Essential Business English Vocabulary & Phrases
Vocabulary
Complaints
- Apologise for the inconvenience: Disculpe las molestias
- Charge: Cobrar
- Damaged: Dañado
- Faulty part: Pieza defectuosa
- Lost in the post: Perdido en el correo
- Make a complaint: Presentar una queja
- Overcharge: Coste excesivo
- Wrong item: Artículo equivocado
Clothing
- Hat: Sombrero
- Scarf: Bufanda
- Suit: Traje
- Tie: Corbata
- Trainers: Zapatilla de deporte
Assistance
- Assist: Ayudar
- At our expense: A nuestro cargo
- Check my records: Comprobar mis informes
- Credit your account: Abonar en nuestra cuenta
Problems
- Has got a hole: Tiene un agujero
- Is missing a part: Le falta una parte
- Is torn: Desgarrado
- Isn’t fresh: No es original
- Lose business: Perder un negocio
Actions
- Make a claim: Hacer una reclamación
- Make a noise: Hacer ruido
- Refuse: Rechazar
- Return: Devolver
- Suggest: Sugerir
- Under warranty: Está en garantía
Feelings
- Confused: Confundido
- Disappointed: Decepcionado
- Embarrassed: Vergonzoso
- Polite: Educado
- Satisfied: Satisfecho
- Surprised: Sorprendido
Examples
- Our office suppliers overcharged us; we should pay 100 and not 120.
- Leister Engines sent us a faulty part; it didn’t work.
- Mr. Shipton told us about his dissatisfaction with our service; he wants to work with us again.
- I’m sure that will cause a problem; it will make production more difficult.
Common Errors
- Wrong item: Shipping date
- Make a complaint: Charge
- Apologise for the inconvenience: Make a complaint
- Customer number: Error
- Error: Customer number
- Shipping date: Wrong item
- Charge: Apologise for the inconvenience
Alternatives
- Return: Send it back
- Assist: Help them
- Refuse: Say you won’t do it
Example Sentences
- We decided not to make a claim.
- I can’t help you; I suggest…
- The printer isn’t working; it is missing a part.
- You can’t use the fax; it is broken.
- Lucy tripped accidentally; she was very embarrassed.
- Richard really wanted it; he was very disappointed.
- Grant got the dates of the meeting wrong; he was confused.
- Olivia’s boss is satisfied.
- Lisa didn’t expect her; she was quite surprised.
- Luke is great with customers on the phone; he is always polite.
Grammar
Comparatives
- Small (smaller)
- Happy (happier)
- Thin (thinner)
- Old (older)
- Good (better)
- Difficult (more difficult)
- Fat (fatter)
- Attractive (more attractive)
- Jane is friendlier than…
- Parker’s prices are lower than…
- These socks are lighter than…
- Anne’s chair is more comfortable than…
- Answering phones is more interesting than…
- The train station is further than the bus station.
- The colored folder is cheaper than the black folders.
- You must type the contract today; it’s more urgent. You can type the other documents tomorrow.
- Our office building has five floors; it is taller than your building, which has twenty floors.
Superlatives
- Wide (the widest)
- Valuable (the most valuable)
- Bad (the worst)
- Pretty (the prettiest)
- Courteous (the most courteous)
- Good (the best)
- New (the newest)
- Serious (the most serious)
- Far (the furthest)
- Sad (the saddest)
- This is the most fragile.
- Simon is the hardest worker.
- We bought the most expensive one.
- Can you give me the quietest room?
- Mr. Darney gives the best advice.
- Emily’s presentation was the shortest.
- Tom’s office is the hottest.
- Louise is a great manager; she’s the best.
- Yesterday was the coldest day.
- Some of the receptionists are the most courteous.
- Susan is the busiest.
- Mr. Greene is the most interesting.
- We will give the job to the more professional candidate.
- Typing this letter is more urgent.
- Where is the nearest shop?
- Katie’s work is better.
- I work in the noisiest office.
Useful Phrases
- Thank you for calling; how can I assist you?
- Please return the item.
- I want compensation.
- How could they refuse?
- I don’t know; I suggest…
- Did they credit your account?
- There won’t be a problem; it’s under warranty.
- I can’t remember exactly; check my records.