Choose one of the verbs below and add a noun to it (one that is there or your own choice). Describe the present and usual habits associated with that thing (e.g. how often, times and days, people who do it, how long) until your partner guesses which one you are talking about.
Agree
Apologise
Attach
Attend conferences/ trade fairs/ training/ meetings
Be late/ on time/ early
Calculate
Carry a wallet/ mobile phone/ business cards
Read
Write reports/ minutes/ agendas
Chair meetings
Greet
Receive
Correct/ Edit
Clean
Complain
Copy/ Photocopy
Deal with complaints
Decide
Describe your job/ company/ department/ product(s)
Dictate
Disagree
Do overtime
Exchange business cards
Explain
Fax
File/ Organise/ Reorganise
Give advice/ recommendations
Give bad news
Have meetings with customers/ clients/ colleagues/ suppliers
Input data/ figures
Install/ Download
Invite
Leave messages
Make appointments/ Arrange…
Meet new people
Meet people again
Negotiate
Offer a discount/ free gifts/ food and drinks/ someone a seat
Phone/ Telephone/ Call
Present
Print out
Refuse/ Reject
Repair
Request
Sign
Socialise with colleagues/ your boss/ clients/ customers/ suppliers
Stamp documents
Staple
Take dictation
Take messages
Take notes
Talk about/ Discuss
Thank
Tidy up
Travel abroad/ domestically/ for work
Type up a report/ a PowerPoint presentation
Use a computer/ calculator/ projector/ laser pen/ photocopier
Wear a tie/ a jacket/ a waistcoat/ cuff links/ a security badge
Discussion
Which things above do you do most often? Are there any things you often do which are missing from the list?
Are there any things above which you very rarely or never do? Does anyone in your company do those things?
How do the jobs of other people in your team vary from yours?
Are there any cultural differences above, e.g. the importance of business cards? What about gender differences?
Which things do you or will you most often have to do in English? What language can you use to do the things in italics that you often have to do?
How does a typical business email start and end?
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PDF version for easy printing: Business English verbs
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