Business English for Planning and Office Meetings

Business Planning and Management Vocabulary

• Hoping / Would like: Quisiera
• Going to / Meeting / Expecting / Planning
• Hope (Esperanza): To wish something will happen.
• Expect (Esperar): To believe something will happen.
• Plan: To decide in detail what you are going to do.
• Estimate costs: Estimación de costes.
• Forecast sales: Previsión de ventas.
• Do research: Hacer una investigación.
• Collect information: Recoger información.
• Consider options: Considerar opciones.
• Rearrange: Reorganizar.
• Meet: Conocer / Reunirse.
• Prepare: Preparar.
• Keep within: Mantenerse dentro de.
• Implement: Implementar.
• A deadline: Un plazo.
• A schedule: Un horario.
• Budget: Presupuesto.
• A plan: Un plan.
• A meeting: Una reunión.
• A report: Un informe.

Planning a Farewell Party: A Dialogue

Coordinator: As you all know, the head of the department is leaving the company in a month’s time. We have to prepare a plan to hold a farewell party.

Secretary: We could hold the party at your favorite restaurant.

Coordinator: I really like the idea of celebrating the party at the restaurant because the office is very small and we will invite many people. But, how much is the party at the restaurant?

Secretary: I saw the website and the party will cost us 800, including dinner and drinks. Each person will pay 20. Do you agree?

Coordinator: I agree; it is a very economical price. Well, the second point is what we can give him. Do you have any ideas?

Secretary: We could give him a weekend for two in Mallorca. It should be given by the coordinator.

Coordinator: I agree, because he has to enjoy a little for a job well done.

Administrative: Just a moment, please. Could I just comment on that?

Coordinator: What do you mean exactly?

Administrative: I would like to dedicate a speech at the party. It will be a speech about his career in the company and finish with a humorous memory.

Coordinator: It's a good idea; we could prepare it for the end of the party. With these ideas, we can begin to prepare the party.

English Grammar Reference

Present Simple

Used for habits, routines, permanent situations, and general or scientific facts.

• (+): I/You live; He/She/It lives.
• (-): I/You don't live; He/She/It doesn't live.
• (?): Do I/you live? Does he/she/it live?
• (=): Yes, I do / No, I don't.

Present Continuous

Used for actions in progress at the moment of speaking, temporary situations, and arranged future plans.

• (+): I am / You are / He is working.
• (-): I'm not / You aren't / He isn't working.
• (?): Am I / Are you / Is he working?
• (=): Yes, I am / No, I'm not.

Past Simple

Used to describe finished actions or situations in the past or to sequence events.

• (+): I/You/He worked (regular) / went (irregular).
• (-): I/You/He didn't work.
• (?): Did I/you/he work?
• (=): Yes, I did / No, I didn't.

Past Continuous

Describes an activity or situation that was in progress at a specific time in the past (long actions, often used with "while").

• (+): I was / You were / He was working.
• (-): I wasn't / You weren't / He wasn't working.
• (?): Was I / Were you / Was he working?
• (=): Yes, I was / No, I wasn't.