Posts belonging to Category 'business'

What are they talking about? No. 6

a. phone call b. letter c. report d. form Nicky: Have you finished writing your _________ for the boss? Sergei: Not yet, I made a draft yesterday, but it’s not ready to be submitted. Nicky: Well, it’s probably not that urgent anyway, once he has read it it will be filed away with thousands of [...]

What are they talking about? No. 5

a. computer file b. printer c. email d. photograph Ryan: Help! I can’t find that ________ anymore, it seems to have disappeared! Marianne: Don’t panic, maybe you just forgot where you saved it. Ryan: Well the last time I opened it, it was on my desktop Marianne: And you haven’t modified it since then? Ryan: [...]

What are they talking about? No.4

a. form b. report c. letter d. email Stan: Have you joined the health club yet? Mavis: No, I still have the _______ but I haven’t got around to filling it in. Stan: Well, when you do, sign it and make a copy of it, they often get lost. Mavis: Good idea, I’ll send it [...]

What are they talking about? No. 3

a. report b. form c. book d. letter Lucy: Did you finish writing your __________ ? George: Yes, I’m going to send it later, but I don’t have an envelope. Could you get me one when you go to town? Lucy: No problem. do you want me to address it and post it? George: Oh [...]

what are they talking about? No.2

a. computer b. phone call c. photocopier d. email Olivia: I need to call a technician, my ___________ won’t shut down. Jack: Really? does it often crash like that? Olivia: No, it’s the first time. But when this happens, I can’t even try to reboot it. Jack: Well the easiest way to restart is to [...]

What are they talking about? No.1

Read the following conversation and choose the right word to fill the gap. Notice carefully the verbs that are used – they all collocate strongly with one of the following: a. letter b. email c. computer d. report Practice acting out the dialogue. Zak: Did you check your ________? I sent you something yesterday. Ruby: [...]

Conversation questions: Money

Discuss these questions: 1.What is rich? Are you rich? How much do you need to be rich? 2.What do you spend your money on? 3.What would you like to buy but can’t afford? 4.Who is responsible for the current recession? 5.What would you do if you won 100 million Euros? 6.finish the proverb: “Money can’t [...]

Business English word of the day: to sue

to sue : intenter un procès The verb to sue is the action of making a claim against someone, usually for money, because that person has harmed you or your interests in some way. Look at these examples: I broke my leg falling in the street, so I’m suing the local authorities for compensation When [...]

Business English word of the day: V.A.T.

VAT : TVA VAT stands for ‘value added tax’. It is the tax that consumers pay when they buy a product or a service. VAT rates can vary according the product or service being sold. In France, a recent law was passed allowing bars and restaurants to reduce their VAT to 5% instead of the [...]

Business English word of the day: Trade Fair

Trade fair : salon (professionnel) Trade fairs are organised so that companies can show their products to journalists, investors and consumers. A company has a stand where visitors can learn about the company and its products. In the automotive industry, car manufacturer show off their new models at a ‘motor show’. The Detroit Motor Show [...]

Business English word of the day: takeover bid

Takeover bid : OPA (offre publique d’achat) This term comes from the phrasal verb ‘to take over’ (prendre le controle) and ‘bid’ (offre, enchérir) Examples: Mittal Steel made a successful takeover bid for the French steel company Arcelor. I find it disgusting that the Mittal family, one of the richest in the world, can be [...]

Business English word of the day: sale – sales

sale : vente the sales : les soldes on sale : en vente / en soldes The related verb is “to sell“ examples: Sales for last year were up by 10% (ventes) The sales are starting on Tuesday, I’m gonna look for some bargains(soldes) I bought this shirt for 10€ – it was on sale [...]