Lesson Materials PDF

GRANDLINE PHILIPPINES CORPORATION
#2503 CITYLAND HERRERA TOWER, VALERO ST. SALCEDO VILLAGE, MAKATI
INDEX
Self- Introduction and Socializing ______________ 2
Giving Advice and Making Suggestions
Stating Expectations and Obligations ___________ 5
Stating Complaints
Accepting and Declining Invites _______________ 8
Telephoning ____________________________ 11
Negotiations ___________________________ 15
Understanding Graphs and Figures ___________ 21
Meetings ______________________________ 27
Presentations___________________________ 32
Public Speaking_________________________ 33
Commonly Misused and Confusing
Vocabulary in English____________________ 39

SELF-INTRODUCTION AND SOCIALIZING

INTRODUCING YOURSELF
An introduction must have:
1. Name or how you would like to be called
2. Occupation
3. Purpose for introducing yourself
4. Hobbies and/or interests (optional)
5. Your traits or special qualities (optional)
For example: Hi, my name is John Kennedy. Please call me J. I am a manager at an
accounting firm. I would like to discuss our services with you today.
SOCIALIZING
A. Levels of Formality in the English Language
HIGHLY FORMAL
FORMAL
INFORMAL
Used when you are talking

to:

to:

to:
Seniors
Prominent People
Officials
Authorities
Heads
Leaders
Strangers / Audience
(Speeches)
Acquaintances
Colleagues
Teachers
Juniors
Relatives
Workforce
Close friends
Family members
Peers

Characteristics:
Characteristics:
Characteristics:
Use of complex sentences,

indirect questions, modals
such as could and would
rather than can and will
will,, full
forms instead of contractions
(should not, shouldnt),
frequent use of the passive
voice, frequent use of long
words with Latin or Greek
roots
Use of simpler sentences,

active rather than passive
voice, factual rather than
emotional language, limited
use of complex language,
limited use of slang
Use of simple, often

grammatically incomplete
sentences, active voice,
emotional language,
personal opinion humour,
slang, idioms and clichs,
exclamations
Sample:
Sample:
Sample:
Exceedingly large segments

of the population are
expressing their discontent
with medical practitioners
who appear to be more
engrossed in amassing
financial assets than in
providing efficacious care to
people with health
disorders.
A large number of
consumers are complaining
about medical doctors who
are apparently more
interested in making money
than in provide effective
health care.
A lot of people are unhappy

with their doctors who only
seem to care about how
much money they make, and
not about giving their
patients good care
CONVERSATION STARTERS:
Time, Date or Season
Location
Weather
Popular culture
Latest news
Upcoming events
RESPONDING TO QUESTIONS:
1. Listen and understand the question
2. Pause and think of your answer
3. Credit the person for the question
4. Respond to the Question
5. Answer in complete sentences, use formal language
6. Be honest with your answer

7. Bridge your answer. "Does that answer your question?

question?
8. Allow follow-up questions
USEFUL PHRASES FOR INTRODUCING YOURSEFL AND SOCIALIZING
A. GREETINGS
Common Greetings
Hello! Hi!
How are you doing?
How's your day?
How's it going?
Nice to meet you!
Good to see you!
Long time no see!
It's been a long time
Business or Formal Greetings
Good morning! Good afternoon! Good evening!
Its nice to meet you
Pleased to meet you
How have you been?
How do you do?
I am looking forward to working with you.
B. INTRODUCTIONS
Nice to meet you. My name is...
Nice to meet you. I am...
I like cooking and playing tennis.
I am very interested in History. What about you?
I am looking forward to working with you.
I am very honored to meet you.
C. PARTINGS
It is really nice to meet you.
thank you very much for your time.
I am truly sorry, but I have an appointment.
I shall talk to you again.
I hope i can see you again soon.
It was truly an honor to meet you

GIVING ADVICE AND MAKING SUGGESTIONS

STATING EXPECTATIONS AND OBLIGAITONS
GIVING ADVICE AND MAKING SUGGESTIONS
Take note:
Advicce - noun (She gave him advice.)
Advisse - verb (She advised him to go home.)
Plural form of Advice
Use "Pieces of Advice" instead of "Advices"
Difference between Giving Advice and Making Suggestions:
Giving Advice - the person who gave the advice expects that the person who asked for
advice would follow; has more expectation; stronger , persuasive tone (I think you
should...); Uses direct pronouns such as "you"
Making Suggestion - just encouragement; has less expectation; gentler tone (Let's do
this...)
Useful Phrases
Asking for help
I've got a bad toothache. What do you suggest?
What do you advise me to do?
What should I do?
What ought I to do?
What's your advice?
If you were me what would you do?
Making Suggestions
I suggest you do this
How about we investigate the issue first, and then
Let
Lets revise our project proposal.
What abou
about going to the cinema tonight?
Why don't we do our homework?
Couldn't we invite your grandmother to our party?
Shall we have a walk along the river?
What would you say to a cup of coffee?
Don't you think it is a good idea to watch TV?
Does it matter if we use your car?
Would you mind if I tell you to change this part here?
I encourage you to enroll into this program.
Giving Advice

If I were you, I would go to the doctor.

Why don't you go to the dentist?
You'd better pay your bills now.
You ought to let her make her own decision.
You should avoid eating sweets.
If you take my advice
advice, you'll study now.
It might be a good idea to talk to him first.
I advise you to follow the rules without question.
Have you thought about seeking professional help?
Declining to give advice
I am afraid I don't know what to advise you.
I wish I could suggest something, but I can't.
I wish I could help.
I'm afraid I can't really help you.
I am sorry but as much as I would like to help, I cant give you anything right now.
Accepting suggestions
Okay. Yes, let's do that.
Yes, I'd like to.
Yes, I'd love to.
What a good idea!
Why not?
Yes, with pleasure.
Yes, I feel like taking a walk.
That sounds like a good idea.
Refusing suggestions
No, let's not do that. It is too risky.
No, I'd rather not.
I don't feel like it.
I dont feel that would be helpful.
I dislike going for a walk.
What an awful / bad idea!
I am sorry if this sounds rude, but I dont think that would solve my problem.
I appreciate your suggestion but I think that wont help.
STATING EXPECTATIONS AND OBLIGATIONS
EXPECTATIONS
tey
ex
expec
pecta
tation [ek-spek-tey
tey-shuhn]
The act or the state of expecting: to wait in expectation.
The act or state of looking forward or anticipating.
Something expected; a thing looked forward to.
Synonyms

- anticipation, hope, trust, standards

OBLIGATIONS
gey
ob
obli
liga
gation [ob-li-gey
gey-shuhn]
Something that is done or is to be done for such reasons: to fulfill one's obligations.
The act of binding or obliging oneself by a promise, contract, among others
Synonyms
- responsibility, duty
Keywords to use in stating expectations and obligations:
Should (Should not)
Must (Must not)
Ought to
Have to
Have got to
*We use 'must' to express a strong obligation. When we use 'must' this usually means
that some personal circumstance makes the obligation necessary (and the speaker
almost certainly agrees with the obligation.)
I must go to bed earlier.
They must do something about it.
You must come and see us some time.
I must say, I don't think you were very nice to him.
*We can also use 'have to' to express a strong obligation. When we use 'have to' this
usually means that some external circumstance makes the obligation necessary.
I have to arrive at work at 9 sharp. My boss is very strict.
We have to give him our answer today or lose out on the contract.
You have to pass your exams or the university will not accept you.
I have to send a report to Head Office every week.
* In British English, we often use 'have got to' to mean the same as 'have to'.
I've got to take this book back to the library or I'll get a fine.
We've got to finish now as somebody else needs this room.
* We can also use ' will have to to talk about strong obligations. Like 'must' this
usually means that that some personal circumstance makes the obligation necessary.
(Remember that 'will' is often used to show 'willingness'.)
I'll have to speak to him.
We'll have to have lunch and catch up on all the gossip.
They'll have to do something about it.
I'll have to get back to you on that.

STATING COMPLAINTS
ACCEPTING AND DECLINING INVITES
STATING COMPLAINTS
Two general ways of stating complaints:
1. Oral Complaint
2. Written Complaint
A. Oral Complaint
Useful Phrases
1. Calling the Attention:
May I disturb you for a moment?
May I borrow a little of your time?
I need to talk to you about...
Excuse me, I would like to talk to you about
Excuse me, may I talk to your supervisor?
I would like to discuss something with you.
2. Stating the Problem:
I am sorry, but...
Are you aware that...
I have noticed that...
Is there any way you could improve your service/product?
I am not satisfied with the quality of
I do not mean to be impolite but I noticed that
B. Written Complaint
How to Write a Letter of Complaint
1. Include your name, address, and home and work phone numbers.
2. State exactly what you want done about the problem and how
long you are willing to wait to get it resolved.
3. Be reasonable.
4. Avoid writing an angry, sarcastic, or threatening letter. The
person reading your letter probably was not responsible for
your problem but may be very helpful in resolving it.
5. Make your letter brief and to the point.
6. Include all important facts.
7. Type your letter if possible. If it is handwritten, make sure it is
neat and easy to read.
8. Include all documents regarding your problem. Be sure to send
COPIES, not originals.
9. Keep a copy of the letter for your records.

Useful Phrases
1. Calling the Attention
To whom it may concern:
To the manager of the company:
Dear Sir/Madame,
Dear Mr. ____ / Ms. ____,
2. Stating the Problem:
It has come to my attention that...
I am writing to express my utmost concern regarding...
I would like to bring to light the issue of...
3. Concluding the Letter:
Thank you very much for taking time to read my concern.
I am hoping for your favorable response.
I am hoping for your immediate response.
We hope this issue will be resolved as soon as possible.
We hope this issues does not happen again in the future.
ACCEPTING AND DECLINING INVITES
General ways on how to respond to invites:
1. RSVP (French: repondez s'il vous plait; reply, if you please)
a. In the past, an RSVP card was usually included in the invitation letter. The
invitee was expected to send the RSVP card back to the host, or contact
the host through a phone call about their confirmation
b. Today, RSVP can now be in the digital platform. Invitee only needs to click
"Going/Yes" or "Not Going/No" and even have the option "Maybe." This
is seen to be more convenient.
2. Writing a letter to the host of the event
3. Informing the host through phone call
4. Informing the host personally
A. How to Accept an Invite
1. Open with a thank you for the invitation, and your confirmation that
you will attend. This way, you provide the essential information
first.
2. Next, express your expectation that the event will be a successful and
joyous one.
3. You may also ask for further clarification on any details, but do so in a
separate paragraph to make it absolutely clear you require a
response.
4. Sign the letter formally with 'Sincerely' or 'Yours Sincerely', and include
your full name, not only your first name.

Sample Letter of Acceptance:

Dear Mr and Mrs. Whitehead,
Thank you for the invitation to the wedding of Janet and Roger. We are
looking forward to a wonderful celebration for the lovebirds. Both myself
and Mr. Wainwright will be accepting the invite, but little Katie won't.
Is there a present register?
Thanks,
Judy Martins
Helpful Phrases
Thank you very much for your invitation.
I am honored to have been invited.
I have received your invitation and I would like to confirm my
attendance
B. How to Decline an Invite
1. Open with a thank you for the invitation. Break the news that you will
have to decline gently. Explain clearly and provide a valid reason.
2. Next, express your hopes that the event will be a successful and joyous
one.
3. Sign the letter formally with 'Sincerely' or 'Yours Sincerely', and
include your full name, not only your first name.
Sample Letter of Refusal
Dear Mr and Mrs. Whitehead,
Thank you for the invitation to the wedding of Janet and Roger. I am
very honored to have been invited.
Unfortunately, I have already made a prior commitment on the day of
the wedding. It is with utmost regret that I may not be able to witness a
once in a lifetime event.
I hope that you may understand. May the wedding be joyous and may
the couple have a beautiful life ahead of them as a new family.
Sincerely,
Judy Martins

Useful Phrases
Thank you very much for your invitation. However, I will not be able to...
Unfortunately, I already have a prior commitment...
I will not be able to attend due to...
It is truly an honor to have been invited.
Unfortunately, I will not be able to accept your invitation.
I do hope, however, that the event would still be successful.
It is with utmost regret to tell you that I may not be able to attend your
event.
TELEPHONING
Useful Phrases
Hello / Good morning / Good afternoon ...
This is John Brown speaking
Making contact :
Could I speak to ... please?

I'd like to speak to ...
I'm trying to contact ...
I'm calling from Tokyo / Paris / New York / Sydney ...
Giving more information:

I'm calling on behalf of Mr. X ...
X speaking.
Taking a call :
Can I help you?
Who's calling please?
Asking for a name /
information :
Who's speaking?
Where are you calling from?
Are you sure you have the right number / name?

Hold the line please.

Asking the caller to wait : Could you hold on please?
Just a moment please.
Thank you for holding.
Connecting :
The line's free now ... I'll put you through.

I'll connect you now / I'm connecting you now.
I'm afraid the line's engaged. Could you call back later?
I'm afraid he's in a meeting at the moment.
Giving negative
information :
I'm sorry. He's out of the office today. /

He isn't in at the moment.
I'm afraid we don't have a Mr./Mrs./Ms/Miss. ... here
I'm sorry. There's nobody here by that name.
Sorry. I think you've dialled the wrong number./
I'm afraid you've got the wrong number.
The line is very bad ... Could you speak up please?
Could you repeat that please?
Telephone problems :
I'm afraid I can't hear you.
Sorry. I didn't catch that. Could you say it again please?
Can I leave / take a message?
Would you like to leave a message?
Could you give him/her a message?
Leaving /
Taking a message :
Could you ask him/her to call me back?

Could you tell him/her that I called?
Could you give me your name please?

Could you spell that please?

What's your number please?
Making Phone Calls

Introducing yourself
Good morning/afternoon/evening. This is Mike at (company name)/Mike
from (department name). Could I speak to (person youre calling for)? [If you are
calling to speak to a specific person]
Good morning/afternoon/evening.
This is Mike at (company name)/Mike
from (department name). Im calling about/because. [If you are calling for a specific
reason but not to talk to a specific person]
When the person you want to speak to is unavailable
Can I leave a message for him/her?
Could you tell him/her that I called, please?
Could you ask him/her to call me back, please?
Okay, thanks. Ill call back later.
Dealing with bad connections
I think we have a bad connection. Can I call you back?
Im sorry, we have a bad connection. Could you speak a little louder, please?
Im sorry, could you repeat that please?
Ending the call
Thank you very much. Have a good day.
Thanks for your help. Have a good day.
Receiving Phone Calls

Answering the phone

Company ABC, this is Mike. How may I help you?

Good morning/afternoon, Company ABC. How may I help you?
Purchasing department, Frank speaking.
Note: If we are taking an external call and talking to a customer, How may I help you? is common. If we are
taking an internal call, we normally do not say How may I help you? For internal calls, saying your name and
your department is usually sufficient.
Getting the name of the caller if he/she doesn

doesnt give it to you
May I have your name please?
Who am I speaking with?
May I ask whos calling?
Responding to a caller
callers request
Sure, let me check on that.
Let me see if shes available.
Sure, one moment please.
Asking someone to wait on the line
Can I put you on hold for a minute?
Do you mind holding while I check on that (or handle that for you, check to see if
hes available, etc)
Taking a message
Hes/shes not available at the moment. Would you like to leave a message?
Hes/shes out of the office right now. Can I take a message?
Dealing with bad connections
Im sorry, we have a bad connection. Could you give me your number and Ill call you
right back?
I think we have a bad connection. Could you speak a little louder, please?
Im sorry, you have the wrong number.
Ending the call
Is there anything else I can help you with? Okay, thanks for calling. Have a great
day. [used during external calls with customers]
Is there anything else I can do for you? Okay, have a good day. [more casual, used
more for internal phone calls or phone calls that are not customer service calls]

NEGOTIATIONS
Word
Part of speech
Meaning
Example Sentence
alternatives
noun
other options
We can't offer you the raise you requested, but let's

discuss some other alternatives
alternatives.
amplify
verb
expand; give more

information
Could you amplify on your proposal please?
arbitration
noun
conflict that is
addressed by using
a neutral third party
We're better to settle this between us, because a

formal arbitration will cost both of us money.
bargain
verb
try to change a
person's mind by
using various tactics
We bargained on the last issue for over an hour before

we agreed to take a break.
bottom-line
noun
the lowest one is

willing to go
I'll accept a raise of one dollar per hour, but that's

my bottom-line
bottom-line.
collective
adj
together
This is a collective concern, and it isn't fair to discuss it

without Marie present.
compensate
verb
make up for a loss
If you are willing to work ten extra hours a week we

will compensate you by paying you overtime.
comply
verb
agree
I'd be willing to comply if you can offer me my own

private office.
compromise
verb
changing one's
mind/terms slightly
in order to find a
resolution
We are willing to compromise on this issue because it

means so much to you.
concession
noun
a thing that is
granted or accepted
I think we can offer all of these concessions, but not all at

once.

conflict
resolution
noun
general term for

negotiations
It is impossible to engage in conflict resolution when one

of the parties refuses to listen.
confront
verb
present an issue to
someone directly
I confronted my boss about being undervalued, and

we're going to talk about things on Monday.
consensus
noun
agreement by all
It would be great if we could come to a consensus by

5:00 P.M.
cooperation
noun
the working
together
I have appreciated your cooperation throughout these

negotiations.
counter
proposal
noun
the offer/request
which is presented
second in response
to the first proposal
In their counter proposal they suggested that we keep

their company name rather than creating a new one.
counterattack
verb/noun
present other side of

an issue
Before we could start our counterattack they suggested

we sign a contract.
counterpart
noun
person on the other

side of the
negotiations
I tried to close the discussions at noon, but

my counterpart would not stop talking.
cordially
verb/noun
politely
In the past I have had little respect for that client, but
today she spoke cordially and listened to my point of
view.
demands
adv
needs/expectations
that one side
believes it deserves
They had some last minute demands that were entirely

unrealistic.
deadlock
noun
point where neither

party will give in
When the discussions came to a deadlock we wrote up a

letter of intent to continue the negotiations next week.
dispute
noun
argument/conflict
I was hoping to avoid discussing last year's dispute

dispute, but
Monica is still holding a grudge.
dominate
verb
have the most

control/stronger
presence
Max has such a loud voice, he tends to dominate the

conversations.
entitled
adj
be deserving of
My contract says that I am entitled to full benefits after

six months of employment.

flexible
adj
open/willing to
change
We have always been flexible in terms of your working

hours.
haggling
verb
arguing back and

forth (often about
prices)
We've been haggling over this issue for too long now.
hostility
noun
long-term anger
towards another
I want you to know that we don't have

any hostility towards your company despite last year's
mixup.
high-ball
verb
make a request that

is much higher than
you expect to receive
I'm planning to high-ball my expectations when I open

the discussion.
impulse
noun
quick decision
without thought or
time
I acted on impulse when I signed that six-month

contract.
indecisive
adj
has difficulty
choosing/making a
decision
They were so indecisive we finally asked them to take a

break and come back next week.
leverage
noun
(bargaining power)
something that gives
one party a greater
chance at
succeeding over
another
We have a little bit of leverage because we are the only

stationary company in town.
log-rolling
verb
trading one favour

for another
After a bit of log-rolling we came to an agreement that

pleased both of us.
low-ball
verb
offer something
much lower than
you think the
opponent will ask
for
I was expecting my boss to low-ball in the initial offer,

but he proposed a fair salary increase.
mislead
verb
convince by altering
or not telling the
whole truth about
something
They misled us into thinking that everything could be

resolved today.

mutual
adj
agreed by both or all
The decision to call off the merger was mutual

mutual.
objective
noun
goal for the outcome
My prime objective is to have my family members added

to my benefits plan.
point of view
noun
person's ideas/
thoughts
From my point of view it makes more sense to wait

another six months.
pressure
verb
work hard to
convince another of
an idea
He pressured me to accept the terms by using

intimidation tactics.
proposal
noun
argument to present
While I listened to their proposal I noted each of their

objectives.
receptive
adj
open to/interested in
an idea
His positive body language demonstrated that he

was receptive to our suggestions.
resentment
noun
anger held onto

from a previous
conflict
Mary's resentment stems from our not choosing her to

head the project.
resistance
noun
a display of
opposition
We didn't expect so much resistance on the final issue.
resolve
verb
end conflict, come to

an agreement
Before you can resolve your differences you'll both need

to calm down.
tactics
noun
strategies used to
get one's goals met
There are certain tactics that all skillful negotiators

employ.
tension
noun
feeling of
stress/anxiety
caused by heavy
conflict
There was a lot of tension in the room when George

threatened to quit.
trade-off
noun
terms that are

offered in return for
something else
Lower payments over a longer period of time sounded

like a fair trade-off until we asked about interest charges.
ultimatum
noun
a final term that has

serious
consequences if not
met
His ultimatum was that if I didn't agree to give him the

raise he asked for, he'd quit today without two weeks
notice.

unrealistic
adj
very unlikely to
happen
It's unrealistic to think that we will have all of our

demands met.
victory
noun
a win
We considered it a victory because they agreed to four of

our five terms.
yield
verb
to give in to
another's requests
The client will only yield to our conditions, if we agree to

work over the holiday weekend.
USEFUL PHRASES FOR NEGOTIATIONS

Proposing
Our basic position is ...
There are several options
We propose / suggest
Regarding your proposal, our position is ...
Would it be possible
How do you feel about
Do you think you could consider
Responding to suggestions
As far as your proposal is concerned, we think that ...
May we offer an alternative? We propose that ...
We'd like to make an alternative proposal. We propose that ...
From where we stand, a better solution might be ...
Considering that I would like to suggest
Now that you mentioned it
Agreeing
I agree with you on that point.
That's a fair suggestion.
You have a strong point there.
I think we can both agree that...
I don't see any problem with/harm in that.
Objecting
I understand where you're coming from; however,...
If you look at it from my point of view...

I'm afraid I had something different in mind.

That's not exactly how I look at it.
From my perspective...
I'd have to disagree with you there.
I'm afraid that doesn't work for me.
Reasoning
This is because
The reason for that is
is essential and vital for our customers.
We have to / must have
This is a must!
Money is all-important!
Reassuring
Let me reassure you that ...
I can promise you that ...
Have no doubts that we will ...
Giving a hint
Our main concern is
It is vital / crucial that
Our intention is
We might like to
I am willing to accept if
It would be an alternative to
We can trade this against
There are few things we can compromise

UNDERSTANDING GRAPHS AND FIGURES

I. Types of Charts
* Pie Chart
* Bar Graph
* Line Graph
* Tables
II. Trend
* A trend is a general tendency or direction.
- upward or downward trend
III. Vocabulary
Describing Movement in Graphs and Figures:
Increase
Decrease
Recover
Recovery
Go up
Go down
Jump
Slump
Rise
Fail
Surge
Plummet
Improve(ment)
Declined
Reach (a point)
Approach
Types of Movement in Graphs and Figures:

Dramatic
Slight
Slightly
Gradual
Gradually
Sharp
Sharply
Dramaticall
y
Movement over Time

There was a gradual decline in sales.
Sales declined gradually
Enrollment increased by 4% in 1997.
There was a 4% increase in enrollment in 1997.
Immigration rose to 800,000 in 1999. (to a point or number)
Immigration rose by 20,000 in 1999. (by increment)
There was a 20% rise in immigration. (percentage)
Taxes remained the same from 2000 to 2001.
Major
Minor

Taxes continued at 15% for two years.

Static (no progress) Description
Sales stood at $1,4000,000 in 1998.
Profits were $27,000 in 1999.
There was a loss of $21,000 in 2001.
IV. Prepositions
comparison (like, as . . . as)
direction (to, toward, through)
place (at, by, on)
possession (of)
purpose (for)
source (from, out of)
and time (at, before, on)
From and Between
Between 1995 and 2000
From 1995 to 2000
Sales rose from 200 to 250
Sales fell to 150 in March
Sales fell by 50%
V. Verbs
Movement (UP)
Movement (DOWN)
Movement (STATIC)
Top and Bottom

(Extremes)
rose
went up
increased
grew
shot up
surged
rocketed
fell
declined
dropped
decreased
sank
went down
plunged
plummeted
remained steady
were unchanged
did not change
remained constant
remained stable
stabilized
reached a peak
peaked
reached their highest
level
fell to a low
sank to a trough
reached a bottom

VI. Transitions
Here are some expressions you can use to express reason, consequence, and result:
As a result of
Due to
Because of
Was the reason for
Caused
Resulted in
This explains
This accounts for
That is why
Consequently
So
Thanks to
VII. Intensifiers
* Helpful Adjectives
dramatic, considerable, sharp, significant, moderate, slight, sudden, rapid, steady, gradual,
slow
* Helpful Adverbs
dramatically, considerably, sharply, significantly, moderately, slightly, suddenly, rapidly,
steadily, gradually, slowly, steeply, gently, steadily
VIII. Vocabulary tips
Dont repeat verbs
Before you start to write, make a list of synonyms (words with the same meaning)
See how many ways you can rephrase the title of the graph. Use one in the introduction
and another in the conclusion with the same meaning
Be careful with prepositions. They can make a big difference in meaning. For example,
rose by is very different from rose to. Learn your verbs with the preposition that goes
with them.
Mind the correct use of tenses when describing a chart. If the charts deals with facts in the
present use the Simple Present. If the facts are in the past, then use the Simple Past. If
there is a connection between the past and the present, use the Present Perfect.
IX
IX.. Comparatives
* Comparative is the name for the grammar used when comparing two things.
Basic ways to compare: Using "As...as" and "than"
* "as...as" denotes similarity or sameness.
She is as beautiful as her mother.
He is as smart as his uncle.
I am as energetic as a dog.
They are as cooperative as the police.

The canteen is not as crowded as the elevator.

* "than" denotes comparison of one subject or object to another
The pizza is warmer than the pasta..
She is more talkative than usual.
Is he more hardworking today than in the past?
* When comparing with as .. as, the adjective does not change. When comparing with than
than,
however, some changes are necessary, depending on the number of syllables the adjective has:
* One syllable
add "-er" to the adjective
*If the word ends with a consonant-vowel-consonant combination, the last consonant is
usually doubled in the comparative. (Examples: big-bigger, small-smaller, hot-hotter, sadsadder)
* Two-syllable ending in -y
change the -y to -ier
She looks happier today.
This movie is funnier than the the movie we saw last night.
Ben's handwriting is easier than Jerry's.
* Other Two-syllable adjectives
use "more" with the unchanged adjective
The son is more handsome than the father.
The dog is more loyal than any other pet.
He is more careful when he is talking to his wife.
* 3 or more syllables adjectives
use "more" with the unchanged adjective
Juliet is more beautiful than her sister.
The children are more energetic than their pets.
We are more comfortable with this speaking skill practice, not the new one.
X.* SUPERLATIVES
In this form of adjective, you talk about one thing only and how it is the best, worst, etc. You
do not compare two things
* One syllable
add "-est" to the adjective
The pizza is the warmest.
She is the kindest in class.
He is the tallest among the brothers.

* Two-syllable ending in -y
change the -y to -iest
She looks happiest today.
This movie is the funniest movie I have ever seen.
Today's exam is so far the easiest.
* Other Two-syllable adjectives
use "most" with the unchanged adjective
Henry is most handsome boy in the family.
The dog is most loyal pet.
She is most careful when she is talking to her boss.
* 3 or more syllables adjectives
use "most" with the unchanged adjective
Juliet is the most beautiful in their sisterhood.
The children are the most energetic in school.
This is the most difficult exam we have ever taken.
* Special Cases (Irregular Adjectives)
follow the prescription


MEETINGS
Word
Part of speech
Meaning
Example Sentence
absent
adj
not present
The vice president is absent due to

unforeseen circumstances.
accomplish
verb
succeed in doing
We have a lot to accomplish today, so

let's begin.
address
verb
deal with; speak on
I hope we do not have to address this

matter again in the future.
adjourn
verb
close a meeting
If there are no further comments, we

will adjourn the meeting here.
agenda
noun
list of objectives to cover in a

meeting
Please forward the agenda to anyone

who is speaking at the meeting.
AGM
noun(abbr.)
Annual (yearly) General

Meeting
We always vote for a new chairperson

at the AGM
AGM.
allocate
verb
assign roles/tasks to certain

people
I forgot to allocate someone to bring

refreshments.
AOB
noun(abbr.)
Any Other Business (unspecified

item on agenda)
The last item on the agenda is AOB

AOB.
apologies
noun
item on agenda announcing

people who are absent;
apologies for absence
Everyone is present today, so we can

skip the apologies
apologies.
ballot
noun
a type of vote, usually in writing Please fold your ballot in half before
and usually secret
you place it in the box.
board of directors
noun
group of elected members of an

organization/company who
meet to make decisions
The board of directors meets once a

month to discuss the budget.
boardroom
noun
a large meeting room, often has

one long table and many chairs
The boardroom is reserved for a

managers' meeting, so we'll have to
meet in the lounge.

brainstorm
verb
thinking to gather ideas
Let's take a few minutes and

brainstorm some ways that we can cut
costs.
casting vote
noun
deciding vote (usually by the

chairman) when the votes are
otherwise equal
The role of treasurer was decided

based on the chairman's casting vote
vote.
chairperson/chair
noun
the person who leads or presides As chair

chair, it is my pleasure to introduce
at a meeting
to you, Mr. Allan Davis.
clarification/verificati
on
noun
explanation/proof that
something is true/understood
Before we address this matter, I'll need

some clarification as to who was
involved.
closing remarks
noun
last thoughts spoken in a

meeting (i.e. reminders, thank
yous)
I just have a few closing remarks and

then you will all be free to go.
collaborate
verb
work together as a pair/group
The board fell apart because the

members had difficulty collaborating
collaborating.
commence
verb
Begin
We will commence as soon as the last

person signs the attendance sheet.
comment
verb or noun
express one's opinions or

thoughts
If you have a comment

comment, please raise
your hand rather than speak out.
conference
noun
formal meeting for discussion,

esp. a regular one held by an
organization
Before the conference there will be a

private meeting for board members
only.
conference call
noun
telephone meeting between

Please make sure I have no
three or more people in different interruptions while I'm on the
locations
conference call
call.
confidential
adjective
private; not to be shared
Any financial information shared

during this meeting should be kept
confidential
confidential.
consensus
noun
general agreement
If we cannot come to a consensus by

the end of the meeting we will put it to
a vote.
deadline
noun
due date for completion
The deadline for buying tickets to the

conference is May 25th.
designate
verb
Assign
If no one volunteers to take the

minutes I will be forced to

designate someone.
formality
noun
a procedure (often unnecessary) Everyone knows who is going to be the

that has to be followed due to a
next vice president, so this vote is
rule
really just a formality
formality.
grievance
noun
Complaint
The first item on the agenda relates to

a grievance reported by the interns.
guest speaker
noun
person who joins the group in

order to share information or
deliver a speech
I am delighted to welcome our guest

speaker Holly, who is going to be
offering some sales pitch tips.
implement
verb
make something happen; follow

through
It's not a question of whether or not

we're going to use this idea, it's
whether or not we know how to
implement it.
mandatory
adjective
Required
It is mandatory that all supervisors

attend Friday's meeting.
minutes
noun
a written record of everything

said at a meeting
Before we begin with today's meeting,

let's quickly review the minutes from
last month.
motion
noun
a suggestion put to a vote
The motion to extend store hours has

been passed.
objectives
noun
goals to accomplish
I'm pleased that we were able to cover

all of the objectives today within the
designated time.
opening remarks
noun
chairperson or leader's first

words at a meeting (i.e.
welcome, introductions)
As I mentioned in my opening
remarks, we have to clear this room
before the end of the hour.
overhead projector
noun
machine with a special light that I'm going to put a pie chart on the
projects a document onto a
overhead projector so that everyone
screen or wall so that all can see can visualize how our profits have
declined.
participant
noun
person who attends and joins in

on an event
Can I have a show of hands of all of

those who were participants in last
year's conference?
proxy vote
noun
a vote cast by one person for or

in place of another
There must have been one proxy vote

because I count twelve ballots but only
eleven attendees.

punctual
adjective
on time (not late)
Firstly, I want to thank you all for

being punctual despite this early
meeting.
recommend
verb
Suggest
I recommend that you sit closer to the

front if you have trouble hearing.
show of hands
noun
raised hands to express an

opinion in a vote
From the show of hands it appears

that everyone is in favor of taking a
short break.
strategy
noun
plan to make something work
We need to come up with

a strategy that will allow us to have
meetings less frequently.
unanimous
adj
in complete agreement; united

in opinion
The vote was unanimous to cut work

hours on Fridays.
vote
verb or noun
to express (the expression of) an

opinion in a group by voice or
hand etc.
We need to vote for a new vice

chairperson now that Jerry is retiring.
wrap up
verb
Finish
Let's wrap up here so that we can get

back to our desks.
USEFUL PHRASES FOR MEETINGS

Opening
Good Morning / Good Day / Good Afternoon/ Good evening, everyone.
If we are all here today , let us start.
It is already 9 AM so let us begin the meeting.
Welcome
Please join me in welcoming...
We are all pleased to welcome...
I would like to introduce...
I would like to extend a warm welcome to...
It is a pleasure to welcome...
Apologies (for someone who is absent)
Unfortunately, (name) will not be able to join us today due to...
I have received apologies for the absence from (name), because s/he is in...
If you notice anyone missing, please let Jane know so that she can make a note of it.

Unfortunately, Ken cannot join us today. He has been called away on business.
Stating the Objectives
We are all gathered here today to discuss the current issue...
I've called this meeting in order to...
Our main aim today is to discuss...
Reading the Minutes of the Previous Meeting
To begin, let us review the reports from the previous meeting...
Firstly, let us take a look at the progress we had during the previous conference.
Designation of Tasks
Mr. (name), would you mind if I ask you to be the one to write the minutes of today's
meeting?
Ms. (name) has volunteered to be the timekeeper for today's meeting.
Introducing the Agenda
Have you all received a copy of the agenda?
Let us start with the first item on the list, skip the third and proceed until the last.
Deciding on Ground Rules
Let us discuss for 10 minutes per item.
Let us first state the item, then one participant at a time shall express his ideas.
I suggest we vote after saying our insights.
Introducing the item
Let us start discussing the first item on the agenda.
I suggest we begin discussing the third item on the agenda.
Interrupting
May I have a word?
If I may, I think...
Excuse me for interrupting. May I come in here?
Giving Opinions
I feel that...
In my opinion...
The way I see things...

If you ask me, I tend to think that...

Asking for Opinion
Do you think that...
(name), can we get your input?
Do you think that...
(name), can we hear your opinion?
How do you feel About...?
Voting
Everyone, this meeting is split on the decision so I move this assembly to vote.
Let us vote on this issue.
Let us put this issue to vote.
According to our house rules, whichever is the majority vote shall win.
As the Chair of this meeting, seeing that there are equal number of votes, I have
decided that...
May I see a show of hands?
Please explain briefly why you are siding with this vote.
Anyone in favor of this side, please raise your hands.
To those who are not in favor of the decision, please raise your hands.
Who here is in favor of the decision?
Comments and Feedback
I'm afraid I'd have to disagree about that.
May I have permission to speak?
Jane, could you please speak up. We can't hear you at the back.
We don't seem to be getting anywhere with this.
Perhaps we should come back to this at another time?
Asking for Clarification
I'm afraid I don't quite understand what your are getting at.
Could you explain to me how that is going to work?
I don't see what you mean. Could we have some more details, please?
Keeping the Meeting on Time
Well, that seems to be all the time we have today.
Please be brief.
I'm afraid we've run out of time.
I'm afraid that's outside the scope of this meeting.

Closing
Are there any more objections or suggestions?
Thank you all for participating in this meeting.
Meeting adjourned.
PRESENTATIONS
USEFUL PHRASES
INTRODUCTION
On behalf of (company) I would like to welcome you here today. My name is ...
Hi, I am (name) and I am from (company).
Good morning/afternoon/evening, ladies and gentlemen. My name is (name) and I am
delighted to be here today to talk to you about
I'd like to introduce my colleague, (name), who will be talking to us about...
Hi everyone, I am (name and position). Today I'd like to tell you about
INTRODUCING THE TOPIC
Today I am here to talk to you about
As you all know, today I am going to talk to you about
I would like to take this opportunity to talk to you about
I am delighted to be here today to tell you about
Today I would like to outline
STRUCTURING THE PRESENTATION
My talk is divided into x parts.
I'll start with / Firstly I will talk about / I'll begin with

then I will look at

next
and finally
I will be glad to answer any questions that you may have at the end.
BEGINNING THE PRESENTATION
I'll start with some general information on
I'd just like to give you some background information about
Before I start, does anyone know?
As you are all aware / As you all know
CHANGING THE TOPIC OR SPEAKER
Right, let's move on to
This leads me to my next point, which is
I'd now like to look at / consider
Now I will pass you over to / hand over to...
Does anyone have any questions before I move on?
SUMMARY
To sum up
So to summarize the main points of my talk
Just a quick recap of my main points
INVITING QUESTIONS
Does anyone have any questions?
I will be happy to answer your questions now

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask

If you have any further questions, I will be happy to talk to you at the end.
CONCLUSION
I'd like to conclude by
That brings me to the end of my presentation, thank for listening / for your attention.
Thank you all for listening, it was a pleasure being here today.
Well that's it from me. Thank you very much.
PUBLIC SPEAKING
Suggested stages
Having a long introduction
- Greeting
- Thanking/ Welcoming
- Showing awareness of the audience/
Making a personal connection with the
audience
- Topic
- Aim/ Thesis statement
- Name and other relevant personal

information
- Referring to the structure/ content
- Saying when to ask questions
- Mentioning timing
- Kicking off
Trying to get the people listening very interested in the topic before you really start
talking about it
- A quote
- A proverb
- A statistic
- A recent news story
- A story, e.g. a personal anecdote
Having a long ending
- Reasons why its an important or

interesting topic
- A joke
- An image
- A rhetorical question
- A survey of the people attending

- Summary
- Conclusion
- Thanks
- Invitation to ask questions
- Where to get more details
USEFUL PHRASES IN PUBLIC SPEAKING

Greeting
Hi/ Hello/ Good morning/ afternoon/ evening (everyone/ ladies and gentlemen/ guys)
Thanking/ Welcoming
(First of all), (Id like to) thank you for coming.
Let me begin by welcoming you all to
Its a pleasure to welcome you to
Its good to see you (all) here.
Thank you for finding the time to come and join me for this presentation.
Showing awareness of the audience
I can see some familiar faces today.
You all seem quite tired from this morning, so Ill try to keep it short.
Its nice to see so many young people today.
Introducing yourself
I think most of you know me, but Ill introduce myself anyway.
As most of you know, Im and
First of all, Id like to introduce myself/ let me introduce myself/ I should probably
introduce
myself.
I chose todays topic because
I, which I why I chose the topic of
Giving the topic
(In my presentation/ Today) Id like to/ Im going to talk to you about
The topic/ subject of todays presentation is
Aim/ Thesis statement
I want to show you that
I aim to prove to you that
You might think that, but
The aim of my presentation is to change your mind about
Referring to structure/ content
Ill start/ begin/ commence with/ by
Ive divided my presentation into parts/ My presentation is divided into...
In my presentation, Ill focus on three main
First, well look at... then well move on to and finally well focus on
Secondly/ In the second part of my presentation,
(And) then/ After that/ The next stage will be to
To finish up/ Finally/ Ill end with/ The last stage will be to
Saying when to ask questions

Please (feel free to) interrupt (me)/ ask questions at any time/ at any stage.
If you have any questions, Ill be happy to answer them at the end.
Mentioning timing
Ill try to be finished by
My presentation will last for approximately
Kicking off
Right/ Okay/ Well/ So, lets start by looking at
A quote
(famously) once said that
As the famous quote goes,
According to
To quote
A proverb
It is often said that
There is an old Yiddish proverb which says
A statistic
That number represents
Do you know how many/ much? The surprising answer is
A recent news story
You may have read/ heard this morning that
Im sure most of you have been following the events in
A story, e.g. a personal anecdote
I have personal experience of this.
Reasons why it
its an important or interesting topic
You might think this doesnt matter, but
This will become important to all of us when
A joke
Theres a joke connected to this topic, which is
As the well-known joke goes,
A survey of the people attending
Please raise your hand if
How many people here?
Summary
To summarise/ sum up,
To recap,
I have shown you that
Conclusion
I think all this proves that

What can we conclude from what I have presented? Well,

It is quite difficult to draw conclusions, but
Thanks
Thanks for listening
Thanks for your kind attention
Invitation to ask questions
If theres anything youd like to know more about, please feel free to ask questions now.
Where to get more details
You can read more about it via the links on this last slide.
Here is a list of possible further reading on the topic.
Correcting or contradicting what you said before
I meant to say
I said, but in fact/ actually
Explaining what words in your language mean in English
The direct translation is
The usual way of saying that in English is
You cant really translate this, but
Theres a word in my language, which is/ means
Going back to a topic you had already finished speaking about
I forgot to mention earlier that
Just one more thing about before I go on.
Returning to the main topic
Anyway,
Getting back to the main point,
Where was I? Oh, yes
As I was saying,
Pointing at things
If you look at this,
This is an example of
Im pointing at
Check if anyone has questions at that stage
Are there any questions at this stage?
Would anyone like to ask anything before I move on?
Stopping to look at your notes
I have the information here somewhere.
Just a second while I look at my notes/ find the right page in my notes.
What was I going to say next? Oh yes...
Pausing for thought without silence when answering questions
How can I best explain? I suppose
Thats a difficult/ an interesting question.

Let me think.
Let me see.
Well.
Other phrases for pausing for thought without silence
Where was I? Oh yes.
What is the next point? Oh, yes
Whats the word?
Clearly marking when you are moving from one sub-topic to the next
Moving on to
The next thing I want to speak about is,
I think Ive covered that point, so now I want to speak about
COMMONLY MISUSED AND CONFUSING

VOCABULARY IN ENGLISH
* affect / effect
Effect is usually a noun that means a result or the power to produce a result: The
sound of the falling rain had a calming effect, nearly putting me to sleep.
Affect is usually a verb that means to have an influence on: His loud humming was
affecting my ability to concentrate. Note that effect can also be a verb meaning to
bring about or execute: The speaker's somber tone effected a dampening in the
general mood of the audience.
* all together / altogether
All together is applied to people or things that are being treated as a group. We put
the pots and pans all together on the shelf.
All together is the form that must be used if the sentence can be reworded so that all
and together are separated by other words: We put all the pots and pans together on
the shelf. Altogether is used to mean entirely: I am altogether pleased to be receiving
this award.
* alternately / alternatively
Alternately is an adverb that means in turn; one after the other: We alternately spun
the wheel in the game.
Alternatively is an adverb that means on the other hand; one or the other: You can
choose a large bookcase or, alternatively, you can buy two small ones.

* bimonthly / semimonthly
Bimonthly is an adjective that means every two months: I brought the cake for the
bimonthly office party.
Bimonthly is also a noun that means a publication issued every two months: The
company publishes several popular bimonthlies. Semimonthly is an adjective that
means happening twice a month: We have semimonthly meetings on the 1st and the
15th.
* disinterested / uninterested
Disinterested is an adjective that means unbiased or impartial: We appealed to the
disinterested mediator to facilitate the negotiations.
Uninterested is an adjective that means not interested or indifferent: They seemed
uninterested in our offer.
* emigrant / immigrant
Emigrant is a noun that means one who leaves one's native country to settle in another:
The emigrants spent four weeks aboard ship before landing in Los Angeles.
Immigrant is a noun that means one who enters and settles in a new country: Most of
the immigrants easily found jobs. One emigrates from a place; one immigrates to
another.
* farther / further
Farther is an adjective and adverb that means to or at a more distant point: We drove
50 miles today; tomorrow, we will travel 100 miles farther.
Further is an adjective and adverb that means to or at a greater extent or degree: We
won't be able to suggest a solution until we are further along in our evaluation of the
problem. It can also mean in addition or moreover: They stated further that they
would not change the policy.
* hanged / hung
Hanged is the past tense and past participle of hang when the meaning is to execute by
suspending by the neck: They hanged the prisoner for treason. The convicted killer
was hanged at dawn.

Hung is the past tense and participle of hang when the meaning is to suspend from
above with no support from below: I hung the painting on the wall. The painting
was hung at a crooked angle.
* i.e. / e.g.
The abbreviation e.g. means for example (from Latin exempli gratia): Her talents
were legion and varied (e.g., deep sea diving, speed reading, bridge, and tango
dancing).
The abbreviation i.e. means that is or in other words (from Latin id est): The joy of
my existence (i.e., my stamp collection) imbues my life with meaning.
* penultimate
Meaning next to last, penultimate is often mistakenly used to mean the very last, or
the ultimate: The perfectionist was crestfallen when he was awarded the penultimate
prize; the grand prize went to another.
*who's / whose
Who's is the contraction of who is.
Whose is the possessive form of who. Who's going to figure out whose job it is to clean
the stables?

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GRANDLINE PHILIPPINES CORPORATION

#2503 CITYLAND HERRERA TOWER, VALERO ST. SALCEDO VILLAGE, MAKATI

GRANDLINE PHILIPPINES CORPORATION

SELF-INTRODUCTION AND SOCIALIZING

Used when you are talking

Used when you are talking

Used when you are talking

GRANDLINE PHILIPPINES CORPORATION

Use of complex sentences,

Use of simpler sentences,

Use of simple, often

Exceedingly large segments

A lot of people are unhappy

GRANDLINE PHILIPPINES CORPORATION

7. Bridge your answer. "Does that answer your question?

GRANDLINE PHILIPPINES CORPORATION

GIVING ADVICE AND MAKING SUGGESTIONS

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If I were you, I would go to the doctor.

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- anticipation, hope, trust, standards

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GRANDLINE PHILIPPINES CORPORATION

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Sample Letter of Acceptance:

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Could I speak to ... please?

Giving more information:

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Hold the line please.

The line's free now ... I'll put you through.

I'm sorry. He's out of the office today. /

Could you ask him/her to call me back?

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Could you spell that please?

Making Phone Calls

Receiving Phone Calls

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Company ABC, this is Mike. How may I help you?

Getting the name of the caller if he/she doesn

GRANDLINE PHILIPPINES CORPORATION

We can't offer you the raise you requested, but let's

expand; give more

Could you amplify on your proposal please?

We're better to settle this between us, because a

We bargained on the last issue for over an hour before

the lowest one is

I'll accept a raise of one dollar per hour, but that's

This is a collective concern, and it isn't fair to discuss it

make up for a loss

If you are willing to work ten extra hours a week we

I'd be willing to comply if you can offer me my own

We are willing to compromise on this issue because it

I think we can offer all of these concessions, but not all at

GRANDLINE PHILIPPINES CORPORATION

general term for

It is impossible to engage in conflict resolution when one

I confronted my boss about being undervalued, and

It would be great if we could come to a consensus by

I have appreciated your cooperation throughout these

In their counter proposal they suggested that we keep

present other side of