Essential Business English Phrases and Grammar Tips

A. Meeting Arrangements and Business Communication

I'm writing to arrange a time for the meeting next week. We had arranged a meeting for tomorrow to discuss our business plans. Following conversations with our distributors. Following a meeting of the board, it has been decided to cut our training budget. Due to the suggestions that our staff gave us, we have decided to promote this fact.

B. Requests and Apologies

I would be grateful if you could give us a sample information or send us details of your services. We would be pleased if you could inform us about how... I wonder if you could tell me what time. I apologize again for the changes, and I hope we can meet in the near future. If you are interested in working with us, please contact me at the above number to arrange a meeting where we can discuss our... Please let me know what time would suit you.

C. Confirming Details and Agreements

Following our discussions, I’m just writing to confirm the details we agreed about the purchase of this product. We agreed that we will give you 20 pieces at 10E each. But the condition is that you would take back the bottles. In addition to this, we agreed to give you a discount of about 10% if you sell 20 boxes in two months. However, after discussing things with my other partner, we could give you one box of any type of wine as a gift. We will achieve this order as soon as we receive your agreement.

D. Closing Remarks

Thanks in advance. I look forward to hearing from you or meeting you next week.

E. Presentation Structure

First, I will talk about the structure of the product and its essential characteristics. Then I’ll tell you about our suppliers that can give us the necessary raw materials. Finally, I’ll show you the financial requirements and plans about costs and prices about this product.

Key Business Vocabulary

Freelance = independent. Be in = estar en. Time off = tiempo libre. Charge of = cargo de. Outstanding = pendientes. Invoice = factura. Enrol = inscribir. Expense = gastos. Assess = evaluar. Commission = encargar. Scope = alcance. Overlook = mirar por alto. Resend = reenviar. Upgraded = actualizado. Bid = oferta. Trade = comercial. Spate of discounting = avalancha de descuentos. Retail = al por menor. Take on = asumir. Take over = tomar control.

Entered Into = entrar en. Scheduled for = programado para. Reached on = alcanzado en. Comment on = comentar sobre.

Supply chain = cadena de suministro. Upmarket = de lujo.

Forecast sales = pronóstico de ventas. Saving = ahorros. Rather = bastante. Outcome = resultado. Ploys = planes. Overhead = gastos generales. Assets = bienes. Avoid = evitar. Encroach = invadir. Goals setting = fijación de metas. Carry out research = llevar investigación. Affordable pricing = precios asequibles. Ad = anuncio.

Prepositions of Time

AT (exact moments of time/beginning or end). IN (in the afternoon/ in May/ in 2010). ON (on 13th, on Monday). FOR (for three hours). DURING (periodo tiempo corto). SINCE (algo que ocurrió en el pasado que aún persiste). FROM (from 2008 to 2010). UNTIL (hasta ese periodo). BY (para decir que algo debe ser terminado)

Verb Forms

INFINITIVE (expresa propuesta, después adjetivos = great to talk to you). VERB+ing (prep + verb ing). PREPOSITIONS (IN = algo ha cambiado. OF = cuanto ha cambiado. AT = expresa nivel. TO = nivel ha cambiado a)

Conditional Sentences

1st CONDITIONAL (IF/UNLESS + present --- future). 2nd CONDITIONAL (IF/UNLESS + past --- would/could/might + infinitive)

Countable and Uncountable Nouns

COUNTABLE (Singular = a/an; Plural = some/any -- few/many -- a lot of). UNCOUNTABLE (Singular = Some/any -- little/much -- a piece of/an amount of)

Little travels --- some/a lot of new equipment --- does company --- people do --- a place --- some new research --- a great deal of = Gran cantidad --- suitable time --