Ten essential English phrasal verbs for business include 'follow up,' 'draw up,' 'look into,' and 'push back.' These phrases are crucial for professional communication, helping you effectively manage tasks, schedule meetings, and discuss projects in emails and in person.
Navigating the world of business English can feel like learning a new language all over again. One of the biggest challenges for learners is mastering phrasal verbs. These multi-word verbs are incredibly common in the workplace, and using them correctly can make you sound more natural, fluent, and professional. This guide will walk you through 10 essential English phrasal verbs that will elevate your business communication, whether you're leading a meeting or drafting a critical email.
Why Are Phrasal Verbs Crucial for Business Communication?
Phrasal verbs combine a main verb with a particle (an adverb or preposition) to create a new meaning. For example, 'look' means to see, but 'look into' means to investigate. In a professional context, using these phrases correctly shows a high level of English proficiency. They are a key part of corporate language and workplace vocabulary, allowing you to express complex actions concisely. Mastering them is a direct path to clearer, more effective client communication and project management.
A Guide to 10 Essential English Phrasal Verbs for Business
Let's dive into the phrasal verbs that will give you the most value in your day-to-day work life. We'll explore their meaning and provide clear examples for both meetings and emails.
Follow up (on something / with someone)
Meaning: To take further action or contact someone again to check on progress.
- In a meeting: "Thanks for the update, Maria. I will follow up with the IT department to get the access codes."
- In an email: "Dear Team, Just a quick email to follow up on the action items from yesterday's call."
Look into (something)
Meaning: To investigate, research, or examine a problem or situation.
- In a meeting: "That's a valid concern about the budget. We'll look into it and report back by Friday."
- In an email: "Regarding your question about the delivery delay, I am looking into the matter and will update you shortly."
Draw up (something)
Meaning: To prepare and write a formal document, like a contract, proposal, or plan.
- In a meeting: "Now that we've agreed on the terms, our legal team will draw up the contract."
- In an email: "As discussed, I have attached the project plan that we drew up this morning."
Push back (something)
Meaning: To delay or postpone an event, meeting, or deadline to a later date.
- In a meeting: "Due to the client's feedback, we need to push back the launch date by two weeks."
- In an email: "Hi everyone, We need to push the weekly sync back to 3 PM as the conference room is booked."
Bring forward (something)
Meaning: The opposite of 'push back'; to move a meeting or deadline to an earlier time.
- In a meeting: "Can we bring forward the project deadline to Monday instead of Wednesday?"
- In an email: "Good news! We can bring the team meeting forward to 10 AM tomorrow since the CEO is available."
Call off (something)
Meaning: To cancel a planned event.
- In a meeting: "We've decided to call off the press conference until we have more concrete data."
- In an email: "Please be advised that tomorrow's training session has been called off due to unforeseen circumstances."
Take on (something)
Meaning: To accept a new task, responsibility, or project.
- In a meeting: "I'm happy to take on the responsibility of coordinating with the new vendor."
- In an email: "Thank you for the opportunity. I am excited to take on the role of team lead for this project."
Get back to (someone)
Meaning: To respond to someone at a later time.
- In a meeting: "I don't have that sales figure right now, but I will get back to you this afternoon."
- In an email: "Thanks for your inquiry. I am currently out of the office but will get back to you as soon as possible."
Run (something) by (someone)
Meaning: To tell someone an idea or plan so they can give you their opinion.
- In a meeting: "Before we finalize the marketing slogan, I'd like to run it by the sales team."
- In an email: "Could I run a few ideas by you before the presentation on Friday?"
Weigh in (on something)
Meaning: To give your opinion or join a discussion or argument.
- In a meeting: "I'd like everyone to weigh in on the new proposal before we make a final decision."
- In an email: "We value your expertise and would appreciate it if you could weigh in on this issue."
Conclusion: Boost Your Professional Communication
Integrating these 10 essential English phrasal verbs into your vocabulary will significantly enhance your professional communication. They allow you to be more precise, sound more natural, and participate more confidently in meetings and email exchanges. Start by practicing one or two at a time, and soon you'll be using them with ease to advance your career and build stronger professional relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: How can I practice using business phrasal verbs?
A: Start by listening for them in meetings and reading them in emails from native speakers. Then, try to use one or two in a low-stakes email or a conversation with a colleague. You can also write practice sentences related to your own job to make them more memorable.
Q2: Are phrasal verbs too informal for business emails?
A: Not at all! While some phrasal verbs are very informal, the ones listed above are standard in professional and corporate language. They are appropriate for almost all business communication, from internal emails to client updates. The key is to know which ones are suitable for the workplace.
Q3: What's the difference between a phrasal verb and an idiom?
A: A phrasal verb is a verb combined with a particle (e.g., 'follow up'). Its meaning is often, but not always, related to the original verb. An idiom is a phrase where the meaning is completely different from the literal words used (e.g., 'bite the bullet'). Many phrasal verbs can be idiomatic, but not all are.
Q4: Why do native English speakers use so many phrasal verbs in the workplace?
A: Native speakers use phrasal verbs because they are an efficient and natural part of the language. They often convey a specific action or nuance more quickly than a more formal, single-word verb. For example, 'postpone' is a good word, but 'push back' is very common and natural in spoken business English.