The most useful English phrasal verbs for business communication include key phrases like 'follow up,' 'draw up,' and 'bring forward.' Mastering these essential verb-preposition combinations will make your language in meetings and emails sound more natural, fluent, and professional.
Navigating the world of professional communication can be challenging, but understanding common phrasal verbs is a major step toward fluency. These phrases are used constantly in the workplace, and using them correctly shows a high level of English proficiency. This guide provides a list of the 10 most useful English phrasal verbs for business meetings and emails, complete with clear definitions and practical examples to help you communicate with confidence.
A Deep Dive into the 10 Most Useful English Phrasal Verbs for Business
Phrasal verbs combine a main verb with a particle (a preposition or an adverb) to create a new meaning. Let's explore the ones you absolutely need to know for the office.
Follow up
What does 'follow up' mean? To take further action on something that has already been discussed or to contact someone again for more information.
- In a meeting: "Thanks for the presentation, James. I will follow up with the marketing team to get their feedback."
- In an email: "Dear Team, Following up on our discussion yesterday, I have attached the project timeline for your review."
Bring forward
What does 'bring forward' mean? To move a meeting or event to an earlier time or date.
- In a meeting: "Can we bring forward the weekly sync to 10 AM instead of 11 AM? I have a conflict."
- In an email: "Could we please bring forward the deadline for the report to this Wednesday?"
Push back
What does 'push back' mean? The opposite of 'bring forward.' It means to delay or move an event to a later time or date.
- In a meeting: "We need more data before making a decision. Let's push back the final vote until next week."
- In an email: "Due to unforeseen delays, we need to push back the product launch to Q4."
Draw up
What does 'draw up' mean? To prepare and write a formal or official document, such as a contract, plan, or proposal.
- In a meeting: "The legal team will draw up a new employment contract for the successful candidate."
- In an email: "I will draw up a draft of the project plan and send it over by the end of the day."
Look into
What does 'look into' mean? To investigate, research, or examine a problem or situation.
- In a meeting: "Several clients have reported a bug in the software. We need to look into it immediately."
- In an email: "Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will look into the issue and get back to you shortly."
Take on
What does 'take on' mean? To accept a new task, responsibility, or challenge.
- In a meeting: "Our team has the capacity to take on this new project."
- In an email: "I'm excited to take on the role of team lead for this initiative."
Hand over
What does 'hand over' mean? To give control or responsibility for something to another person.
- In a meeting: "Before I leave, I will hand over all my current projects to Sarah."
- In an email: "Please find the transition document attached. I will be handing over these client accounts to you."
Run by / Run through
What does 'run something by someone' mean? To tell someone about an idea or plan so they can give you their opinion. 'Run through' means to review or rehearse something.
- In a meeting: "Before we finalize the proposal, I'd like to run it by the sales department."
- In an email: "Could you run through the presentation slides with me one more time before the client meeting?"
Get back to
What does 'get back to someone' mean? To contact someone later to give them a reply or information.
- In a meeting: "I don't have that information right now, but I will find out and get back to you this afternoon."
- In an email: "Thank you for your query. I will investigate and get back to you within 24 hours."
Break down
What does 'break down' mean? To divide something, like a complex task or a budget, into smaller, more manageable parts.
- In a meeting: "Let's break down this project into individual tasks and assign them to team members."
- In an email: "I've broken down the quarterly budget by department in the attached spreadsheet."
How to Master Phrasal Verbs for Professional Success
Learning a list is the first step. To truly master these expressions, you need to actively incorporate them into your daily work. Start by choosing one or two verbs a week to focus on. Try using them in a low-stakes email to a colleague or practice saying them aloud before a meeting. The more you use them, the more natural they will feel.
By integrating this list of the 10 most useful English phrasal verbs for business meetings and emails into your vocabulary, you will significantly enhance your professional communication skills and sound more like a native speaker.
Frequently Asked Questions about Business Phrasal Verbs
Q: Are phrasal verbs considered professional in business English?
A: Yes, absolutely. While some phrasal verbs are informal, the ones listed here are standard in professional business English. Using them correctly makes your speech and writing sound more natural and fluent, not less professional.
Q: What's the best way to learn and remember phrasal verbs for work?
A: The best method is learning them in context. Don't just memorize lists. Pay attention to how they are used in emails, articles, and meetings. Create your own example sentences related to your job to make them more memorable.
Q: Can I use the same phrasal verbs in both speaking and writing?
A: Yes, all the phrasal verbs on this list are appropriate for both spoken communication (meetings, presentations) and written communication (emails, reports). Their versatility is what makes them so useful.
Q: Why are phrasal verbs so difficult for English learners?
A: Phrasal verbs can be tricky because their meaning often isn't obvious from the individual words. The meaning of 'look into' (to investigate) is very different from the meanings of 'look' and 'into' separately. Consistent exposure and practice are key to overcoming this challenge.