Working with words Business communication skitts

1 Replace the phrases in italicswith the phrases from I Sondra is discussing progress of an HR project with
the list. Make any changes that are necessary. Dimitri. Choose the best answer from 1-8 below to
migs the deaciline be ahead of schedule complete their conversation.
selâ hrdget run out of'money Sondra OK, Dimitri. What's the current 1- of the
allocate funcis prioritize tasks staff satisfaction survey?
keep rack of resolve conflicts Dimitri Well, on the whole, we're 2-. We've
1 We need to decide what we're going to spend set a budggt received replies from the questionnaires but we haven't
and try to keep to it. collated the answers yet.

2 The contractors failed to control spending and they Sondra You do know the regional HR conference date
quickly spent everything
3- for next month, don't you?
Dimitri Yes, but we've 4-
with IT. They haven't
3 The whole project ran very smoothly, and in the end we
set up the database for us yet, to collate the results.
finished two months early
Sondra So the real problem 5- IT's time
4 I'm responsible for the budget and giving out money
to the different departments management?
working on the project. Dimitri Partly, yes.
5 If you communicate well, you can usually selle Sondra How about 6 as much ofthe report as

disagreements quickly you can?

6 We need to put things in order of importance Dimitri That's 7-, but until we have results from
-. the survey, there's nothing to put in the report.
and then work steadily through
the project. Sondra So what you're really 8- is, without the
7 There are strict penalty clauses, so it'll be expensive if database you can't continue?
we are late Dimitri Err, yes.
I always look at bank statements carefully so 1 a stand b status c state d view
that t have information about what is happening with 2 a in time b up to scratch c in the lane
spending d on track
2 Will your next project be on time and within budget? a set b has been already set
Complete these sentences. Use the answers to
c has already been set d had set
complete the puzzle and find the hidden answer. a hit a stop b knocked a problem
c came to a problem d hit a problem
1 We must costs under control.
5 a lies with b stands with c sits with d lays with
2 Don't forget to contingency plans.
6 a to prepare b you're preparing c preparing
3 If the project smoothly, it \ /i11 finish on time.
d prepared
4 Make sure you all the facts flrst.
7 a likely b possible c probable d possibility
5 I'm going to the course - I'm not giving up.
I a saying b telling c talking about d explaining
6 You need to a realistic timescale.
- Match 1-8 to a-h.
-
n 1 How far are you a the venue has been

n 2 b
booked...

u Things aren't
running ...
we should scrap the
idea.

n 3 -
We finalized the c as smoothly as I'd

u 4
draft ...
what -do you ... d
hoped.
with the new packaging?
E 5
So
If you ask me, . - e an ideal solution.
T
..

6 I'm not ... - f mean exactly?

7 That's not -... g three weeks ago.
I Up to now ... - h convinced.
-
106
Language at Present perfect and past simple

Present perfect Complete these dialogues with the past simple or

present perfect form ofthe verbs in brackets.
Use the present perfect
1 to link a present situation with something that took place at
A I need to ask David if he l (decide)
an unspecified time in the past
to set up the focus group.

Ana has sent the new brochure to all our clients. Don't worry. I 2 (already ./ speak)
to him about it.
The present situation is that all the clients have the new
brochure. The past event is that Ana sent the newbrochure
A Realty? When 3
(you / see) him?

(we don't know when). B la (call) him first thing today.

with yet and already to talk about tasks expected to be done A What 5
(he / say)?
or which are done earlier than expected B Heo (not ,/ make) up his mind yet.
A Have you finished that report yet? He needs some documents from head offlce, and they
B Yes. And I've already done most of the next one as well. still 7 (not / arrive).
with how long, for and since to talk about duration of states
AB (you ,/ flnalize) ail the
and activities (see page 121)
arrangements for Mr Eng's visit yet?
4 r^/ith/usl to talk about things that have happened very
B I'm dealing with it now. I e (flx) a
recently
date for him to come and visit - the 19th.
I've just seen Tom in the cafeteria.
A What about Bob? I think he needs to be there.
5 with unfinished time periods: since, so far this week, up to now,
recently, this month, today B That's fine. I 10 (speak) to Anna a

You've been late three times this month - pleose be on timefor

couple of days ago, and the 19th is fine for him too. §
rt
the rest of the month. All (you / arrange) the visit to the §,
*1
warehouse yet? $.
B Yes, I 12 |.!
Past simple (just ,/ organize) that - for o
Use the past simple the afternoon.
1 when referring to (or thinking of) a finished time period like A What about dinner that evening? =:
rD
yesterday, lastweek, at 5.30, on 11 May, at Christmas, in 2002, B I13 (book) a table yesterday (ré
- at
etc. the Mill - I hope that's OK.
I went to the sales conference last week. A Fine. That all sounds excellent. You 14

(be) very efflcient. U1

2 for questionswith, When? What time? How long ago? etc.
because the expected answer is a finished time period
2 Match sentences 1-6 to contexts a-f.
A WhendidyouseeMrZiT (Not: @ C
B I saw him yesterday. (Not: t+ave-seathimyesterday)
3 with many present time expressions usually used with the
present perfect, like this week, today, just, if they refer to a time
period that is about to flnish or has just flnished
We've made a lot of progress this week. (said on Wednesday
- the time period is still in progress)
We made a lotof progressthisweek. (said at 4.30 p.m. on
Friday - the time period is about to finish)
--t-
/1)
a
1 Has our bid for the contract been successful? _ m
2 Was our bid for the contract successful? _
3 Have you spoken to the caterers this week? _
4 Did you speak to the caterers this week? _
5 I'vejust cancelled the order. _
6 Ijust cancelled the order. _
a The result of the contract bids was announced last week
b I only cancelled the order. I didn't reorder or complain.
c They're announcing the results ofthe contract bids now.
d I am expecting to speak to the caterers some time this
week. It is Wednesday.
e I was expecting to speak to the caterers this week. It is
5.00 on Friday. I am about to leave the offlce.
f I cancelled the order a couple of minutes ago.

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