Grammar 1
Make a sentence using the second conditional. What do you use it for?
Well done!
We use the second conditional for unlikely/hypothetical/imaginary situations.
Example: If I won the lottery, I would buy a yatch.
Make a sentence using the first conditional. What do you use it for?
Well done! :)
We use the first conditional for possible/likely situations in the present or near future.
Example: We won't have a picnic, if it rains.
Fill in the gaps using the words below:
make up your mind - reach a decision - invite for opinions - ignore - consensus - hierarchical structures
In many companies, communication follows 1. ____________________, where managers at the top give orders to staff below them. However, many modern leaders prefer to 2. ____________________ from their team before acting. They believe that listening to everyone helps the group 3. ____________________ more effectively.
Sometimes, managers must 4. ____________________ to reach 5. ____________________ where everyone agrees. This process can be slow, but it is important not to 6. ____________________ the concerns of team members.
Key:
In many companies, communication follows 1. HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURES, where managers at the top give orders to staff below them. However, many modern leaders prefer to 2. INVITE FOR OPINIONS from their team before acting. They believe that listening to everyone helps the group 3. REACH A DECISION more effectively.
Sometimes, managers must 4. MAKE UP THEIR MINDS to reach 5. CONSENSUS where everyone agrees. This process can be slow, but it is important not to 6. IGNORE the concerns of team members.
What would you say to place an order? (politely)
Possible answers:
I'd like to place an order - Could I place an order, please? - I was wondering whether I could place an order.
Make a wish using if and give a piece of advice using if
Answers:
- If only...
- If I were you, I'd...
Complete the following sentences with say or tell (use the correct tense):
Our manager 1. _______________ us that the project deadline was changed. He 2. _______________ that we needed to work faster to finish on time. I 3. _______________ to my colleague, "We might need some help with this."
She agreed and decided to 4. _______________ the boss about our concerns. The boss listened and 5. _______________, "Don't worry, I will get you more resources." He always 6. _______________ the truth, so we feel much better now.
Key:
Our manager 1. TOLD us that the project deadline was changed. He 2. SAID that we needed to work faster to finish on time. I 3. SAID to my colleague, "We might need some help with this."
She agreed and decided to 4. TELL the boss about our concerns. The boss listened and 5. SAID, "Don't worry, I will get you more resources." He always 6. TELLS the truth, so we feel much better now.
Complete the following sentences with quantifiers:
1- We haven't got _____ petrol. We need to stop and get some.
a- much
b- many
c- a little
2- We had ________ rain last autumn.
a- a few
b- many
c- a lot of
3- There was ________ food in the fridge. It was nearly empty, but we could make a salad.
a- a little
b- little
c- many
Answers:
1- We haven't got MUCH petrol. We need to stop and get some.
2- We had A LOT OF rain last autumn.
3- There was A LITTLE food in the fridge. It was nearly empty, but we could make a salad.
Fill in the gaps with the words below:
shares - dividends - potential investors - budding entrepreneurs
Many 1. ____________________ want to start their own companies. However, they usually need money to begin. To get this money, they pitch their ideas to 2. ____________________.
If these investors like the idea, they buy 3. ____________________ in the company. This gives them a part of the ownership. Later, when the business makes a profit, it pays 4. ____________________ back to the owners.
Key:
Many 1. BUDDING ENTREPRENEURS want to start their own companies. However, they usually need money to begin. To get this money, they pitch their ideas to 2. POTENTIAL INVESTORS.
If these investors like the idea, they buy 3. SHARES in the company. This gives them a part of the ownership. Later, when the business makes a profit, it pays 4. DIVIDENDS back to the owners.
What would you say to promise action on an order?
Possible answers:
I'll look into it immediately - I'll find out - I'll be as quick as I can.
What would you say to ask for details about an order?
Possible answers:
Do you have an account with us? - Can you tell me your account number? - When did you place your order? - How can I help you?
PARAPHRASE these sentences using too or enough:
1- I’m freezing. Why is the air conditioning on?
2- The staff are all chatting. We need to find them some more work to do.
3- I am thirsty. There is less than a cup of water.
Possible answers:
1- It's too cold for the air conditioning to be on / It's not hot enough to turn the air conditioning on
2- The staff doesn't have enough work to do, they are chatting / The staff is chatting too much, let's find them something to do
3- There isn't enough water for me to drink / I am too thirsty, I need more water
PARAPHRASE these sentences using too or enough:
1- Fifty people work in this room. It was designed for 35.
2- These files need about 100 GB. My laptop has 50 GB of spare memory.
3- The sun is very bright today. I can’t see my computer screen.
Possible answers:
1- This room is too small for 50 people / This room isn't big enough for 50 people
2- My laptop doesn't have enough memory for these files / These files are too big to be saved in my laptop
3- The sun is too bright, I can't see my computer screen / My computer screen is not bright enough (for me to see)
Fill in the sentences about projects and facilities at work with the correct adjectives or verbs:
1- I don't like my office, I think it's ___________ because it clearly has the style of the 80s.
2- Do you like to ____________ your products and know where they are and how many there are?
3- I absolutely love having lunch in the canteen, because it's a ___________ environment. You can really relax!
4- When you run out of a product, should you ___________ it if nobody buys it?
Answers:
1- I don't like my office, I think it's OLD-FASHIONED because it clearly has the style of the 80s.
2- Do you like to KEEP TRACK OF your products and know where they are and how many there are?
3- I absolutely love having lunch in the canteen, because it's a STRESS-FREE environment. You can really relax!
4- When you run out of a product, should you STOCK UP ON it if nobody buys it?
What would you say to explain what happened to an order?
Possible answers:
We put it (straight) to... - It says here that... - It was dispatched on...
Make a likely and unlikely prediction on your life (personal or work-related prediction) using the correct modal verb.
Likely prediction: might, may, could
Unlikely predictions: might not, may not
Fill in the gaps with a lot of, much, many, how much, how many.
1- There were ______ people in the streets.
2- Are there ________ new students this year?
3- There isn't _______ cheese left in the fridge.
4- ________ backpackers travel to the east coast every summer?
Answers:
1- There were A LOT OF people in the streets.
2- Are there MANY new students this year?
3- There isn't MUCH cheese left in the fridge.
4- HOW MANY backpackers travel to the east coast every summer?
Choose the correct option to complete the polite question:
1- I'd like to know ______.
a- how can I contact her
b- how I can contact her
c- how do I contact her
2- I was wondering ______ the recipe.
a- where you found
b- where did you find
c- where found you
3- Would you mind telling me ______?
a- how much did the sofa cost
b- how much cost the sofa
c- how much the sofa costs
Answers:
1- I'd like to know how I can contact her. (B)
2- I was wondering where you found the recipe.(A)
3- Would you mind telling me how much the sofa costs? (C)
Think of 5 adjectives to describe your favourite place at work and describe it!
*Extra challenge for an additional 50 points: make one sentence with too and one sentence with enough while describing your favourite place.
Possible answers:
Spacious - Fully-equipped - stress-free - state-of-the-art - open-plan - comfortable - futuristic
What would you say to express doubt about a recommendation someone has made?
Possible answers:
Sorry, but I don't think that would work. - I'm not sure. - I have some reservations about...
Make these questions more polite!
1- Have you finished your report yet? (I was wondering)
2- Why can't you help your new colleague? (Can you tell me...)
3- What is our new boss like? (Would you mind telling me...)
Answers:
1- I was wondering if you have finished your report yet
2- Can you tell me why you can't help your colleague?
3- Would you mind telling me what our new boss is like?
Imagine you want to ship handmade goods from London to New York, you have to make a phone call to the shipping firm for a quote. What polite questions would you make? You have doubts about:
- the size of containers
- the price per container
- the approximate time for shipment
- insurance
Well done!
Make these questions sound more polite.
Use these polite phrases:
1- How often should she take these vitamins? (Did the doctor tell you...)
2- How long have you been living here? (Can I ask you...)
3- How many countries has he travelled to? (I wonder...)
Answers:
1- Did the doctor tell you how often she should take these vitamins?
2- Can I ask you how long you have been living here?
3- I wonder how many countries he has travelled to.
Talk about a product's supply chain using the following words:
stock up on - retailer - supply chain - raw materials - handmade - middleman
Well done! :)
What would you say to make a suggestion about making the office bigger? (politely)
Possible answers:
How about making...? - Why don't we make...? - Maybe we should make...? - Perhaps we could make...? - Couldn't we make...? - Have you thought about making...?
Deliver a two-minute presentation about a project. Remember to include an introduction, a body and a conclusion.
In the introduction, introduce yourself and your topic and deliver the signpost.
In the body, develop the topic you included in the signpost.
In the conclusion, make a summary of your previous ideas, invite for questions, and thank the audience for listening.
Well done! :)
Useful expressions:
Introducing yourself: Hello, everyone, my name is... - I'm in charge of / I deal with... - For those of you who don't know me, I'm... I work as...
Signposting: Today, I'll be discussing/talking about/dealing with A, B and C. - Today's topic is...
Sliders for body: regarding, in regards to, when it comes to, about..., etc
Conclusion: in conclusion, to conclude, to sum up, as a summary
Thanking the audience: Thanks for your attention/for coming