Business English: Useful Expressions.

Business English: Useful Expressions.
Study Business and Profe ssional English
Useful Expressions - Business Language
· Apologizing
· Asking for Help
· Business Introductions
· Company Description
· Describing Business Activities
· Describing Jobs
· Describing Products
· Describing Projects
· Explaining
· Expressing Appreciation
· Forward Looking Statements
· Invitations
· Job Responsibilities
· Offering
· Requesting
· Terms of Payment
· Using Tenses Appropriately
· Welcoming Visitors
Useful Expressions - Business Interaction
· Analyzing Problems
· Asking for Information
· Closing a Conversation
· Customer Survey (Restaurant)
· Discussing Agenda Items
· Making Appointments
· Meetings and Discussions
· How to Plan a Meeting
Useful Expressions - Business Correspondence
· Business Letters
· Common Phrases for Business
Letters
· Helpful Hints for Business Letters
· Sample Topics for Business Letters
· Writer's Checklist
Useful Expressions - Business Presentation
· Nervous Mannerisms
· Presentation Tips
· Signposting
· Simple Presentations
· Speech Preparation
· The Language of Charts and Graphs
· Thinking Positively about
Presentations
Apologizing
Apologizing
I'm sorry.
I made a mistake.
Please accept my apologies.
I'm sorry. I didn't mean to . . .
(I'm) sorry. I didn't realize that . . . .
That's okay.
No problem.
Prefacing bad news
I'm sorry (I have) to tell you this, but . . .
I hate to tell you this, but . . .
I don't know how to tell you this, but . . .
I have some bad news.
(Formal) written apologies
We regret to inform you that . . .
Regretfully, . . .
Unfortunately, . . .
Business Introductions
Informal
This is my boss, Mr. Stratford.
Jared, this is my secretary, Barbara.
Good to meet you.
Nice to meet you too.
I'd like you to meet my co-worker, Collin Beck.
Collin, this is Susan Palmer.
Nice to meet you.
My pleasure.
Have you met, Jason?
Jason, this is Teresa.
Hi, I'm Jill Watson.
I don't believe we've met. I'm Greg.
Formal
I'd like to introduce you to my dear friend, Mrs. Pleasant.
Allow me to introduce myself/my colleague, Ms. Winters
Let me introduce you to my colleague, Dean Richards.
Mr. Richards, this is David Porter from Aerospace Inc.
How do you do?
How do you do?
It's a pleasure meeting you.
Important body language to remember: Smile, eye contact, firm handshake.
Describing Business Activities
What do you do at ABC Company?
I am in charge of marketing.
I'm responsible for sales.
I program computers.
I recruit and train employees.
What does your company do?
We design software.
We build storage units.
We produce small appliances.
We're in the insurance business.
Describing Products
Describing Products
Tell me about (this product)
What can you tell me about (this product)?
Can you give me some information/details about this?
What is special/unique about this?
What are the specifications?
Let me tell you about . . .
This is our (newest) product.
This is one of our latest designs.
It is made of . . .
It can be used for . . .
You can use it to . . .
You can . . . with it
This has/contains . . .
This one features . . .
This comes with . . .
This is equipped with . . .
This particular model . . .
This is priced at . . .
This costs . . .
Explaining
Explaining
Can you explain . . . Can you tell me why . . . Why . . .
What happened . . .
Well, . . .
Let me explain.
Let me tell you why . . .
Here's what happened:
There's a (good) reason for this:
The reason is . . .
I'm sorry. I can't tell you that (right now).
Can I get back to you on that?
I'll explain (a little) later.
We'll come to that later.
We'll get to that in a few minutes. Can we save that until later?
Forward-Looking Statements
Forward-Looking Statements
What are your plans for the future?
What are your projections for the next quarter?
What do you expect to achieve (in the near future)?
What are your (sales) projections for next six months?
What are your goals for the coming year?
We expect . . .
We plan to . . .
We project . . .
We hope to . . .
We should . . .
We will be (V+ing) . . .
If all goes as planned,
Our projections are . . .
According to our projections,
Job Responsibilities
Job Responsibilities
What do you do (in your job)?
What is your main job?
What are you in charge of?
I am in charge of training employees.
I am responsible for watering the plants.
I take care of corporate accounts.
I usually answer telephones.
I mainly write reports.
I repair jet engines.
Requesting
Informal
Please . . .
Would you . . .
Could you . . .
Would you please . . . .
Could you possibly . . .
Would you mind (V+ing) . . .
Could you do me a favor?
Formal
Could I ask you to . . .
Would you mind if I asked you to . . . Would you be so kind as to . . .
Using Tense Appropriately in Business Descriptions
Use simple past tense to describe something that wholly occurred at a specific time in the past:
I graduated from NYU in 1998.
NOT: I have graduated since 1998.
(That's when the ceremony occurred.)
(Incorrect!)
I finished the Hollins project last week.
I have finished the Hollins project last week.
(Specific time)
(Incorrect!)
Use present perfect tense to describe something that has been in effect from a certain point in the past until now.
Be careful! Some verbs are used for specific actions; others are used for conditions that cover lengths of time.
I met Mr. Flinders last year at a Convention in Little
Rock.
I have met him since last year.
I have known him since last year.
(Specific time)
(Incorrect!)
(Correct!)
Use simple present tense to describe facts.
I work for IBS Corporation.
He's a sanitation engineer.
I am responsible for orienting new employees.
She answers company correspondence.
Use present progressive tense to describe ongoing projects.
I am developing new software.
She is teaching the hearing-impaired.
We are building a new mall in East Heights.
Asking for Help
Asking for Help
Could you . . . . (for me) ?
Would you please . . . ?
Would you mind V+ing . . . .?
Could you possibly . . . ?
Okay, no problem.
Sure, I'd be glad to.
Sorry, I'm (kind of) busy now.
I'm sorry. I don't have time right now.
Do you have a minute?
Can you spare a few minutes?
Could you do me a favor?
Could I ask you a favor?
Can I ask you to . . . ?
I need some help (if you have time).
(If you're not busy) I could use your help.
Company Description
Company Description
What company do you work for?
Which company are you with?
Who do you represent?
I work for ABC Company.
I'm with ABC.
I represent (the) XYZ (company).
What is the name of your company?
Where are you located?
The name of our company is . . . .
Our company is located in . . . .
Our headquarters is in . . .
What (type of business) do you do?
What business are you in?
We are in the computer business.
We're in computers
We sell . . .
We produce . . .
We manufacture . . .
Our major products are . . .
Describing Jobs
Describing Jobs
What do you do?
What do you do for a living?
What is your occupation?
What type of work do you do?
Where do you work?
I'm a salesman. (job-general)
I'm in sales. (general)
I'm in the toy business. (industry)
I'm a contractor at JBX. (specific)
I'm a consultant for YXL.
What company do you work for?
I work for Bellwest. (company name)
I work at Wellbest. (general)
I'm with Westbell. (industry)
What do you do there?
What do you do at Bellwest?
I'm a software engineer. (job title)
I work in the sales department. (place in company)
I'm in customer service. (general area)
I work as an instructor.
I build houses. (specific job)
I clean the restrooms.
Describing Projects
Describing Projects
What are your current projects?
What are you working on (at present)?
What are your major initiatives in this area?
We are currently working on . . .
We are in the process of . . .
We are developing . . .
We are designing . . .
We are building . . .
We are marketing . . .
Expressing Appreciation
Expressing Appreciation
Thanks.
Thank you.
I appreciate it.
Thanks for the tour.
Thank you for the nice gift.
I appreciate your hospitality.
I appreciate your lending me the chain saw.
Invitations
Informal:
Would you like to . . .
We're going to . . . . Would you like to come along?
There's a . . . . (tonight). Would you like to go?
How about (V+ing) . . . ?
Do you want to . . . ?
I wonder if you would like to . . .
I was wondering if you would like to . . .
Formal:
I'd like to invite you to . . .
If you have time, I'd like to invite you . . .
Would you like to join us for (event) at (time) ?
We'd be glad to have you accompany us . . .
We'd be delighted/honored to have you as our guest at . . .
Offering