Putting English to Work

Lingofeeds provides job specific English learning resources such as English for Commerce.

Opinions

Please tell Lingofeeds how to help you improve your professional English.

Expressing Agreement

So … I

This form is used when we want to show that we feel the same way as another person, or have performed the same action. Use this form when agreeing with positive sentences. Remember that the auxiliary verb changes based on the subject and the tense of the original statement. The form is usually used in the first person singular, however, other forms are also possible.

So + Auxiliary Verb + Subject

Examples:

I found a financial backer last year for my venture. - So did she.
I'd love to have some dinner. - So would I.
I'm meeting business partners tomorrow. - So is he.

Neither … I

This form is used when we want to show that we feel the same way as another person, or have performed the same action. Use this form when agreeing with negative sentences. Remember that the auxiliary verb changes based on the subject and the tense of the original statement. The form is usually used in the first person singular, however, other forms are also possible.

Neither + Auxiliary Verb + Subject

Examples:

I haven't been able to find a good programmer for my project. - Neither have I. They weren't able to come to the meeting. - Neither were we. She won't finish the report on time. - Neither will I.

Exercises

New Equipment

Steve: I had those new fork lifts put into action this week.
Phillip: Did you get anyone trained to use them, or were they able to use them without special training?

Steve: As a matter of fact, I made them go to a few training sessions on their own time.
Phillip: Really?! Neither my sales staff nor my graphics staff would ever agree to extra non-paid training.

Steve: I must have been lucky then. Have either Jane or Thomas got in touch with you this morning?
Phillip: As a matter of fact, I haven't heard from them. I've been looking for them everywhere.

Steve: So have I. I wonder where they could be…
Phillip: Is there anything in particular you need to talk with them about?

Steve: Yes, we need to discuss some new equipment and shipping methods.
Phillip: I have to get Thomas to help me with some new accounts.

Steve: We've ordered some spare parts recently. I can't really do anything without an approval from Thomas.
Phillip: Neither can I…

Steve: I think we should get them both pagers.
Phillip: So do I. Then we could find them when we need them.

Steve: Oh, by the way, I'm giving a presentation at the conference next month.
Phillip: Oh, so I am. How are you coming with the presentation?

Steve: Fine. I'm not really looking forward to it, though.
Phillip: Neither am I. Giving presentations always makes me nervous.

Online Business

Today, it is possible to get your organisation onto the Internet very inexpensively, and with your own address and domain name (WWW.YOURCOMPANY.COM).

Popular Internet applications like electronic mail, file transfer, and Web browsing let your organisation's employees exchange information rapidly with your clients, suppliers, and colleagues. Internet connections, however, are tricky to design and install for small organisations without networking (or inter-networking) experience. It is considerably more complex than simply activating the off-the-shelf, personal access software found with the many beginning users' tutorials in bookstores:

- The initial selection of Internet access type (dial, leased line, T1) is difficult without a fairly detailed discussion of needs and their relationship to available services.
- Choosing appropriate hardware and software also requires a good analysis. Should I take a news feed? Must I run Unix? Shall I host my own Web server? SMTP or POP3 mail?
- Products and services are commonly obtained from multiple sources. Will they all work together? Have I included all the cost elements in the budget?
- Internet access providers often offer limited support services that do not include practical in-house advice.

Key Vocabulary

coder - Someone who writes computer programmes
domain name - the address of an Internet site, i.e., www.fredboy.com
file transfer - moving files from one computer to another
financial backer - an investor
fork lift - a piece of equipment used to lift and move heavy objects in a warehouse
hits - visits to an Internet page
Internet consultancy - an agent specialising in Internet consulting
leased line - a telephone line capable of a high rate of data transfer
minimum wage - the lowest possible hourly pay permitted by law
networking - connecting computers to 'speak' to each other
off-the-shelf - software bought in a shop, non-specialised software
options - stock shares at a fixed price
pager - an electronic device which 'beeps' when a person is needed
programmer - someone who writes software code
site - an group of pages on the Internet
SMTP and POP3 - email transfer protocols
spare parts - items used to replace broken items on equipment
T1 - a type of high data transfer telephone line
to browse (pass. browsed / p.p. browsed) - to look at various Internet pages or sites
traditional business - used when comparing 'new' economy businesses to older, more 'traditional' businesses
tutorial - instructions for using something, often software
Unix - a type of operating system common for large, important computer networks
venture capital - money invested in new businesses

Listening

Listen to the story of an online travel booking agent's launch.

Quiz

This exercise checks your understanding of materials found on this page, as well as the listening comprehension.

Lingofeeds Practice Pages

Gerund or Infinitive Forms - Marketing and Business
Giving Instructions - Banking and Shipping
Future Forms - Telecommunications
Daily Routines - Commerce
Expressing Agreement - Information Technology
Clauses - Production and Manufacturing
Passive Voice - Marketing
Reported Speech - Presentations

Feedback

Please take our survey to provide feedback to Lingofeeds on how we can help you improve your professional English.