English Vocabulary in Use Upper-intermediate » Unit 17: Business

Word List
  • access
  • build
  • business
  • business plan
  • CEO
  • competition
  • contact
  • corporation
  • custom-built
  • customer care
  • do business
  • expand
  • feedback
  • firm
  • going forward
  • launch
  • manufacture
  • market
  • market research
  • order book
  • potential
  • priority
  • profit
  • put forward
  • recession
  • risk
  • roll out
  • sell
  • stiff
Exercises

17.1 ‣ Fill the gaps in the questions with words from A opposite, then complete the answers.

  1. What did Jim Archer put to his bank manager? He presented a _____.
  2. What is special about the computers his _____ makes? They are _____-_____
  3. When did he _____ his business? A _____.
  4. What did he _____ out two years later? An _____ of computers.
  5. How many computers does his firm _____ now? About _____ a _____ .
  6. What was Jim Archer's _____ from the start? Personal service and _____.
  7. Why didn't he do any _____ research? He felt there were enough _____ customers.
  8. Why was he not sure if the machines would _____? There was a _____ at the time.
  9. Was it all worth the _____? Yes. His firm's _____ were soon full.
  10. _____ forward, what are his plans? He's planning a new range of computers, which will _____ next year.

17.2 ‣ Rewrite the words in bold using words and phrases from A and B opposite.

  1. The new service will be available for the first time over the whole country next year.
  2. The business didn't make money in its first year. _____
  3. There are a lot of possible customers for this product. _____
  4. Their list of orders waiting to be completed was full last month. _____
  5. It is sometimes difficult to get into new markets if you don't have contacts. _____
  6. We should pay attention to the opinions and reactions our clients post on our website. _____
  7. Customer care is a most important issue for our company._____
  8. We need to make our business bigger in Latin America. _____
  9. It's important to create relationships with local people before you enter a new country. _____

17.3 ‣ Correct the mistakes in these sentences.

  1. She’s the COE of a huge corporation.
  2. The new range of products will launch itself next month. We hope it will be sold!
    _____
  3. The firm specialises in customer-built laptops for business travellers.
    _____
  4. Bringing forward, we expect to increase our sales in Japan and China.
    _____
  5. It's important to get a feedback from our clients.
    _____
  6. We're facing competitions from American firms.
    _____
  7. We hope to do more businesses in North Africa in the future.
    _____

17.4 ‣ Match the words on the left with the words on the right to make typical collocations. Then write a sentence using each one.

customer     order     market     custom    stiffbuilt     competition    research    care    books

  2. _____
  3. _____
  4. _____
  5. _____

17.5 ‣

Over to you

If you could start a business, what would it be? What would you need to do to make it a success? Write a paragraph outlining your ideas. Use words and phrases from this unit. If possible, compare your ideas with someone else.
Answer Key
A ‣ Starting a business

Ryan Archer had an idea for a business. He had a computer but it was never just right for all his personal needs, so he went to his bank manager and put forward1 a business plan2 to sell custom-built3 computers on the Internet. He launched4 his business a year later, offering an individual service making desktop and laptop computers, and two years later rolled out5 an expanded6 range, including tablets and other hand-held devices. His firm7 now manufactures8 around 200 machines a year and delivers to 26 countries around the world.

Ryan said, 'It's all about personal service and customer care9. This was our priority10 from the start. We didn't really do any proper market research11 and we weren't sure if such machines would sell, especially during a recession12. But I felt there were enough potential13 customers to make it worth the risk14. I was right. Soon, designers, scientists, academics and other professional people were requesting personalised machines and our order books15 were full.’ Going forward16, Archer plans to expand the business further, and a new range of machines will launch next year.

1 offered for people to consider
2 a plan of how the business will operate
3 specially made for a particular person or thing
4 started, perhaps with a special event to mark the beginning
5 make a new product available for the first time
6 made bigger
7 company
8 produces goods in large numbers, usually in a factory
9 looking after the customer's needs
10 something very important which must be dealt with first
11 (uncountable) finding out beforehand what people want or need
12 period of low economic activity and bad conditions for business
13 possible when the conditions are right
14 possibility of something bad happening
15 the list of orders waiting to be completed
16 going into the future

Language help

In business English, some verbs which usually need an object can often be used without an object or with the real object acting as the subject.

with objectreal object as subject
We sold 200 instruments last year.We didn't know if the instruments would sell.
They are launching a new range.The new range launches next year.
They are rolling out a new range.The new range will roll out next year.

B ‣ Common business English phrases and collocations

FACT SHEET

The CE01 of a big corporation2 gave us these tips for success in business:

  1. Do business in the markets you know best before trying to enter new ones.
  2. It may be difficult to access new markets3. Build contacts; that's the secret.
  3. You may not make a profit immediately. Be patient.
  4. You will probably face stiff competition4, so make sure your product is the best.
  5. Get regular feedback5 from your employees and customers. They know best.

1 Chief Executive Officer
2 a large company or group of companies that is controlled together as a single organisation
3 reach and do business with new groups of customers or parts of the world where something might be sold
4 (uncountable) other companies trying hard to be more successful than you
5 (uncountable) information/opinions about what people think of a product or service

Common mistakes

Business can be countable or uncountable.

We hope to do more business in Asia next year. (uncountable = the activity. NOT We hope to do more businesses...)

New businesses are launched on the Internet everyday. (countable = enterprises/companies)

Favorite Books
English Vocabulary in Use Elementary

The words you need to communicate with confidence. Vocabulary explanations and practice for elementary level (A2) learners of English. Perfect for both self-study and classroom activities. Quickly expand your vocabulary with 60 units of easy to understand explanations and practice exercises.

Read more
English Vocabulary in Use Advanced

The words you need to communicate with confidence. Vocabulary explanations and practice for advanced level (C1 to C2) learners of English. Perfect for both self-study and classroom activities. Quickly expand your vocabulary with over 100 units of easy to understand explanations and practice exercises.

Read more
Table of Contents