BUSINESS

PHRASAL
VERBS

1 Reading

In pairs, read the conversation below.

Conversation A
A: Patrice mentioned an interesting idea at yesterday’s meeting. She said we should reduce our
online advertising expenses by creating a company blog on our website.
B: Really? How would that work?
A: Well, there are many benefits. People will unexpectedly find our blog articles on the internet
and we will get more visitors to our website.
B: I see. And they will learn more about our company and we might get some new clients. What
are the other benefits?
A: Well, our existing clients will be able to stay informed about our latest activities and
promotions. The blog will be our new customer relations channel.
B: Great. But who will write the articles?
A: All our top managers and specialists.
B: That will consume a lot of their time.
A: Yes, it will. But in the end, it will be worth it.

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 Now read this version:

Conversation B
A: Patrice brought up an interesting idea at yesterday’s meeting. She said we should cut down
on our online advertising expenses by creating a company blog on our website.
B: Really? How would that work?
A: Well, there are many benefits. People will come across our blog articles on the internet and
we will get more visitors to our website.
B: I see. And they will find out more about our company and we might get some new clients.
What are the other benefits?
A: Well, our existing clients will be able to keep up with our latest activities and promotions.
The blog will be our new customer relations channel.
B: Great. But who will write the articles?
A: All our top managers and specialists.
B: That will take up a lot of their time.
A: Yes, it will. But in the end, it will be worth it.

Which conversation sounds more formal? Which sounds more natural?

2 Practice

Now complete the questions below with the phrasal verbs from Conversation B in the correct form.

1. How do you the latest news in your industry? (stay informed about)
2. How do customers about your company? (learn)
3. Have you ever something you thought you had lost? (found unexpectedly)
4. Which tasks a lot of time in your work? (consume)
5. How does your company expenses? (reduce)

Ask and answer your partner the questions, then report your answers to the class.

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3 Common phrasal verbs in business

In pairs, look at the sentences below. Match the phrasal verbs to their meaning without using a
dictionary. Try to discover their meaning from the context.

1. I get along with all my coworkers. I don’t have a problem with anyone.
2. I can’t meet you on Wednesday. Can we put off the meeting till Friday?
3. I’m afraid I have to call off our meeting. I’m really busy today.
4. I’m sorry to hear that the goods didn’t arrive. I’ll look into it right away.
5. I usually try to catch up on overdue tasks at the end of the week.
6. In order to make everything legal, the lawyers decided to draw up an agreement.
7. Don’t show up late for the meeting! The boss won’t be happy.
8. The internet connection wasn’t working, so I had to do without email for a day.
9. James has to deal with outside partners as part of his job as a project coordinator.
10. I still have a lot of work to finish up.

a. arrive
b. cancel
c. complete
d. do something that you did not have time to do earlier
e. find out what happened
f. have a good relationship with
g. manage without something
h. postpone
i. prepare (a contract, etc.)
j. talk to or meet someone as part of your job

4 Find someone who ...

Now complete the questions:
1. Do you sometimes things until the last minute?
2. Have you ever had to something important at work?
3. Have you ever late for a meeting? What happened?
4. Do you customers as part of your job?
5. Do you need to contracts in your work?
6. Do you usually overdue tasks at the beginning or the end of the week?
7. Have you ever an important meeting at work? What happened?

One-to-one and small classes: Work with a partner. Ask and answer the questions. Find out more
information.
Larger classes: Ask your classmates the questions and find a person who fits the sentences on the
next page. Report your findings to the class.

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5 Homework and review

Write 10 original sentences about you using any of the phrasal verbs from this lesson.

You must review the phrasal verbs from this lesson in order to remember them. Write down the more
difficult phrasal verbs in a notebook and try to study them at least once a week.

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Find someone who ...
sometimes puts things off until the last minute.

had to do without his/her at work.

showed up late for a meeting because . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. ..........................................................................................

deals with customers as part of his/her job.

had to call off an important meeting because . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. ..........................................................................................

needs to draw up contracts in his/her work.

usually catches up on overdue tasks at the beginning of the week.

usually catches up on overdue tasks at the end of the week.

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