Useful Expressions for Business Language

Apologizing

I'm sorry.

I made a mistake.

Please accept my apologies.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to . . .

(I'm) sorry. I didn't realize that . . . .

That's okay.

No problem.

Prefacing bad news

I'm sorry (I have) to tell you this, but . . .

I hate to tell you this, but . . .

I don't know how to tell you this, but . . .

I have some bad news.

(Formal) written apologies

We regret to inform you that . . .

Regretfully, . . .

Unfortunately, . . .

Asking for Help

Could you . . . . (for me) ?

Would you please . . . ?

Would you mind V+ing . . . .?

Could you possibly . . . ?

Okay, no problem.

Sure, I'd be glad to.

Sorry, I'm (kind of) busy now.

I'm sorry. I don't have time right now.

Do you have a minute?

Can you spare a few minutes?

Could you do me a favor?

Could I ask you a favor?

Can I ask you to . . . ?

I need some help (if you have time).

(If you're not busy) I could use your help. 

Informal Business Introductions

This is my boss, Mr. Stratford.

Jared, this is my secretary, Barbara.

Good to meet you.

Nice to meet you too.

I'd like you to meet my co-worker, Collin Beck.

Collin, this is Susan Palmer.

Nice to meet you.

My pleasure.

Have you met, Jason?

Jason, this is Teresa.

Hi, I'm Jill Watson.

I don't believe we've met. I'm Greg.

Formal Business Introductions

I'd like to introduce you to my dear friend, Mrs. Pleasant.

Allow me to introduce myself/my colleague, Ms. Winters

Let me introduce you to my colleague, Dean Richards.

Mr. Richards, this is David Porter from Aerospace Inc.

How do you do?

How do you do?

It's a pleasure meeting you.

Important body language to remember: Smile, eye contact, firm handshake.

Company Description

What company do you work for?

Which company are you with?

Who do you represent?

I work for ABC Company.

I'm with ABC.

I represent (the) XYZ (company).

What is the name of your company?

Where are you located?

The name of our company is . . . .

Our company is located in . . . .

Our headquarters is in . . .

What (type of business) do you do?

What business are you in?

We are in the computer business.

We're in computers

We sell . . .




Describing Business Activities: 

What do you do at ABC Company?

I am in charge of marketing.


I'm responsible for sales.


I program computers.


I recruit and train employees.

Describing Business Activities: 

What does your company do?

We design software.


We build storage units.


We produce small appliances.


We're in the insurance business.

We produce . . .

We manufacture . . .

Our major products are . . .

Describing Jobs

What do you do?

What do you do for a living?

What is your occupation?

What type of work do you do?

Where do you work?

I'm a salesman.		(job-general)
I'm in sales.		(general)
I'm in the toy business.		(industry)
I'm a contractor at JBX.		(specific)
		I'm a consultant for YXL.

What company do you work for?

I work for Bellwest.		(company name)
I work at Wellbest.		(general)
I'm with Westbell.		(industry)

What do you do there?

What do you do at Bellwest?

I'm a software engineer.

(job title)

I work in the sales department.

(place in company)

I'm in customer service.

(general area)

I work as an instructor.

I build houses.

(specific job)

Describing Products

Tell me about (this product)

What can you tell me about (this product)?

Can you give me some information/details about this?

What is special/unique about this?

What are the specifications?

Let me tell you about . . .

This is our (newest) product.

This is one of our latest designs.

It is made of . . .

It can be used for . . .

You can use it to . . .

You can . . . with it

This has/contains . . .

This one features . . .

This comes with . . .

This is equipped with . . .

This particular model . . .

This is priced at . . .

This costs . . .

Describing Projects

What are your current projects?

What are you working on (at present)?

What are your major initiatives in this area?

We are currently working on . . .

We are in the process of . . .

We are developing . . .

We are designing . . .

We are building . . .

We are marketing . . .

Explaining

Can you explain . . .

Can you tell me why . . .

Why . . .

What happened . . .

Well, . . .

Let me explain.

Let me tell you why . . .

Here's what happened:

There's a (good) reason for this:

The reason is . . .

I'm sorry. I can't tell you that (right now).

Can I get back to you on that?

I'll explain (a little) later.

We'll come to that later.

We'll get to that in a few minutes.

Can we save that until later?

Expressing Appreciation

Thanks.

Thank you.

I appreciate it.

Thanks for the tour.

Thank you for the nice gift.

I appreciate your hospitality.

I appreciate your lending me the chain saw. 

Forward-Looking Statements

What are your plans for the future?

What are your projections for the next quarter?

What do you expect to achieve (in the near future)?

What are your (sales) projections for next six months?

What are your goals for the coming year?

Informal Invitations:

Would you like to . . .

We're going to . . . . Would you like to come along?

There's a . . . . (tonight). Would you like to go?

How about (V+ing) . . . ?

Do you want to . . . ?

I wonder if you would like to . . .

I was wondering if you would like to . . .

Formal 

Invitations

:




I'd like to invite you to . . .

If you have time, I'd like to invite you . . .

Would you like to join us for (event) at (time) ?

We'd be glad to have you accompany us . . .

We'd be delighted/honored to have you as our guest at . . . 





We expect . . .

We plan to . . .

We project . . .

We hope to . . .

We should . . .

We will be (V+ing) . . .

If all goes as planned,

Our projections are . . .

According to our projections,

Job Responsibilities

What do you do (in your job)?

What is your main job?

What are you in charge of?

I am in charge of training employees.

I am responsible for watering the plants.

I take care of corporate accounts.

I usually answer telephones.

I mainly write reports.

I repair jet engines.

Informal Offering

Cigarette? Would you like some coffee? How about a glass of water? Here. Have a/some . . . Would you like one of these? Can I get you something? What can I get you something to drink?

No thank you Yes, please. Sure. Thanks. Okay. Thanks. I really shouldn't. No. Thanks anyway. Juice would be fine.

Formal Offering

Would you care for some . . .

Would you like to try . . .

Let me offer you . . .

Let me get you a/some . .

Informal Requesting

Please . . .

Would you . . .

Could you . . .

Would you please . . . .

Could you possibly . . .

Would you mind (V+ing) . . .

Could you do me a favor?

Formal Requesting

Could I ask you to . . .

Would you mind if I asked you to . . .

Would you be so kind as to . . .

Terms of Payment

I'd like to pay (in) cash.

I'll put it on my credit card.

Can I charge it?

Could you put that on my bill?

Could I put that on my account?

Could you send me an invoice?

Could you bill me (for that)?

Can I put it on lay-away?

May I  . . .





pay in cash

pay by check

pay by credit card

pay with a credit card

pay in installments

pay in one lump sum





Could you deliver it to my office?

Do you charge for shipping?

Do I need to pay for postage and handling?

How long will it take?

 Using Tenses Appropriately in Business Decriptions

Use simple past tense to describe something that wholly occurred at a specific time in the past:

I graduated from NYU in 1998. NOT: I have graduated since 1998.

(That's when the ceremony occurred.) (Incorrect!)

I finished the Hollins project last week. I have finished the Hollins project last week.

(Specific time) (Incorrect!)

Use present perfect tense to describe something that has been in effect from a certain point in the past until now. Be careful! Some verbs are used for specific actions; others are used for conditions that cover lengths of time.

I met Mr. Flinders last year at a Convention in Little Rock. I have met him since last year. I have known him since last year.

(Specific time) (Incorrect!) (Correct!)

Use simple present tense to describe facts.

I work for IBS Corporation.

He's a sanitation engineer.

I am responsible for orienting new employees.

She answers company correspondence.

Use present progressive tense to describe ongoing projects.

I am developing new software.

She is teaching the hearing-impaired.

We are building a new mall in East Heights.

Welcoming Visitors

Welcome to Cando Enterprises.

Welcome to London. I'm John Taylor.

Meeting someone you don't know

1. Patricia Murphy?

Yes.

Hi, I'm Kevin Chen of Myotex Industries.
Welcome to Taiwan.

2. Are you Mr. Blanks?

Yes, I am.

I'm Jane Placid. (We talked by telephone.)
Welcome to Sydney.
It's nice to meet you in person.

Nice meeting you too.

How was your flight?

Okay, but very long.

3. You must be Ms. Terius.

That's right.

It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Brad Wilson.
Welcome to Suntech.

Thank you

Did you have any problem finding this place?

No, your directions were very clear.

I clean the restrooms.