Business is also about relationships: welcoming visitors, small talk, lunch, invitations, and fixing appointments.
| Question | Possible answer |
|---|---|
| Is this your first visit to Morocco? | Yes, it is. / Actually, this is my fourth time. |
| How was your flight? | Very good, thank you. / A bit long, but fine. |
| Where are you staying? | At the Farah Hotel. |
| What do you think of Marrakech? | It's quite hot, but the people are very nice. |
| Do you like Moroccan food? | Yes, I love it. I love spicy food. |
| Traffic is never good around here. | I agree. |
© TSC COMMERCE – OTHMAN ZT · Cours protégé, reproduction interdite
| Offering / inviting | Saying yes | Saying no |
|---|---|---|
| Would you like a coffee? / some tea? | Yes, please. / I'd love one. | No, thanks. / It looks lovely, but… |
| Would you like to come to dinner on Friday? | Thank you, I'd like that. / That would be lovely. | I'd love to, but… / I'm sorry, but I'm busy. |
| How about having lunch together? (informal) | That's a good idea. / Great! | Well, actually… / I'm afraid… |
At the restaurant: « What do you suggest? » ; « I'll have the fish. » ; « Salmon for me. » ; « Could we have the bill, please? »
| Function | Phrases |
|---|---|
| Suggesting a time | Can you make Thursday at 2? / How about Monday morning? / Are you free on the 26th? |
| Accepting | Yes, that suits me. / That's fine. |
| Refusing | I'm afraid I can't make it. / I'm tied up on Thursday. |
| Making / cancelling / postponing | I'd like to make an appointment with… / I'm afraid I have to cancel our meeting. / Could we postpone our appointment until next week? |
| Confirming | I'm writing to confirm our meeting on 12 May at 10 a.m. |
Tenses: present simple for timetables (« The train leaves at 11.20 ») ; present continuous for personal arrangements (« Mr Gruber is meeting the Sales Manager at 9.05 »).
| Time | Programme for Mr Gruber, 25 July |
|---|---|
| 9.00 | Arrival |
| 9.05 – 9.45 | Meeting with the Overseas Sales Manager (conference room) |
| 10.15 – 10.45 | Company presentation |
| 11.45 – 12.40 | Meeting with the Managing Director (boardroom) |
| 12.40 – 2.30 | Lunch with the Overseas Sales Manager |
| 2.30 – 3.30 | Factory tour |
| 4.00 | Car to the airport ; 6.00 flight to Frankfurt |
« What is Mr Gruber doing at 9.05? — He's meeting the Overseas Sales Manager. »
© TSC COMMERCE – OTHMAN ZT · Cours protégé, reproduction interdite
1. Do you like Moroccan food? 2. Is this your first time in Morocco? 3. Traffic is never good around here. 4. What do you think of Marrakech? 5. How is your hotel? 6. Where are you staying? — a. I agree. b. Not too bad. c. It's quite hot but the people are very nice. d. At Farah Hotel. e. Actually this is my fourth time. f. Yes, I love it.
1-f ; 2-e ; 3-a ; 4-c ; 5-b ; 6-d.
a. How about the food here? Do you like it? b. No, it was my third time actually. c. I love it. I love spicy food. d. Is this your first time in India?
d → b → a → c.
Mr Nakagawa (Tokyo) arrives at Heathrow, Terminal 3, on 16 June and asks you to book a hotel and arrange a meeting with Datalink on 17 June. You are Janet Jefferies: write the reply (you will meet him at 16.35, you booked a single room at the Dorchester Hotel for three nights, the meeting with Datalink is on 17 June at 10 a.m.).
« Dear Mr Nakagawa, thank you for your fax of 10 June. I will meet you at Heathrow, Terminal 3, at 16.35 on 16 June. As requested, I have booked a single room for you at the Dorchester Hotel for three nights ; please let me know if your wife is travelling with you, so that I can change the booking. I have also arranged your meeting with Datalink on 17 June at 10 a.m. I look forward to seeing you next week. Kind regards, Janet Jefferies »
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