Posts tagged vocabulary
English Vocabulary Lesson: Basic Business English
Mar 4th
ABC Company was launched in 1999. At the time, it was a small firm, serving just local clientele. But business started booming, and ABC grew into an international powerhouse. ABC didn’t need to worry about the bottom line, because sales were strong and careful management kept overheads at a reasonable level. The results were amazing. Quarter after quarter, the profit grew and the company spent many years in the black.
Here is the key vocabulary and the definition in Basic English as the words are used here. Some of these words may have slightly different meanings in other situations.
- to launch (verb) means to start doing business
- firm (noun) means company or business
- clientele (noun) means the customers of the business
- boom (verb) to increase strongly
- powerhouse (noun) means a powerful, well known company
- bottom line (noun) means the final line on the financial report of the company. The bottom line shows the amount of the profit or loss of the business
- overhead (noun) is an expense of the company such as rent or payroll
- profit (noun) is sales minus expenses. If the company receives more money that it pays out, it makes a profit. If the company receives less money that it pays out, it makes a loss.
- in the black (noun) means the company has made a profit. If the company has made a loss, we say it is “in the red”
Thanks for studying today. I hope you find this vocabulary useful!
Hi Everyone!
I’m so excited to let you know that the Audio Program (Podcasts) is now available!
There are 11 podcasts, almost 1 hour of audio lessons.
Here is a sample of the audio:
Download the sample here
When you upload the podcast to your iPhone, iPod, or iPad, touch the screen to see the text of all of the lessons:
Tap the screeen of your iPod or iPad and see the lesson!
For a limited time, still just $5 for both the book and all 11 podcasts (almost 1 hour of my lessons).
Including…
- The DEFINITION of each phrasal verb.
- How to USE the phrasal verb.
- The STRUCTURE showing the grammar pattern of the phrasal verb.
- EXAMPLE sentences to see how the phrasal verb is used in context.
- A PRACTICE question to give you the chance to use the phrasal verb.
- ALMOST 1 HOUR of my audio lessons in 11 Podcasts explaining the meaning and giving examples of each phrasal verb!
Now, just $5 for the book and audio! Limited time offer
Click here for a FREE 15 page sample
Would you like to buy the complete 116 page book with all 109 Phrasal Verbs AND the 11 Audio Podcasts?
Click here to buy the book and 11 Audio Podcasts for just $5!
English Lesson & Quiz: Shopping Vocabulary
Jan 30th
We use "For Sale" when we sell a house or a car
Macy’s was having a sale yesterday, so I went there after work. It seemed like almost everything was on sale. I found a nice sweater that I liked. It was on sale too. It is usually $125, but it was 50% off! I just had to have it! The clerk said that the sweater was final sale, so I cannot return. Final sale means the store won’t give refunds, and you can’t exchange or return what you buy, so you need to be careful!
Here are the key expressions and vocabulary for today’s lesson:
a sale / on sale / for sale / 50% off / clerk / staff / refund / return / exchange
Do you know how to use these words? Have a look at today’s lesson and then take the quiz to check your understanding.
- Stores have a sale. A sale is a special event where items in the store have a cheaper price than usual. We use the structure [store] has a sale, like “Macy’s is having a sale today.”
- Items in a store can be on sale. This means that some certain item has a cheaper price than usual. We use the structure [item] is on sale, like “All sweaters are on sale today.”
- When something is for sale, it means you can buy it. The owner of the thing wants to sell it. We often see signs on cars and houses that are for sale. Since we generally use for sale on a sign, we use the structure [Item] For Sale, like, “Car For Sale” or just “For Sale.” In a sentence you can say something like, “I saw a car for sale today.”
- To talk about a discounted price, we often use a percentage off, like 50% off. The structure is [item] is OO% off like, “This sweater was 50% off today.”
- The person who works in a store that sells clothes, make up, shoes, etc. is a sales clerk, or just clerk. A clerk can help you shop and also works at the register. Other stores, like supermarkets, grocery stores, etc. have cashiers. A cashier works at the register only, and doesn’t help you shop.
- When you are not happy with what you bought you may want to return it. Return means bring back to the store. For example, I will return this sweater. It is too big.
- When you buy something, and realize it is the wrong color or size, you may want to exchange it. Exchange means change something for something else. The structure is exchange [A] for [B].
- When you return something, the store will refund your money. Refund means give money back. For example, “I would like to return this sweater. Is it possible to get a refund?”
*So, the customer returns the items, and the store refunds the customer’s money. The customer’s action is return. The clerk’s action is refund.
Are you ready to check your knowledge? Try today’s quiz, and then happy shopping!
Shopping Vocabulary
Congratulations - you have completed the Shopping Vocabulary Quiz.
You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%.
What's the result? Well, %%RATING%%
Question 1 |
staffs | |
clerks | |
cashiers |
Question 2 |
refund | |
exchange | |
return |
Question 3 |
on sale | |
a sale | |
for sale |
Question 4 |
exchange | |
refund | |
return |
Question 5 |
cashier | |
clerk | |
staff |
Question 6 |
on sale | |
a sale | |
for sale |
Question 7 |
a sale | |
30% off | |
50% on sale |
Question 8 |
refund | |
exchange | |
return |
Question 9 |
cashier | |
staff | |
clerk |
Question 10 |
a sale | |
on sale | |
for sale |
|
List |
NEW for 2012! 109 Phrasal Verbs – 116-page eBook
Including…
- The DEFINITION of each phrasal verb.
- How to USE the phrasal verb.
- The STRUCTURE showing the grammar pattern of the phrasal verb.
- EXAMPLE sentences to see how the phrasal verb is used in context.
- A PRACTICE question to give you the chance to use the phrasal verb.
Just $5!
Would you like a FREE 15-page sample? Click here for more information.
English Vocabulary Lesson: Job, Work, & Business
Oct 24th
A friend of mine is looking for a job. He used to work for a bank, but he lost his job when a new company bought the bank and downsized the office. Working in the finance industry seems like interesting work, but I heard it is hard to find a secure job. There are a lot of entry level jobs in the banking business, but not many people seem to work for the same company for a very long time. I guess that’s how business is these days.
These three words, job, work, and business are similar, but we use them differently. Do you know how to use them? Have a look at the paragraph above and then check today’s lesson:
Job is a countable noun and there are a few ways you can use job:
- A job is a task that one does:
- You did a nice job on the ABC project.
- I have several important jobs to do this week in the office.
- A job is also paid position for doing regular work:
- Jack has a job in a bank.
- Tommy has an interesting job in international marketing.
- Here are some typical questions we ask using job:
- How’s your new job?
- Do you think Tom did a good job on his presentation?
If you want to know someone’s job, you can ask, “What do you do?”
Work is a verb, but it is also a non-countable noun. Here are a few ways you can use work:
- Work is an activity requiring mental or physical activity
- You did nice work on the ABC project.
- I have a lot of work to do this week in the office.
· Work is also the place or industry where one is employed
- I have to go to work early tomorrow.
- International marketing is interesting work that involves a lot of travel.
- Here are some typical questions we ask using work:
- What kind of work do you do?
- You put a lot of work into that presentation, didn’t you?
Business is a noun and can have a countable or non-countable use:
- As a countable noun, business means the industry where one is employed
- Ted has worked in the insurance business all his life.
- The real estate business took a nosedive a few years ago.
- When we talk about the commerce in general, business is a non-countable collective noun:
- Business is not so good these days because of the economy.
- This new marketing campaign should help us drum up business
- Typical questions using business
- What line of business are you in?
- Do you think Tom enjoys the education business?
- How’s business?
So what do you do? Do you like your job? Is it hard work? Is it an interesting business to be in?
