Business English Communication Prepositions & Determiners- Pairwork Speaking Game

Business communication prepositions and determiners pairwork speaking game

Student A

Choose one section below and read out sentences without saying the word in bold (e.g. “I will give recommendations BLANK dot dot dot” or “BEEP first problem with this is its price”) until your partner guesses the missing word. They can only guess once per sentence. If you run out of example sentences without them guessing correctly, give them other hints, or make up more example sentences. You can use the same section more than once if you haven’t used all the examples there yet.

 

A

Do you have a business card?

Have a good weekend.

Hmm, that’s a difficult question.

Hope you had a good weekend.

I also have a question about…

I think I can suggest a compromise.

It was a pleasure to meet you.
It’s a deal.

Just a minute. I’m looking for the information now.

Just a moment while I write that down.

Please take a seat.

Sorry, I can’t hear you very well. Can you speak a little more loudly?

Sorry, could you possibly speak a little more slowly?

That’s a pity./ That’s a shame.

 

About

How about splitting the difference?

I’m afraid I have another meeting at that time. What about Friday afternoon?

I’m phoning about the marketing plan.

I’m writing to you about our meeting next week.

John, what do you think about that?

We’ll think about it.

You also asked us about the possibility of…

 

At

If you look at page 73, you will see…

This is Steve. John and Jane are also here. Can I check who’s at that end?

What are you working on at the moment?

 

Back

Yes, please. Can you ask him to call me back?

Can I check that back?/ Can I read that back?

 

Any

Anyway, we have to leave this room at six, so shall we get started?

Did you have any problems finding us?/ Did you have any trouble getting here?

Do you have any other meetings today?

Do you have any plans for the weekend?

I won’t keep you any longer.

If you have any questions, I’ll be very happy to answer them now.

If you need any more information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Is there anything else that we need to discuss?

I’d like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.

There don’t seem to be any more questions, so I’ll stop there.

 

Down

Sorry, could you write that down for me?

Well, it’s been great to chat but let’s get down to business, shall we?

 

From

I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

I’m afraid she’s away from her desk. Would you like to leave a message?

 

In

I am writing to you in connection with…

In answer to your second question,…

Let’s speak again in two weeks.

Sorry, can I come in here?

Thanks for taking part in today’s meeting.

Thanks in advance.

What time is it now in New York?

 

Your

Does that answer your question?

How has your day been (so far)?/ How has your week been (so far)?

How was your flight?

How was your weekend?

I look forward to your call.

Okay. I’ll make sure that he gets your message./ I’ll pass your message on to him.

Thank you for your quick reply.

Thanks for all your great contributions.

Thanks for your email.

Thanks for your help.

Yes, what’s your question, please?

 

With

We were very sorry to hear about your problems with our products.

I hope that is acceptable with you.

Can I help you with anything else today?

 

Switch worksheets with your partner and do the same activity again, this time making sure that you start with the most difficult examples (because they have already seen those examples).

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Student B

Choose one section below and read out sentences without saying the word in bold (e.g. “I will give recommendations BLANK dot dot dot” or “BEEP first problem with this is its price”) until your partner guesses the missing word. They can only guess once per sentence. If you run out of example sentences without them guessing correctly, give them other hints, or make up more example sentences. You can use the same section more than once if you haven’t used all the examples there yet.

 

For

Have you finished for today?

Hi Jon. Thanks for phoning me back.

I’ll schedule another teleconference for the week after next.

I’m afraid that is a little too low for us.

Sorry for my late reply.

Thanks for calling.

Well then, what can I do for you today?

 

My

Can I introduce you to one of my colleagues?

I’ll do my best.

I’m Alex and my colleagues Steve and Geoff are here too.

I’m Helen Armstrong, the head of HR, and this is my colleague James Hadfield.

 

Of

I’m afraid we’ve run out of time.

Last of all, I was wondering if you could tell me…

Of course. Please go ahead.

 

On

I think we’ve already been quite generous on this.

It seems that we both agree on this.

I’d love to come, but unfortunately I’m flying to America on that day.

I’ll let you get on, then.

I’m afraid he’s on another line. Can I take a message?

Okay, I can be flexible on that./ I can move on that.

I can shake on that.

 

Some

Could you possibly send me some information on…?

I’d also like some information about…

See you again sometime.

We’re having some problems with the equipment.

 

The

All the best

How’s the weather over there now?

If you have any questions, I’ll be happy to answer them at the end.

Is this the right place for the new English course?

I’m afraid that’s the best I can do.

Let’s move on to the next point on the agenda.

Please find the agenda attached.

Please hold the line. I’ll check if he’s available.

Sorry, I didn’t catch the last thing that you said.

Sorry, can you spell the last word for me?

That brings me to the end of my presentation.

The topic of my presentation is…

 

This

Is this seat free?

Thanks for coming to this presentation so early in the morning.

Is this your first time in Tokyo?

 

To

Great to see you again.

I hope we have the chance to meet again soon. 

It was lovely to see you again.

It’s so nice to finally meet you.

Okay. I’m willing to accept that.

Okay. Speak to you then.

Pleased to meet you.

Sorry to interrupt.

This is Alex. Can I speak to Mr Jones, please?

To summarise our discussion,…

Turning to the second topic,…

We regret to inform you that…

We seem to have covered everything.

Yes, what would you like to know?

 

Up

It’s been nice to catch up, but we have a lot to get through today, so shall we get started?

Someone else is waiting to use this room, so we’d better wrap things up there.

To sum up what we’ve agreed,…

 

- (= nothing)

See you – tomorrow

How’s – business?

I’d like to meet – next week, if you are available then.

See you – next week.

That’s – great news.

Switch worksheets with your partner and do the same activity again, this time making sure that you start with the most difficult examples (because they have already seen those examples).

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Brainstorming stage

Without looking above, try to write at least two suitable phrases in each section below.

Starting

Meeting people/ Starting conversations

 

 

 

 

Small talk/ Social language at the start

 

 

 

 

Starting teleconferences

 

 

 

 

Starting telephone calls

 

 

 

 

Starting emails (opening lines, after “Dear Mr…” etc)

 

 

 

 

Starting presentations

 

 

 

 

Ending small talk/ Getting down to business

 

 

 

 

Body (of the email, call, conversation, presentation, etc)

Requests

 

 

 

Talking about documents

 

 

 

Moving on/ Changing topics

 

 

 

Turn taking (interrupting, etc)

 

 

 

Asking people to wait

 

 

 

Dictation/ Taking and leaving messages

 

 

 

Checking/ Clarifying/ Dealing with communication problems

 

 

 

Making arrangements (fixing meetings, etc)

 

 

 

Apologising/ Dealing with complaints/ Giving bad news

 

 

 

Asking for information/ Enquiries

 

 

 

Giving information/ Answering enquiries

 

 

 

Negotiating – making proposals

 

 

 

Negotiating – positive responses

 

 

 

Negotiating – negative responses

 

Ending

Ending presentations (Q&A, etc)

 

 

 

 

Summarising

 

 

 

 

Checking that you have finished

 

 

 

 

Finishing conversations

 

 

 

 

Ending telephone calls

 

 

 

 

Ending emails

 

 

 

 

Ending meetings

 

 

 

Small talk/ Social language at the end

 

 

 

Mentioning the next contact between you

 

 

 

Look above for ideas, brainstorm more, then compare with the phrases below.

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Suggested answers

Meeting people/ Starting conversations

Is this seat free?

Is this the right place for the new English course?

 

Small talk/ Social language at the start

Did you have any problems finding us?/ Did you have any trouble getting here?

Great to see you again.

How has your day been (so far)?/ How has your week been (so far)?

How was your flight?

How was your weekend?

How’s – business?

I’m Helen Armstrong, the head of HR, and this is my colleague James Hadfield.

Is this your first time in Tokyo?

It’s so nice to finally meet you.

Please take a seat.

Pleased to meet you.

That’s – great news.

That’s a pity./ That’s a shame.

What are you working on at the moment?

 

Starting teleconferences

How’s the weather over there now?

I’m Alex and my colleagues Steve and Geoff are here too.

This is Steve. John and Jane are also here. Can I check who’s at that end?

We’re having some problems with the equipment.

What time is it now in New York?

 

Starting telephone calls

Hi Jon. Thanks for phoning me back.

I’m phoning about the marketing plan.

This is Alex. Can I speak to Mr Jones, please?

 

Starting emails (opening lines, after “Dear Mr…” etc)

Hope you had a good weekend.

I am writing to you in connection with…

I’m writing to you about our meeting next week.

Sorry for my late reply.

Thank you for your quick reply.

Thanks for your email.

 

Starting presentations

If you have any questions, I’ll be happy to answer them at the end.

Thanks for coming to this presentation so early in the morning.

The topic of my presentation is…

 

Ending small talk/ Getting down to business

Anyway, we have to leave this room at six, so shall we get started?

It’s been nice to catch up, but we have a lot to get through today, so shall we get started?

Well, it’s been great to chat but let’s get down to business, shall we?

Well then, what can I do for you today?

 

Requests

Could you possibly send me some information on…?

Would it be possible for you to…?

 

Talking about documents

If you look at page 73, you will see…

Please find the agenda attached.

 

Moving on/ Changing topics

Let’s move on to the next point on the agenda.

Turning to the second topic,…

 

Turn taking (interrupting, etc)

John, what do you think about that?

Of course. Please go ahead.

Sorry to interrupt.

Sorry, can I come in here?

 

Asking people to wait

Just a moment while I write that down.

Just a minute. I’m looking for the information now.

Please hold the line. I’ll check if he’s available.

 

Dictation/ Taking and leaving messages

Can I check that back?/ Can I read that back?

I’ m afraid she’s away from her desk. Would you like to leave a message?

I’m afraid he’s on another line. Can I take a message?

Okay. I’ll make sure that he gets your message./ I’ll pass your message on to him.

Yes, please. Can you ask him to call me back?

 

Checking/ Clarifying/ Dealing with communication problems

Sorry, I can’t hear you very well. Can you speak a little more loudly?

Sorry, I didn’t catch the last thing that you said.

Sorry, can you spell the last word for me?

Sorry, could you possibly speak a little more slowly?

Sorry, could you write that down for me?

 

Making arrangements (fixing meetings, etc)

I’d like to meet – next week, if you are available then.

I’d love to come, but unfortunately I’m flying to America on that day.

I’m afraid I have another meeting at that time. What about Friday afternoon?

Apologising/ Dealing with complaints/ Giving bad news

I’d like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.

We regret to inform you that…

We were very sorry to hear about your problems with our products.

 

Asking for information/ Enquiries

I also have a question about…

I’d also like some information about…

Last of all, I was wondering if you could tell me…

 

Giving information/ Answering enquiries

In answer to your second question,…

You also asked us about the possibility of…

 

Negotiating – making proposals

How about splitting the difference?

I think I can suggest a compromise.

 

Negotiating – positive responses

It’s a deal.

Okay, I can be flexible on that./ I can move on that.

Okay. I’m willing to accept that.

I can shake on that.

 

Negotiating – negative responses

I think we’ve already been quite generous on this.

I’ll do my best.

I’m afraid that is a little too low for us.

I’m afraid that’s the best I can do.

We’ll think about it.

 

Ending presentations (Q&A, etc)

Does that answer your question?

Hmm, that’s a difficult question.

If you have any questions, I’ll be very happy to answer them now.

That brings me to the end of my presentation.

There don’t seem to be any more questions, so I’ll stop there.

Yes, what would you like to know?

Yes, what’s your question, please?

 

Summarising

To sum up what we’ve agreed,…

To summarise our discussion,…

 

Checking that you have finished

Is there anything else that we need to discuss?

We seem to have covered everything.

 

Finishing conversations

Can I introduce you to one of my colleagues?

Do you have a business card?

I won’t keep you any longer.

I’ll let you get on, then.

 

Ending telephone calls

Can I help you with anything else today?

Thanks for your help.

Thanks for calling.

 

Ending emails

All the best

I hope that is acceptable with you.

If you need any more information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks in advance.

 

Ending meetings

It seems that we both agree on this.

I’m afraid we’ve run out of time.

Someone else is waiting to use this room, so we’d better wrap things up there.

Thanks for all your great contributions.

Thanks for taking part in today’s meeting.

 

Small talk/ Social language at the end

Have you finished for today?

Do you have any other meetings today?

Do you have any plans for the weekend?

Have a good weekend.

It was a pleasure to meet you.
It was lovely to see you again.

 

Mentioning the next contact between you

I hope we have the chance to meet again soon. 

I look forward to your call.

See you – tomorrow.

I’ll schedule another teleconference for the week after next.

Let’s speak again in two weeks.

Okay. Speak to you then.

See you again sometime.

See you – next week.

 

Choose one section above, say the heading, then help your partner complete all the sentences in it with blanked sentences, etc.