đồng này mặc dù còn nhiều băn khoăn về khả năng giao hàng
đúng hạn của phía bạn.
c. She was employed by one of the top law firms in London notwithstanding her lack of
experience.
Mặc dù thiếu kinh nghiệm nhưng cô ấy vẫn được tuyển dụng vào một trong những
công ty luật hàng đầu.
d. The judge in the Court of Appeal held that the court of first instance made a mistake
inasmuch as inadmissible evidence was taken into consideration.

Exercise 4. Look at the definitions of the archaic terms below. Complete the
sentences that follow with one of the archaic terms from the list. You will need to
use each word only once.
Here = hợp đồng này, chứng từ này, văn bản này
a. Royal Airlines Limited hereinafter referred to as (sau đây được gọi là) 'RAL'. (later
in this document) – sau đây
b. The Author guarantees to the Publisher that the Work is heretofore unpublished by
any other company or individual. (previously) – trước/nêu trong phần trước của văn
bản/hợp đồng
c. In consideration of the sum of £10,000, receipt of which the Seller hereby
acknowledges. (by means of this document) – thông qua thỏa thuận này/bằng văn
bản này
d. Any products referred to herein remain the property of the Supplier until the
Customer pays for them in full. (in this document)
e. In case of dispute between the parties, any arbitration conducted hereunder will be
conducted by Arbitrators Direct of London, (under the terms of this contract) –
theo/chiểu theo các điều khoản trong hợp đồng này

Exercise 3. Look at the definitions of some more archaic terms below. Complete the
sentences that follow with one of the archaic terms from the list. You will need to
use each word only once.
There: thay thế danh từ trong văn bản
a. He sold the company and thereby became a millionaire, (as a result of that action)
b. I enclose a copy of the contract. Please return it to me together with any amendments
thereto (to the contract I have just mentioned)
c. The owner of the land and any person who wishes to claim an interest therein should
contact this firm of solicitors as soon as possible, (in the land that I have just
mentioned)
d. The defamatory story in the newspaper refers to my client in the first paragraph and
refers to her thereinafter another four times in total, (later in the thing that I have just
mentioned)
e. The Buyer agrees to insure the painting and to pay any import tax due thereon upon
delivery to the UK. (on that particular thing)

Exercise 4. There are certain archaic words that lawyers use in contracts to mean
'mentioned in an earlier part of this document’. These words are:
said aforesaid aforementioned the same – được đề cập trước
đó
a. Payment must be made upon delivery of the goods. The exception is where payment
by invoice has been agreed. In the event of payment by invoice payment must be
made within 30 days of receipt of the same.
b. Where a specific delivery date has been agreed and aforesaid cannot be met the
Buyer will have the option to receive a full refund.
c. The goods shall be inspected by the Buyer upon delivery. All goods come with a
delivery note. In the event that goods cannot be examined by the Buyer the
aforementioned document shall be marked 'not examined'.
d. Any defective goods must be returned to the Supplier. Said goods must be correctly

packaged.