Meeting a business partner

In business, people have to deal in person with all kinds of people. You may have to use English when talking to different people within your company who don’t speak your language: these may be your colleagues or co-workers, superiors or subordinates – who may work with you in your own department, in another part of the building or in another branch. And you may also have to deal in English with people from outside the organization: clients, suppliers, visitors and members of the public. Moreover, these people may be friends, acquaintances or strangers – people of your own age, or people who are younger or older than you. The relationship you have with a person determines the kind of language you use.

This relationship may even affect what you say when you meet people: for example, it’s not appropriate to say “Hi, how are you!” when meeting the Managing Director of a large company or to say “Good morning, it’s a great pleasure to meet you” when being introduced to a person you’ll be working closely with in the same team.

Remember that people form an impression of you from the way you speak and behave – not just from the way you do your work. People in different countries have different ideas of what sounds friendly, polite or sincere – and of what sounds rude or unfriendly! Good manners in your culture may be considered bad manners in another.

Remember also that your body language, gestures and expression may tell people more about you than the words you use.

Greetings

1.

Formal Semi – formal Informal

Good morning Good afternoon Good evening Morning. Afternoon. Evening. Hello. Hi.

Until lunch time 12-2 p.m Until 5-6 p.m Until 11 p.m

2.

Formal Semi-formal Informal

How are you? How are you getting on? I am very/fairly/quite well, thank you. Fine, thanks. Not too/so bad, thank you. All right, thank you. OK, thanks. A bit tired.

3.

Formal Semi-formal Informal

And how are you? What about you? And you? How’s life? How are things with you?

- Not very/too well, I’m afraid. – Oh, dear, sorry to hear that. - I’m afraid, I’m not well today. I’ve got a bad cold.

Leavetaking

Pre – closing phrases

Formal Semi-formal Informal

Well, I must be going. I’m afraid I must be going. It’s time I was going. I’d better be going. I must be off now. Well, I think I’d better go now. I’m in a bit of a hurry. It’s been nice seeing you. Hope to see you again. Nice meeting you. See you then. See you.

Closing phrases

Formal Semi-formal Informal

Good-bye. (Good) bye for now. Bye then. Bye-bye. Cheerio. All the best. Good luck.

Illustrative Dialogues

1. Formal

Mr. Jones: Good morning, Mr. Smith.

Mr. Smith: Good morning. How are you?

Mr. Jones: Very well, thank you. And you?

Mr. Smith: Quite well, thank you.

2. Semi-formal, informal

* * *

Chris: Hello, Jenny.

Jenny: Hello, Chris. How are you?

Chris: Fine, thanks. What about you?

Jenny: Oh, not too bad.

* * *

David: Hello.

Jean: Hello, David. How are you getting on?

David: All right, thanks. And how are things with you?

David: Oh, more or less the same as usual.

3. Formal

* * *

Mr. Adams: I’m afraid I must be going.

Mr. Brent: Must you really?

Mr. Adams: Yes, I’m afraid so. I’ve got some urgent work to do.

Mr. Brent: Well, I won’t keep you then.

Mr. Adams: Good-bye.

Mr. Brent: Good-bye. Remember me to your wife.

Mr. Adams: Thank you. I will.

4. Semi-formal, informal

* * *

Susan: Well, I must be off now.

Mary: Stay and have a cup of coffee first.

Susan: Thanks very much but I really must go. I’ve got an interview for a job tomorrow morning.

Mary: Oh. Well, you’d better go to bed early then.

Susan: Yes. Well, cheerio then.

Mary: Bye. And good luck.

Susan: Thanks. I’ll let you know how I get on.

* * *

Andrew: I’ve come to say good-bye.

Roger: When are you off?

Andrew: My plane leaves at 12.30 tomorrow.

Roger: Well, have a good journey.

Andrew: Thanks. Good-bye.

Roger: Bye. Keep in touch.

Andrew: I will. And thanks for everything.

Roger: Don’t mention it. Well, all the best.

Andrew: Thanks. Bye-bye.

Exercise 1. Complete the four conversations. Use the phrases in the box.

(a) it was very nice meeting you. (b) Good to see you again. (c) …let me introduce you… (d) Pleased to meet you.

(e) I look forward to seeing you in Kyiv. (f) How do you do? (g) May I introduce myself? (h) How’s life?

* * *

Peter: Harry, (1) … to Julie Foster. Julie, this is Harry Wilson. Harry, this is Julie Foster.

Julie: Hello. (2) …

Harry: Pleased to meet you, too.

* * *

Mr. Shaw: Excuse me, are you Mrs. Price?

Mrs. Price: Yes, that’s right.

Mr. Shaw: (3) ….. I’m Robert Shaw.

Mrs. Price: How do you do?

Mr. Shaw: (4) …..

* * *

Joe: Hello, Bob. How are you getting on?

Bob: Fine, thanks, Joe. (5) ……

Joe: Nice to see you, too. How’s family?

Bob: They’re all very well. (6) ……

Joe: Oh, not too bad, but very busy.

* * *

Tom: I’m afraid I must go now.

Peter: Well, (7) ………

Tom: I really enjoyed meeting you, too.

Peter: (8)………

Tom: I do, too. See you soon.

Forms of Address

The most frequently used forms of address are:

Mister (Mr) - to a man e.g. Mister Johnson, Mr Smith

Mistress (Mrs) - to a married woman e.g. Mrs Joseph, Mrs Green

Miss - to unmarried woman e.g. Miss Dee, Miss White

Ms [miz] - to a woman not depending on her marital status e.g. Ms Lee

Doctor (Dr) a) to a medical doctor e.g. Doctor (use alone)

b) to a person with a degree of Doctor of Philosophy or Doctor of

Science (the surname is always included) e.g. Dr Brown

Sir - to a man

Madam - to a woman (ma’am)

Officer - to a policeman

Father - to a priest

My Lord - to a peer, to a bishop, a British judge

Professor - to a University teacher at the highest level

Ladies and Gentlemen - as a formal opening of a speech

If you want to know the place of work and living of a person you are talking to you may use such phrases:

Where are you from? Where’s she from? Where’s he from? What company are you from? What country are you from?

I’m from Ukraine. She is from Kyiv. He’s from Ukrforestry. I’m from Forestry Equipment. I’m from the USA.

Exercise 2. Choose the best answer.

1. When you address a middle-aged man whose name you do not know, you say:

1. Mister; b) Sir; c) Excuse me, please.

2. If it is a woman, you say:

a) Madam; b) Lady; c) Ms; d) Excuse me, please.

2. If you want to address an American tourist (Mrs Jane Hardy) whom you have known for a few days, you say:

a) Madam; b) Mrs Hardy; c) Jane.

2. If you want to address an eminent British scientist (Doctor John Lonsdale), aged 50, you say:

1. Mr Lonsdale; b) Dr Lonsdale; c) Doctor; d) John.

2. If you want to address a visiting English teacher called Helen Parker, aged 25-30 (unmarried), you call her:

1. Helen; b) Miss Helen; c) Miss Parker; d) Miss.

Exercise 3. Complete the dialogue.

1. A.: Bob Crawford?

B.:………………..

2. A.: Hello. I’m Helen Kirby from General Technologies. How do you do?

B.: ……………………….

3. A.: It’s a pleasure. Did you have a good trip?

B.: ………………………

4. A.: Oh, let me introduce you to Charlie Vitto. He’s our financial manager.

B. ………………………………

Exercise 4.

1. Introduce the staff of your company, using phrases:

Let me introduce my staff to you. This is ……….. .

He (She) is ……………… .

I’d like you to meet ……………. . He (She) is …………… .

May I introduce ……………… to you. He (She) is …………… .

2. Ask a representative of a foreign firm:

1. What company he represents; about his official position in the company; what country he comes from.

2. If he would like something to drink, offer him a cup of coffee (tea, juice).

3. Ask him about his plans for tomorrow; fix an appointment for tomorrow; say “good-bye”.

Exercise 5. Make up your own dialogues using the questions from Exercise 4.

Exercise 6. Which of the following do you think are important to make a good conversation? Tick your choices and add suggestions.

1. listen carefully

2. give only “yes” or “no” answers

3. show interest and ask questions

4. both listen and talk

5. answer questions and add extra information

6. only ask questions if you are the host

7. ……………………………….

8. ……………………………….

9. ……………………………….

10. ……………………………….