Speaking: Business
Remember, try and make your own example sentences using
this vocabulary.
Business (countable noun)
= a company
We have a lot of new
businesses in this city
I want to start my own business.
Business (uncountable noun)
Trade, or buying and selling
Business is good at the moment
_______________
Now let’s look at the words used to describe different
groups of people and businesses, starting from the smallest
and becoming bigger.
1. An entrepreneur
(someone who starts a new business)
A freelancer = a consultant
(someone who is self-employed but does work for other
people or companies)
1. A business = a company
We can also say,
an enterprise = a firm
A venture = a new business (emphasizing the risk)
A start-up = a new business, often used to talk about
technology firms
There are a lot of tech start-ups in Silicon Valley
1. An industry
Primary (mining, fishing, farming)
Secondary (car manufacturing)
Tertiary (services; teaching, nursing…)
Heavy (B2B; oil, shipbuilding)
Light (consumer-oriented; B to C manufacturing of
clothes, furniture, electronic gadgets)
1. A sector (contains several industries; Agriculture,
Education, Retail, Financial services…)
Useful collocations
A market (where a number of companies trade)
To enter a market
To break into new markets
To discover and conquer new markets
To corner a market = to dominate a market
Unemployment (n.) the number of people without a job
The rate of unemployment has risen recently
He is unemployed
He is on the dole (Inf. UK)= He is unemployed
Debates and Discussions
about Business
How small companies grow
Here are some useful expressions and phrases you can use
to discuss this.
They can invest
They can seek investment
Find an angel investor =a rich person who will invest in a
new company (usually become part-owner)
Get venture capital =get investment for a new business
Make a lot of sales
Open more branches (for on the ground businesses / local
business)
Go global
By investing/engaging in the community
Get repeat buyers = sell to existing customers
Focus on a specific niche =a specific market segment
Take on new staff=employ new workers
Diversify = sell new (lines of) products
Don’t put all your eggs into one basket = make sure you
diversify
Keep costs low
Get a subsidy = a grant, money from the government to help
you
Improve the bottom line (your profit) =revenue (income)
minus expenditure (costs)
Do good market research
IELTS Speaking Idioms
about Business
Idioms and idiomatic expressions are necessary to get a
higher vocabulary score in IELTS Speaking. Here are some
useful idioms you can use to talk about the topic of business.
To take a hammering = to suffer economically
The F&B (food and beverage)
industry has taken a real
hammering recently.
In the recent recession, many
businesses have taken a
hammering
To keep your head above water = to survive
With the lockdowns, many small
businesses can’t keep their head
above water
To be hard hit (by…) = to suffer, be badly affected by…
Businesses have been hard hit in
recent times
Cut-throat competition = very strong competition
There is a lot of cut-throat
competition in the mobile phone
market
Many companies will need to go back to the drawing
board / to start from scratch = to begin again (from the
beginning)
This product is a cash cow = it makes a lot of profit
Samsung has the lion’s share of the market (= the
biggest part)
With Covid, many companies have been hard hit, but
they have to bite the bullet (= resist, wait, put up with
it)
Part 1
Do you think it’s important for people to have good business skills? Why or why not?
What type of businesses are most common in your country?
Would you prefer to work for a large company or a small business? Why?
Have you ever worked in a business environment? What was it like?
How do businesses promote their products in your country?
Do you think people should start their own businesses or work for an employer? Why?
Are there any types of businesses that are more successful in your country than others?
How has the rise of technology affected businesses in your country?
What qualities do you think are important for someone who runs a business?
Do you think businesses should prioritize environmental sustainability? Why or why not?
How do you feel about the idea of working from home in a business context?
Are there any challenges that new businesses face in your country?
How important is teamwork in a business environment?
Do you think people in your country prefer shopping online or in physical stores? Why?
How do people typically find out about new businesses or startups where you live?
Part 2
Describe a successful business or company in your country. You should say:
What type of business it is
How long it has been successful
What made it successful
And explain why you think it is successful.
Part 3
1. How important is it for businesses to adapt to changing trends and
technologies?
2. In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges businesses face
in today’s economy?
3. Do you think the success of a business largely depends on the
location where it operates? Why or why not?
4. How do you think businesses can improve their relationship with
customers?
5. Do you believe that ethical practices are essential for the success
of a business? Why or why not?
6. How do you think globalization has affected businesses in your
country?
7. Should businesses focus more on profit or social responsibility?
What do you think?
8. What role does advertising play in the success of a business? Do
you think it’s effective?
9. Do you think larger companies have an advantage over smaller
ones in the modern business world? Why?
10. How do you think businesses can contribute to improving the
environment?
11. What qualities do you think make a leader successful in a
business environment?
12. How important is it for a business to have a strong online
presence today?
13. How do you think the rise of e-commerce has impacted
traditional brick-and-mortar stores?
14. Do you think competition is healthy for businesses? Why or why
not?
15. What is the role of innovation in business? Can a business survive
without it?
