Essential Business English Phrases and Vocabulary

A. Meeting and Follow-Up

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 ..., it has been decided to cut our training budget by... 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/ inform)-(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. Confirmations 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 10€ 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. Expressing Gratitude and Anticipation

Thanks in advance./I look forward to (hearing from you)-(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 for this product.

F. Job Application

I'm writing to apply for the job of... As requested, I attached my job application and my personal experience. I think I'm the appropriate candidate for this position because I have some skills that make me different and competitive. Thank you for your time, and I hope to receive news of this job opportunity.

G. Business Vocabulary

Assess = evaluate, Be in = be present, Bid = offer, Bankrupt = ruined, Boosting = driving, Boots = start-up, Commission = order, Charge of = in charge of, Enrol = register, Expense = expenses, Freelance = independent, Made a breakthrough = make progress, Invoice = bill, Overlook = miss, Outstanding = pending, Resend = resend, Retail = retail, Scope = scope, Spate of discounting = avalanche of discounts, Supply chain = supply chain, Trade = commercial, Time off = free time, Upgraded = updated, Upmarket = luxury

Take on = assume, Take over = take control, Entered into = entered into, Scheduled for = scheduled for, Cut in = reduce, Reached on = reached on, Comment on = comment on, Miss out = miss out, Work out = work on, Buy up = buy up, Speed up = speed up, Comply with = comply with, Nevertheless = however, Therefore = therefore

Forecast sales = sales forecast, Rather = quite, Outcome = result, Ploys = plans, Overhead = general expenses, Assets = assets, Avoid = avoid, Encroach = invade, Goal setting = setting goals, Carry out research = carry out research, Affordable pricing = affordable prices

H. Prepositions

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 (short period of time), SINCE (something that happened in the past that still persists), FROM (from 2008 to 2010), UNTIL (until that period), BY (something must be finished)

I. Grammar Structures

INFINITIVE (to express a proposal, after adjectives), VERB+ing (prep + verb ing), PREPOSITIONS (IN = something has changed, OF = how much it has changed)

1st Conditional (IF/UNLESS + present --- Future), 2nd Conditional (IF/UNLESS + past --- would/could/might + infinitive)

Countable Nouns (Singular = a/an; Plural = some/any -- few/many -- a lot of), Uncountable Nouns (Singular = some/any -- little/much -- a piece of/an amount of)