Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Cuza IAI
FACULTATEA DE ECONOMIE I ADMINISTRAREA AFACERILOR
DEPARTAMENTUL PENTRU NVAMNT LA DISTAN I
NVMNT CU FRECVEN REDUS
Luminia Cocr
Simona Mitocaru
LIMBA ENGLEZ II
Material de studiu pentru nvmntul la distan/ nvmntul cu frecven redus
IASI, 2013
CUPRINS
Introducere ..3
Chapter 1: GLOBALIZATION .......................................................................5
Section A: Introduction
Section B: Language Focus the Tenses of the Indicative Mood
Section C: Exam Focus
Chapter 2: BUSINESS COMMUNICATION .....43
Section A: Introduction
Section B: Language Focus the Conditional Mood; the Subjunctive Mood
Section C: Exam Focus
Chapter 3: BUSINESS AND CULTURE ..65
Section A: Introduction
Section B: Language Focus Modal Verbs
Section C: Exam Focus
Bibliography.......80
Appendix ....81
CHAPTER 1
GLOBALIZATION
Objectives:
At the end of this unit the student should
- be familiarized with specific vocabulary dealing with international trade and
globalization
- recognize and practice the vocabulary from the lesson
- be familiarized and use the tenses of the Indicative Mood correctly
SECTION A: INTRODUCTION
Pre-questions
1. How many of the items you have worn, used, eaten and drunk today come
from another country?
2. What do you understand by globalization? Do you think it has had any effect
on you as consumer?
1. The following texts are about globalization and how it affects businesses. Read
them and identify which one is:
a. in favour of globalization
b. neutral
c. against globalization
1.
How noble is global?
Globalization of the economy has brought immense benefits to advanced
countries, such as the UK, and has encouraged growth and development in many
Asian and Latin American countries, though Africa is not yet one of the
beneficiaries. One of the benefits of globalization is the widespread connecting of
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people, sharing of information and ideas brought about in part by the Internet. 160
million people are now connected to email. 400 million people now travel each
year to another continent, admittedly at great cost to the environment one
passenger journey produces as much pollution as a family car in one year.
2.
An entire global industry can be dominated by a small number of companies. For
example, 85% of global trade is controlled by just a few companies. An entire
country can depend on a single transnational company. Transnationals provide
only 5% of employment whilst controlling 70% of the world trade. 51% of the top
economic units in the world are now companies not countries. It is argued that
such companies are not intrinsically interested in the countries in which they
operate as employers and they have been accused of abusing their power. Often
they adopt lower health and safety standards and employ workers in countries with
the lowest wages and plough most of the profits and taxes back home.
3.
As an indication of the size and importance, the turnover of four of the biggest
transnationals, General Motors, Ford, Exxon, and Shell exceeds that of the whole
of Africa. Microsoft has optimized its operations to the extent that it is now larger
than many national economies (e.g. Switzerland). Twenty-five years ago there
were 7,000 transnationals; today there are 40,000. 90% are in the industrialised
world. The top 500 companies control 7% of world trade, 80% of foreign
investment and 30% of GNP. The combined turnover of the ten largest
transnationals exceeds the GNP of a large group of Third World countries.
2. Complete the following sentences using appropriate words from the texts in
exercise 1. You will have sometimes to change the from of the word, as in the
model:
The effects of globalization are:
a. People communicate more with each other across the globe.
b. The economy of many Asian and Latin American countries has g________
and d________.
c. The Internet and email mean that people can sh________ ideas and
knowledge.
d. Tr________ between continents is much more widespread.
e. A few small companies can d________ an entire global industry.
f. The environment suffers from the p________ caused by the great increase
in air travel.
g. In some cases, small countries can d________ too heavily on a single
transnational company.
h. Global companies can ab________ their economic power by failing to
pl________ b________ their profits into the economies of the countries in
which they operate.
3. Identify the sentences in the previous exercise that refer to the advantages of
globalization and to its disadvantages and write next to them (A) and (D),
respectively. In groups of 3-4 students, discuss other advantages and
disadvantages of globalisation.
GOING GLOBAL
4. a. Before reading the text, answer and discuss the following questions:
What do you know about Boeing?
Where is its head office?
What do you think in-plant and out-plant mean?
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b. Now read the article excerpted from the Financial Times and check your
answers.
Boeing is the worlds most successful
aircraft maker.
Wichita, Kansas.
joint venture
consortium
franchising
licensing
local partner
subsidiary
7. Complete the following sentences with some of the methods listed in the
previous exercise.
1. Wal-Mart, a US retail chain, entered the Mexican market by setting up a 50-50
________ with a local Mexican retailer.
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2. When the Japanese tyre group Bridgestone entered the US market, it made an
________, buying the local production base of Firestone.
3. If a company wishes to enter the Chinese market, it usually looks for a
________ who will cooperate in setting up a joint venture.
4. If a company is short on capital to expand overseas, it may prefer to have
________ or ________ agreements with local businesses.
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SECTION B:
LANGUAGE FOCUS - THE TENSES OF THE INDICATIVE MOOD
Present Tense
Form:
To form affirmative statements:
Use the base form of the verb with I, you, we, they.
I work in a commercial bank.
You own a business.
We make loans to businesses.
Businesses often need money.
With he, she, it, (3rd person singular), to the base form of the verb -s or -es is
added [-es is added after verbs which end in o, -ss, -x, -sh, (t)ch, consonant+
y: (y turns into i and adds -es)]
Edward designs clothes.
Martha sells clothes.
Her store opens at 10.
do not (= don't) + base form of the verb with I, you, we, they.
I don't speak French.
does not (= doesn't) + base form of the verb with he, she, it.
He doesn't speak English.
do + subject + base form of the verb with I, you, we, they is used:
Do you need a ride home?
does + subject + base form of the verb with he, she, it is used
Does it ever snow in Florida?
permanent truths
The sun rises in the east.
Gases expand when heated.
habitual actions
John travels to Spain every year.
I usually get up at 6:30.
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While is used for an event that is interrupted by or occurs at the same time as
another event.
I'll make some phone calls while you finish your report.
Form of the Present Progressive [Continuous]
To form affirmative statements, the following structures are used: subject + present
of be + verb + -ing
are + verb + -ing with the 1st person plural, 2nd person singular plural, 3rd
person plural
We're trying to finish by Tuesday.
To form negative statements, subject + am/is/are + not + verb + -ing is used. Short
forms are normally used in conversation.
I'm not driving to work today.
The headlights on the car aren't working.
It isn't raining, so maybe I'll walk.
To form Yes/No questions, am/is/are + subject + verb + -ing is used.
Am I waiting in the right place?
Is Mr. Jackson interviewing the candidates?
Are you applying for a position?
Are they making a decision today?
A Yes/No question is often answered with a short answer.
temporary situations
He's visiting his aunt in Miami.
She's studying Chinese.
I'm working at a law firm for the summer. (= it's a temporary job)
Compare: She works at a law firm. (= it's her regular job)
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There are some verbs which cannot be normally used with the continuous
(progressive) aspect.
feelings
I like your new car.
FEELINGS
POSSESSION
NEEDS AND
PREFERENCES
appreciate
belong
need
care
have
prefer
dislike
own
want
doubt
possess
wish
feel
hate
THOUGHTS
hope
agree
like
believe
love
consider
respect
disagree
trust
expect
guess
SENSES
know
feel
recognize
hear
remember
look
suspect
notice
think
see
understand
smell
wonder
sound
taste
Past Tense
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form affirmative statements, use a simple past tense verb after the subject. The
Some verbs are irregular. Their past forms cannot be predicted. You must
learn them.
We ate dinner out.
Then we went to a movie.
To form negative statements, use subject + did not (= didn't) + base form of the verb.
I looked for her, but I didn't see her in the crowd.
She didn't stay long, because she had a headache.
To form Yes/No questions, use did + subject + base form of the verb.
Did you have any trouble finding us?
Did anyone call while I was out?
A yes/no question is often answered with a short answer.
To form a wh-question, use a question-word (what, where, how, etc.) + did + subject +
base form of the verb.
Where did they go?
Why did he leave?
How long did you stay there?
Uses of the Simple Past
Use the simple past for:
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actions or events that began and ended in the past. A time reference is
usually given or understood from the context.
I spoke to the contractor this morning.
We introduced two new products in January.
I played a lot of tennis when I was younger.
I never met my grandfather. (he is dead)
Who left the door open? (a moment ago-it is still open)
The past tense does not always refer to past time. It can also be used in present unreal
conditionals, expressing wishes, and in making polite requests.
I wondered if you could give me a ride. (more tentative or polite than I wonder if you
could give me a ride.)
In present unreal conditionals in the if clause:
Expressing wishes
after the verb to wish the past tense to refer to present time
I wish/If only I had a pen with me (now) so I could write that down.
I wish/If only I didn't have to go to work now.
To form negative statements, use subject + was not/were not (=wasn't/weren't) + verb
+ -ing
Could you repeat that, please? I wasn't listening.
We weren't enjoying the play, so we left at the intermission.
To form Yes/No questions, use was/were + subject + verb + -ing.
Was it raining when you were out?
Were you planning to work late today?
A Yes/No question is often used with a short answer.
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repeated actions
When he worked here, Patrick was always making mistakes.
polite requests
I was wondering if you could give me a ride.
events planned in the past to take place at a later time ("future in the past")
We were just going to leave when I fell and twisted my ankle.
(answering the phone) Hi, Annie. I was going to call you today.
Use the past progressive (continuous) together with the simple past for past actions
or situations interrupted by a shorter action or event.
The action in progress is often introduced by when, as, just as, or while.
Just as I was leaving the house, the phone rang.
He learned how to ski when he was living in Switzerland.
Present Perfect
Form of the Simple Present Perfect
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For regular verbs, the past participle has the same form as the simple past
tense
Andrew has worked for us for two years. Before that, he worked (= simple
past) for an advertising agency.
For irregular verbs, the past participle and simple past are often different
Interest rates rose (= simple past) again today. In the past six months, they
have risen almost 5 percent.
To form negative statements, use subject + have not/has not (= haven't/hasn't) + past
participle
I've tried calling several times, but I haven't been able to reach her.
The company has not made a profit for three years.
To form Yes/No questions, use have/has + subject + past participle.
Have you ever eaten Thai food?
Has Rebecca finished law school yet?
A Yes/No question is often used with a short answer.
with just or recently for recent actions (in American English, the simple past
tense can also be used)
They've just left for the airport.
Use the simple present perfect for situations beginning in the past and continuing
up to now (and possibly into the future).
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Notice that the present perfect is not usually used with adverbs referring to a period of
time that has ended. Use the simple past instead.
I haven't seen Ahmed today, but I saw him yesterday.
Form of the Present Perfect Progressive [Continuous]
To form affirmative statements, use subject + present of have + been + verb + -ing.
Use have (= 've) + been + verb + -ing with I, you, we, they.
We've been waiting to see Ruth Goodman for almost an hour.
Use has (= 's) + been + verb + -ing with he, she, it.
She's been talking on the phone to another client.
To form negative statements, use subject + have not/has not (= haven't/hasn't) + been
+ verb + -ing:
Use have not (= haven't) + been + verb + -ing with I, you, we, they.
I haven't been sleeping well lately.
Use has not (= hasn't) + been + verb + -ing with he, she, it.
He hasn't been teaching for very long. He just started teaching in September.
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repeated actions
The phone has been ringing all morning.
Past Perfect
Form of the Simple Past Perfect
To form affirmative statements, use subject + had (= 'd) + past participle.
My father had been with the company for ten years before the merger.
We'd just bought a new house when he lost his job.
To form negative statements, use subject + had not (= hadn't) + past participle.
He hadn't looked for a job for a long time.
To form Yes/No questions, use had + subject + past participle.
Had you heard of the company before they offered you the job?
A Yes/No question is often answered with a short answer.
To form wh-questions, use a question-word (what, where, how, etc.) + had + subject +
past participle.
Where had you worked before your last job?
Who had they interviewed before Cara?
How long had he worked there before his retirement?
to describe things one hoped or wished to do but didn't (e.g., with expect,
hope, mean, suppose, think, want)
She had hoped to reach him before he left, but she was too late.
When, after, as soon as, or by the time that are often used with the past perfect.
We went to bed as soon as our guests had gone home.
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Notice that the past perfect is not always needed to show which event came first.
Sometimes either the past perfect or simple past can be used.
After I (had) checked my schedule for the day, I returned some phone calls.
Form of the Past Perfect Progressive [Continuous]
To form affirmative statements, use subject + had (= 'd) + been + verb + ing
When I first met Joel, he'd been working at Global for five years.
We had been hiking all day and we were very hungry.
To form negative statements, use subject + had not (= hadn't) + been + verb + -ing
I had almost finished the work when I was told that I hadn't been doing it correctly.
To form Yes/No questions, use had + subject + been + verb + -ing.
Had you been getting enough sleep before you got sick?
A Yes/No question is often answered with a short answer.
To form wh-questions, use a question-word (what, where, how, etc.) + had + subject +
been + verb + -ing
Where had you been living before you moved to Chicago?
How long had you been studying English when you got the job?
Use of the Past Perfect Progressive [Continuous]
Use the past perfect progressive for:
actions that began at an earlier time and were still in progress at a time in
the past
We'd been waiting for three hours when we got the phone call. (= we were
still waiting)
Compare: We'd waited for three hours, so we decided to go home.(= we
stopped waiting and went home)
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actions that had recently ended and had an effect at a time in the past
He was very tired. He had been walking for hours.
The Future
Form of the Simple Future with will
To form affirmative statements, use subject + will + base form of the verb. The short
form 'll is usually used in conversation, especially after pronouns. I'll, you'll, he'll,
she'll, it'll, we'll, they'll.
I'll see you tomorrow.
The lawyers will review the contract next week.
To form negative statements, use subject + will not (= won't) + base form of the verb.
The short form is usually used in conversation.
Don't worry. I won't tell anyone.
They won't sign the contract until their lawyers see it.
You won't believe it, but I won the lottery!
To form Yes/No questions, use will + subject + base form of the verb.
Will the furniture be ready for delivery by the 15th?
A yes/no question is often answered with a short answer:
To form wh-questions, use a question-word (what, where, how, etc.) + will + subject +
base form of the verb.
When will you find out if you got the job?
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making predictions
There's a lot to discuss. It will be a long meeting.
making promises
I won't leave without you.
expressing hopes, expectations, and beliefs (e.g., after assume, believe, doubt,
expect, hope, suppose, think)
I hope she'll get the job.
A: Do you think he'll like the present?
B: I'm sure he will.
Form of the Future Progressive [Continuous] with will
To form wh-questions, use a question-word (what, where, how, etc.) + will + subject +
be + verb + -ing.
When will you be taking the test?
Where will you be staying in Boston?
Uses of the Future Progressive [Continuous] with will
Use the future progressive for:
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To form wh-questions, use a question-word (what, where, how, etc.) + will + subject +
have + past participle.
When will you have finished paying off your loan?
Use of the Simple Future Perfect
Use the simple future perfect for:
states that continue up to the time mentioned (and may continue into the
future)
We will have been married for a year on June 25th.
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Use be + about to + verb for something ready to start in the immediate future
Let's find our seats. The play is about to start.
Do not use these forms for predictions (e.g., not It's raining tomorrow.)
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PRACTICE
1. Put the verbs in italics in the correct tense:
a. Its raining / rains very hard. Can you give me a lift home?
b. I dont have / am not having much spare time at the moment. Im
studying / study to pass an exam.
c. The price of shares varies / is varying according to economic
conditions.
d. I speak / am speaking French fluently because I grew up in Paris, but
Im forgetting / forget my German because I never use it.
e. Anne normally deals / is dealing with enquiries from overseas, but Im
dealing / deal with this one.
2. Put the verbs in parentheses either in the Present Simple or Continuous:
a. What he (talk) about? I (not understand).
b. Im afraid Mr. Passos is (have) lunch at the moment. (Have) an
appointment?
c. We (interview) candidates for a new managerial post at the moment,
but we urgently (need) more secretarial staff.
d. The new model (perform) very well in all weather conditions. Its not
surprising that it (become) more and more popular.
e. I (think about) applying for the post in the Accounts Department. It
(depend) what the salary is.
3. Underline the correct from of the verbs typed in italics:
a. I slept / was sleeping when the fire alarm went / was going off.
b. A: Then we went to the pub.
B: What did you do / were you doing after that?
c. We did / were doing business with them on a few occasions.
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d. They lived / were living in Paris first, then Bonn and then they moved /
were moving to Prague.
4. Underline the correct form of the verb, using the information in the sentences
below:
a. I didnt know he used / was using Powerpoint. (I didnt know he knew how to
use Powerpoint)
b. I left / was leaving the room when my boss came in. (I probably didnt want to
see my boss)
c. As I told / was telling you yesterday. (I probably have something more to tell
you)
d. They asked me what I did / was doing. (They wanted to know what my job
was)
5. Complete the expressions with for or since, as appropriate and then put them
in sentences of your own.
1. ________ the company was founded
2. ________ more than a year
3. ________ the introduction of the euro
4. ________ the last six weeks
5. ________ she got her degree
6. ________ Ive known you
6. Put the verbs in italics in the news report into right tense.
Devco announced / have announced that they are going to buy their
competitors QXT. QXT is / has been in serious financial problems for
over a year last quarters profits were / have been down again by 60%.
In a statement released earlier today Devcos CEO, Alfonso Fuente, said
/ has said: We had / have had a lot of support from QXT shareholders
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35
36
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The year is 2097 and some space scientists from around the world are meeting
to discuss what they have already prepared for future projects.
We are preparing / will prepare to send a rocket to Pluto, announced the
Americans. It is having / will have six men aboard and is staying / will stay
for a whole month before making the long trip back to Earth.
Thats nothing! said the Russians. Next week we are launching / are going
to launch our spaceship containing 200 men and women to Uranus. We will
probably start / are probably going to start a colony there.
Our country is beating / will beat you both, said the British scientist. We
will / are going to send a rocket straight to the Sun.
How are you going to do / are you doing that? said the American and
Russian scientists. The rocket is going to / will melt before it gets there. No,
it isnt / wont, replied the British scientist. We will / are going to send it up
at night.
13. Complete the following sentences using will, going to, or the present
continuous of the verb in brackets:
a. Could I speak to Mr. Yo, please? Yes of course, I (fetch) him.
b. Im afraid I cant come to the office dinner next week because I (go) on
holiday.
c. Weve finally made a decision about the product launch. We (go ahead) in
May.
d. Were running out of envelopes. I (order) more.
e. The photocopier doesnt work. OK. I (call) the engineer.
f. Hes resigned from the company and he (take) a job in New York.
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14. Underline the correct form of the verb, using the information in the sentences
below:
a. We will sell / are selling the company. (Weve found a buyer.)
b. I will meet / am meeting Jo at the airport. (Jo knows about this
arrangement)
c. I will help / am helping her. (Ive just decided)
d. Shares in MBX will / are going to fall. (I have some inside information)
e. Jo is going to teach / is teaching me Chinese. (Our lessons have already
begun)
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C. EXAM FOCUS
1. Victor said he .......his project two hours before.
a. started doing
b. had started doing
c. will start doing
2. We.......started to negotiate when the door opened.
a. had just
b. have just
c. were just
3. The figures look pretty impressive! How are we........to maintain them?
a. doing
b. going
c. go
4. How many copies......with the order?
a. did we sent
b. have you sended
c. did we send
5. They.......at 8 oclock tomorrow morning.
a. left
b. be going to leave
c. are leaving
6. Unemployment.......so low since 1994.
a. is
b. hasnt been
c. wasnt
7. Paul......about the exam now. He thinks it was long and difficult.
a. is thinking
b. thinks
c. has thought
8. In 1995 Jane Wilson decided to use the money she.....from her father- a rich
farmer- in the commercial rather than agricultural sector.
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a. inherited
b. was inheriting
c. had inherited
9. The board......all staff a 10% pay rise because the company had done very well that
year.
a. awarded
b. would award
c. had awarded
10. How long.........when she finally retired?
a. did she work
b. had she been working
c. has she been working
11. of the economy has brought immense benefits to countries
a. Globalization / advanced
b. Glocalization / poor
c. Globalizing / industrialized
12. One of the . of globalization is the .connecting of people.
a. benefices / spreading
b. benefits / widespread
c. beneficiaries / widespreading
13. As an indication of the size and importance, the of four of the biggest
transnationals, General Motors, Ford, Exxon, and Shell exceeds that of the whole of
Africa.
a. turning over
b. turnout
c. turnover
14. Boeing would be a . enterprise, increasing the number of of operation.
a. global / employers
b. global / countries
c. global / machines
15. An means buying or taking over another company.
a. acquisition
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b. acquiescence
c. acquiring
CHAPTER 2
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
Objectives:
At the end of this unit students should
- be familiarized and able to discuss qualities of a good communicator
- recognize and practice the vocabulary of business communication
- be familiarized with and use the Conditional and Subjunctive Moods in
English
SECTION A: INTRODUCTION
Starting up
What makes a good communicator? Choose the three most important factors.
fluency in the language
a sense of humour
an extensive vocabulary
grammatical accuracy
physical appearance
_________________
spoken
e-mails
conversations
faxes
interviews
letters
meetings
memos
negotiations
minutes
phone calls
reports
presentations
formality/informality
jargon
technology
tone of voice
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visual gestures
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1. Which words below apply to good communicators and which apply to bad
communicators? Add two adjectives of your own to the list.
articulate
coherent
eloquent
fluent
focused
hesitant
hesitant
inhibited
realistic
persuasive
rambling
responsive
sensitive
independent
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Task:
Work in groups. You are a team in a company of consultants who specialize in
improving the way companies communicate both internally with employees
and also externally with clients. Look at the following questions.
1. Which aspects of the companys problems are related to communication? Make a
list of those that are not communication-related.
2. What are the main communication problems?
3. Decide which problems are the most serious and should take priority.
Produce the following, and decide in what form you would present each item to
the company (email, presentation, etc.)
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SECTION B:
LANGUAGE FOCUS CONDITIONALS.
THE SUBJUNCTIVE.
Conditional situations are where one action / event depends on another action/event
happening or not happening. We often use conditional structures in business
negotiations, where we want to make proposals.
Conditional sentences have two parts or clauses.
Condition clause
Result clause
It floats
Zero conditional
We use the zero conditional to describe scientific and natural laws and situations
that are always true.
If it doesnt rain for a long time, plants die.
We also use the zero conditional to give instructions or orders:
If the accountant calls, tell her to wait.
We use the present tense in the condition clause and also in the result clause.
If fuel prices rise, people use their cars less.
N.B. If the sentence begins with the condition clause, comma is used between it and
the result clause.
First conditional
We use the first conditional to talk about future situations that are possible, likely or
expected to happen. In business negotiations, we often use the first conditional to
make specific proposals.
If you increase the quantity, well give you a bigger discount.
We use the present tense in the condition clause and will + the infinitive in the result
clause.
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If can be used to say what generally happens when something else happens. Both
verbs in this type of sentence are in the present simple tense:
If you order in bulk, you usually get a discount.
If the paperwork is incomplete, the goods are often held up.
If can also be used to speculate about the future consequences of a specific event.
If I do an MBA, Ill improve my job prospects.
If we break into the Indian market, our turnover will increase substantially.
If and unless
Conditional statements can function as either promises, warnings and threats. (but
notice that unless cannot be used to make a promise)
If you order now, youll get a free gift.
We wont be able to do business with you unless you comply with our ethical
policy.
Unless we receive payment by the end of the week, we will be forced to consider
legal action.
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Second conditional
We use the second conditional to talk about the future situations that are seen as
impossible, unlikely or hypothetical.
In business negotiations, we often use the second conditional to explore areas of
agreement and disagreement.
Wed be prepared to lower our price if you placed a bigger order.
We use the past tense in the condition clause and would + infinitive in the result
clause.
If we reduced the price, we would sell more cars.
In the result clause, we can use other modal verbs instead of would to show different
degrees of certainty, possibility, etc concerning the result.
If we bought a larger quantity, we might/could get a bigger discount.
Use:
If
imagining
+
Bargaining
Third conditional
We use third conditional to reflect on the past to say what would have happened if
things had been different.
We use the past perfect tense in the condition clause and would have + the past
participle in the result clause.
If Id known you were coming, Id have arranged a demonstration.
Use:
speculating about the past when talking about things which did not happen in
the past.
If the earnings ratio had been higher, I would have bought some shares.
If we had anticipated the crash, we wouldnt have lost so much money.
The merger could have succeeded if the management styles hadnt been so
different.
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The presentation might have been better if she had felt more confident.
Alternatives to if
These are mostly used in the first and second conditionals.
When suggests that, in the speakers mind, the condition is certain to happen
but the time of the result is not known.
As soon as is similar to when, except that it implies that the result will happen
immediately the condition is met.
As soon as I hear the news, Ill tell you whether we won the award.
Unless I hear from the client today, Ill cancel the order (= if I dont hear from the
client)
In case is often used when we think ahead about possible problems and try to
avoid by doing something in advance
Ill give you my mobile phone number in case you need to contact me.
Provided that and on condition that are used as more formal alternatives to if.
For example, they are often used in contractual or legal documents and in
formal negotiations.
Provided that you complete the installation on time, we will make a bonus
payment.
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We will give you a full refund on condition that you return the products
undamaged.
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Practice:
1. Write the words in the correct order to make zero conditional sentences:
If provide request it, we people enough a translator
.
If expands you heat, it metal
.
If fall usually increases Prices supply
.
If you window that button, the opens press
.
You regards him Give to Gerard if my see
.
2. Use your own ideas to complete the conditional sentences. Decide if they
should be zero or first conditional.
1. I can never sleep at night if
I drink too much coffee during the day.
2. If theres a good film on TV tonight,
.
3. If I have some free time this weekend, I
.
4. I wont buy a new computer this year if
.
5. If I get lost in a foreign city, I
.
6. Ill take up a new hobby this year if
.
7. Ill be amazed if
.
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3.
Complete the sentences with the correct forms of the verbs in the box:
fall buy cancel go increase
If I _____ a house, Id save money in the long term.
Youd arrive earlier if you _____ by train.
Wed _____ our order if you reduced the price.
If interest rates _____, wed take out a loan.
I dont know what Id do if they _____ the flight.
If youll see John, please ask him where the file is.
THE SUBJUNCTIVE
We use the subjunctive form in certain fixed expressions and after some verbs which
express the idea of necessity, importance, etc. The subjunctive form can be used to
refer to events and situations in the past, present or future.
One form is the same as the infinitive without to. It does not show any marking for
tense and can be used to refer to events in the past, present or future.
We use it most often in that clauses after certain verbs (e.g. ask, demand, insist,
propose, recommend, request, suggest), and after adjectives (e.g. advisable, desirable,
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eager essential, important, necessary, vital), to express the idea that something is
important or necessary:
At yesterdays hearing the judge insisted (that) Mr. Bright give evidence
despite his relationship to the accused.
In future it will be vital that each party give full disclosure prior to trial.
In less formal contexts, the construction SHOULD + short infinitive can be used.
They demanded that the employee should resign.
We can use passive and negative forms of the subjunctive:
Members of the committee suggested England be excluded from future
international competitions.
Regulations require that officers not enter the crime scene without protective
clothing.
The subjunctive is used in reported speech and very formal language:
She insisted that she pay her own way.
We require that all receipts be submitted to the committee for approval.
It is vital that every applicant complete the form in triplicate.
It is vital that every applicant should complete the form in triplicate.
There are some fixed expressions which use subjunctive forms (the so-called Old
Subjunctive):
Bless you!
Long live the republic!
After a number of expressions, like if only, we use past tenses to describe things in the
present, past or future which are imagined or unreal, also suggesting regret:
If only I were rich.
Other introducing expressions like if only are:
Its time
What if
Suppose/Supposing
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Present:
Its time they were forced to solve the problem.
Future:
I wish I were coming with you tomorrow.
Past:
I wish I had never started the course. (But I have started it)
We use wish/if only + past simple to express a desire for something to be different in
the present:
I wish I had more free time.
If only I were young again.
We use wish/if only + past perfect to express regret about the past, a wish that
something different had happened:
I wish that youd told me about this before I bought the tickets.
If only he hadnt been driving so fast!
Practice:
1. Choose between hope and wish in each sentence:
a. I hope/wish Ill see you again soon.
b. I hope/wish the weather improves soon.
c. I hope/wish you didnt have to go.
d. I hope/wish I knew the answer.
e. I hope/wish we could meet next week.
2. Put each verb in brackets into a suitable tense.
a. I would say it was time you _____ (start) working seriously.
b. Id rather you _____ (not watch) TV while I am reading.
c. I wish I _____ (spend) more time swimming last summer.
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C. EXAM FOCUS
1. If I late, I get tired.
a. working
b. am working
c. late
2. If I the answer, you.
a. know, I tell
b. knew, Id tell
c. would know, Id tell
3. If I you were coming, I you at the station.
a. knew, would meet
b. knew, would have met
c. would have known, met
4. Its time we .
a. leave
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b. would leave
c. left
5. If the museum for entry, a lot of people to visit it.
a. charges, wont be able
b. will charge, will not be able
c. charge, wont
6. If the results of the customer survey are favourable, the supermarket a new range
of products.
a. introduce
b. is going to introduce
c. are introducing
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CHAPTER 3
BUSINESS AND CULTURE
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After reading this chapter, students should better understand
- the role of culture in multinationals
- how people integrate in different cultures
- the special vocabulary used in multicultural communication
- the use of modal verbs in the same context of interculturality.
SECTION A: INTRODUCTION
1. a. Answer the following questions from your knowledge of the world, then
check your answers by reading the text below.
a. What do you know about multiculturalism?
b. Are companies that contain more than one ethny manageable? Refer to
French and British people, for example.
c. What laws against discrimination do you know?
d. What do you think about the integration of Muslim people in Western
societies?
e. How do French and British citizens see ethnic integration?
Many French people feel deeply uncomfortable about defiant, assertive Islam.
France, after all, is home to biggest Muslim population (outside Turkey):
some 5m next to 3m in Germany and 1.5m in Britain. The country has about
1.600 mosques or prayer halls. Many young French Muslims find no difficulty
in balancing private faith with French secularism. But an increasing vocal
minority many of whom speak no Arabic and freely mix Nike trainers with the
hijab, find such compromise unacceptable. France can either attempt a
compromise, and allow Islam and other ethnic groups and religions a public
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British companies
mobility of labour
decision making
hierarchy
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French companies
PROJECT WORK
Pick up one of the following subjects to write a report on it; besides the
information you have got so far, you may find the one in the text below quite
useful.
Subjects
What basis is there for the national stereotype, or so-called national
characteristics?
What are the problems involved in running a multinational team or
company?
What sorts of friction can arise in multinational or multicultural groups?
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Multinationals
The multinational company is the most familiar character in this globalized
world. It is the most admired, most feared, yet most elusive of the actors
shaping the world of the 21st century.
The global corporation is the driving force of this dominant process of our
time, which is globalization. This process is driving the world economy to a
state where hundreds of dominant multinational enterprises interact with
each other and define a new global organizational and managerial model.
Any effort to develop a global business must first recognize the existence of
cultural nuances and how such values and attitudes vary. The main challenge
is to maximize the potential of cultural diversity. The answer lies in
recognizing this as a unique source for innovative ideas that will make a
company more competitive in the future.
Today one cannot afford to ignore such cultural nuances. The impact of
transnational corporations has been significant; in 1997 the United Nations
reported that the number of such multinational companies increased from
7000 to over 60 000 during the past 25 years, controlling at least 500 000
foreign affiliates and accounting in 1998 for over $ 11 trillion in worldwide
sales (compared with the world trade in that years of almost $ 7 trillion
meaning that international production by multinationals has overtaken world
trade as the dominant international dynamic). The trade between these firms
has been increasing faster than the world trade overall, while investments by
these firms (foreign direct investment) are also increasing faster than the
world trade growth.
Among these 60.000 firms there are typical multinational enterprises that
have rich resources, operating in more than 100 countries, multiple site
covering research & development, production, logistic, marketing, and
customer support (General Electric, General Motors, IBM, Motorola, NEC,
Siemens, Unilever). There are also firms which are quite different from these
conventional multinationals. For example, there are much smaller
multinational companies, both in terms of resources, staff and capital
micro-multinationals. There are similar young, technology-based
internalizing firms in Sweden, called infant multinationals. Despite the
image of the multinationals, as being huge conglomerates, the majority of the
worlds firms are quite small, to 250 employees.
SECTION B: LANGUAGE FOCUS
MODAL VERBS
A modal - always comes before another verb: You should go.
is not followed by to: NOT : You may to go
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its form never changes, there is no s on the third person, no ing form,
no past tense.
Questions are formed by inverting the modal and the subject:
Example: Should I go?
Modals express the speakers judgement about the likelihood or desirability of a
situation. Most of them can be used to talk about probability, possibility. They can
also express obligation or willingness.
Ability
We use can to say that someone is able/not able to do something.
E.g.
Could may also indicate disapproval when something is or was not done.
E.g.
We use must or has/ have to indicate what is compulsory in the present and future.
E.g.
The London Chamber of Commerce said the government must act to tackle the
If something was necessary or obligatory in the past we use had to and we use will
have to for the future.
E.g.
The absence of future obligation is expressed by will not/ wont have to.
E.g.
If you open a bank account in the Bahamas, you wont have to pay income tax.
I can work from home so I dont have to go into the office very often.
We use can to say that something is possible and cannot or could not if something is
impossible.
E.g.
If a situation is possible but it is not certain that it will happen, we use could.
E.g.
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She could have gone to Harvard but she went to Yale instead.
Likelihood
A number of modal verbs are used to express degrees of certainty, according to the
speakers perception of the situation.
100% certain
E.g.
The 21st century will be very different from the preceding ones.
Economics will never be a precise science.
Probably
E.g.
May and could are also used for permission, but not to refuse permission. They are
more formal than can.
E.g.
If we want to talk about permission for a future action we use the verb allow or
permit.
E.g.
We use will or would to make a polite request or to ask someone if they are willing to
assist.
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E.g.
If you want to say that you are unwilling to do something, you can use will not or
wont.
E.g.
If you make a firm commitment to do something in the future you use will:
E.g.
Would is used to talk about actions that happened frequently in the past.
E.g.
Practice
1. Complete the sentences using either could or managed to:
a. After a lot of discussion we.. strike a deal.
b. When I was younger I .run several kilometres without feeling tired.
c. She..find a good job despite her lack of formal qualifications.
d. Shehave left me a message how was I supposed to know.
e. Hes so lazy I really feel he.try harder.
2. React to these situations using could have:
1. Why didnt she ring to tell me she would be late?
2. She had the facts and figures but left me in the dark.
3. It wasnt worth us taking a taxi, the station was within walking distance.
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4. It took six days for the letter to arrive and we both have e-mail.
3. Complete these sentences so that they are true for your country. Use have to,
dont have to and must not.
1. You.carry a gun.
2. You.pay to use buses and trains
3. You.vote if you are over 18.
4. You drink alcohol at work
5. Youdeclare income earned abroad.
6. Youwear a seat belt when driving a car.
4. Make appropriate sentences (on company situations) from this table, using
can:
Situations
-Learning a
foreign
hard work
language
good fun
- Entertaining
challenging
overseas
can
occasionally
be
a waste of time
customers
sometimes
painful
- being in
often
boring
charge of a new
project
- setting up a
business
- negotiating a
contract
5. Complete the dialogue with these expressions:
Do you need any help?
Would you like me.
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c. dont have to
7. ..I use your pen? No, Im afraid you
a. May, may not
b. Can, cannot
c. May, cant
8. ..you like me to give you a hand?
a. would
b. could
c. should
9. I not tolerate such a behaviour any more.
a. shall
b. will
c. must
10. Our previous chairman always begin a meeting with a joke.
a. will
b. shall
c. would
11. In the sentence: I will make sure my colleagues are informed. will expresses:
a. willingness
b. refusal
c. promise
12. In the sentence: Oil will float on water will expresses:
a. willingness
b. refusal
c. typical behaviour
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13. Any effort to develop a global business.. first recognize the existence of cultural
nuances and how such values and attitudes vary.
a. must
b. will
c. has to
14. One ignore these cultural traits, but they not have to become a barrier for
progress.
a. can, should
b. cannot, should
c. must, can
15. Today one .afford to ignore such cultural nuances.
a. should
b. must
c. cannot
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