Phrasal verbs are a key part of the English language, and they can be especially useful in business communication. Using phrasal verbs correctly can help you sound more natural and fluent in your conversations and writing.
To help you improve your business English skills, we’ve compiled a list of 10 essential phrasal verbs for business communication:
- Bring up: This phrasal verb means to mention or introduce a topic in a conversation. For example: “I’d like to bring up the issue of our project deadlines.”
- Follow up: This phrasal verb means to continue or take action after a previous event or communication. For example: “I’ll follow up with you after the meeting to discuss the next steps.”
- Cut back: This phrasal verb means to reduce or decrease something, such as expenses or staff. For example: “We need to cut back on our spending to stay within our budget.”
- Hold on: This phrasal verb means to wait or pause for a moment. For example: “Can you hold on for a minute while I pull up the report?”
- Look into: This phrasal verb means to investigate or research something. For example: “I’ll look into the new software options and report back to you.”
- Take on: This phrasal verb means to accept or assume responsibility or a task. For example: “I’m willing to take on the new project if it’s within my area of expertise.”
- Get ahead: This phrasal verb means to progress or be successful in a particular area. For example: “By networking and gaining new skills, I hope to get ahead in my career.”
- Set up: This phrasal verb means to establish or create something, such as a meeting or a new process. For example: “Let’s set up a conference call to discuss the project.”
- Bring in: This phrasal verb means to introduce or invite someone into a situation. For example: “We need to bring in an expert to help us with this problem.”
- Take over: This phrasal verb means to assume control or responsibility of something. For example: “The new manager will take over the project from here.”
By incorporating these essential phrasal verbs into your business communication, you can sound more natural and confident in your interactions with colleagues, clients, and partners. For more tips and resources on improving your business English skills, consider working with a business English coach or taking an English language course focused on business communication.