English expressions useful for business communication. Some of them appear translated and some others do not.

1. Functional language.- ESL 1 (1.1)
Good morning! Morning! …………………….
Good afternoon! Afternoon! -¡Buenas tardes! (12 pm – 6 pm)
Good evening! –¡Buenas tardes (noches)! (6 pm-12 am)
Good night!-¡Hasta mañana!
Hello! Hi! - ……………
Bye bye! Goodbye! ……………….
See you! ……………
Hello! How are you?-Hola, ¿cómo estás?
I´m fine, thanks! / Not bad! - …………………………………
How do you do! How do you do!-¿Cómo está usted? ………………….
Nice to meet you! / Pleased to meet you!-………………………..
Thank you! / Thanks! / Many thanks! / Thank you very much! - Gracias
You´re welcome! / Any time! / It´s alright! / Not at all!
No problem!- …………………………
*
spring summer autumn winter – primavera verano ………….. …………….
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday- lunes,
martes, …………………, ………………………………………………………………………….
*

2. Functional language.- ESL 1 (1.2)
Do you understand me? - ¿me entiende usted?
Do you speak English?- ……………………….
Do you speak French? -………………………
Yes, I do / No, I don´t - ……………………. / …………………..
Can you repeat that, please? -¿Puede repetir eso, por favor?
Of course! Hold on a second- …………………… ………………….
Can you speak more slowly? Well, yes…
…………………………………………..
What time is it, please?-……………………
Sorry, I don´t know- ………………………..
It is 5 o´clock- ………………..
It is half past 12 - …………………………
It is a quarter to 7 - ………………….....
It is twenty past 3- ………………………
Is it Tuesday today? - ……………………….
Yes, it is- ……………
What is your name? -………………………..
How old are you? -¿cuántos años tienes?
I´m 13- …………………….
Is Smith your last name? -……………………….
Can you spell your last name / family name? - ………………………..
Write your last name and your first name-…………………………….
Do not forget to jot down the date - ………………………………
To forget – olvidar
To jot down - anotar
To spell – deletrear
To understand – entender
Everybody understands this, don´t they?- ………………………………..
That´s none of your business-………………………………
One two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve thirteen fourteen
fifteen sixteen eighteen nineteen twenty
First second third fourth fifth sixth seventh eighth ninth tenth eleventh twelfth
thirteenth
EF.- 14112015

3. Functional language.-ESL 1 (1.3)
watch out!.¡cuidado!
look out!.
thanks!. /thank you!.
it ́s alright!.de nada/not at all.
please!.
cheers!.¡gracias!
hello!.¡hola!
bye bye!.¡adiós!/goodbye!.
how are you?.¿qué tal?/¿cómo estás?
fine, thanks!. /not bad.
what is your name?.¿cómo te llamas?
my name is John.
my name is Anne.me llamo Ana
what is your family name/last name?.
how old are you?.¿cuántos años tienes?
I ́m fifteen/I ́m fifteen years old.
Surname / last name/ family name.apellido
I don ́t understand you.
can you repeat that?.
what is the meaning of...?.
meaning.significado / what do you mean?.¿qué quieres decir?
I don ́t know.no lo sé
how do you say...?.
you are right.tienes razón
I think so. /I don´t think so.
pass me your ball pen/pen, please!.
spell it!.¡deletréalo!
I agree with you.estoy de acuerdo contigo
what do you want?.
ball pen.bolígrafo/ pencil.lápiz / rubber. /jotter.bloc de notas
notebook.cuaderno / pass.aprobado / fail.
book. /dictionary. /notepad.

4. Functional language.- ESL 1 (1.4)
¿se puede entrar? /¿se puede pasar?.may I come in? / can I com... ....?
sí, pase / sí, adelante.yes, come in
buenas tardes.good aft...........
adiós.go............
hasta luego.se... ........
¿pueden callarse un minuto, por favor?.could you be silent, please?
¿sabe usted hablar francés?.ca.. you sp........ Fr.......?
¿sabes escribir a máquina?.can you type?
¿puedes venir aquí ahora?.can you ......... he.... right no...?
no.n... / sí.y.......
ahora.n..... / antes.bef........
después.aft......
hoy.tod...... / ayer.yest.......... / mañana.tom..........
esta semana.th...... we..... / la próxima semana.ne...... wee..
¿pueden ayudarme, por favor?.c.... yo... he....... me, please?
lo siento, no puedo.I´m so....., I can.......
por supuesto que sí.yes, o... cou........
claro / seguro.sure
¿sigo?.sha... I cont...........
¿traduzco este texto, profesor?.sh..... I translate th.... te....., te........?
¿abro la ventana?.sh..... I ope... th... win.......?
¿puede repetir esa palabra?.c.... you re......... th....... wo......?
¿leemos esa página?.sh...... w.. re.... th..... pa......?
no, ¡esperen un segundo!.no, wai... a .......
¿puedo ir al aseo?.can I .... t.. th... to........? / cou..... I ...................?
sí, si puede.yes, you c....
sí, desde luego.yes, of co.......
no, no puede.no, you c.......
¡atchús!.atchis
¡Jesús!.bless you!
*
EF.-3122015

5. Functional language.- ESL 1 (1.5)
Morning! It´s a nice day!.
open the windows, please!.¡abran las ventanas, por favor!
switch the light on!.¡encienda la luz! / switch the light off!
listen to me, people! the whole sentence.la oración completa
**
I ´ll call the register.paso lista de asistentes
attendance paper.lista de asistencia
González, Marta!.González, Marta
present!.¡presente” / here!.¡aquí! / yes!.¡sí! / me!.¡yo!
Pérez, Elena!.Pérez, Elena
absent!.¡ausente! / she´s ill.está enferma / missing.falta
**
shut up! stand up!.¡levántese! / sit down!.¡siéntese!
please, be quiet!.por favor, tranquilícense
mobiles off.móviles apagados
**
of course.por supuesto
No way!.de ninguna manera sorry, it was my fault!
anyway.de todos modos
EF.-
;-) Be good

6. Functional language.- ESL 1 (1.6)
right.correcto wrong.incorrecto
May I come in?.¿se puede entrar? yes, go ahead/come in!
no, wait a second, please!
**
Can I help you? what is the meaning of ítem?
I´m afraid not.me temo que no
read those lines once more page.página
please, stop that noise!
are you sure?.¿está usted seguro? / yes, I am
no, I´m not.no lo estoy
**
answer to these questions translate this text.traduzca este texto
make a sentence.haga una oración answer key.claves, soluciones
circle the right answer
underline.subraye again.otra vez
reorder these sentences.reordene estas oraciones
exercise.ejercicio item.apartado
**
EF.-40216

7. Functional language.- ESL 1 (1.7)
Telephoning I
RECEIVER -Good mo……….! Madison International, c….. I help you?
CALLER -Morning! Yes. Can I speak to Ms Banton, pl…………?
RECEIVER –Who´s ca………, please?
CALLER – Sorry, th…….. is George Leeds from XDF Paper Company
RECEIVER- Hold o……a second, please!
CALLER - Thank you!
RECEIVER- I´m sorry, Mr Leeds. I´m afr…... Ms Baton is not in the office at the
moment. Ca… I take a message?
CALLER- Yes, pl…….. Could …… tell Ms Baton I phoned?
RECEIVER- Su….., I´ll give her y…….. message
CALLER- Thank you very much! Have a nice d……..!
RECEIVER- You´re we………! You too, sir
*
KEY:
RECEIVER -Good morning! Madison International, can I help you?
CALLER -Morning! Yes. Can I speak to Ms Banton, please?
RECEIVER –Who´s calling, please?
CALLER – Sorry, this is George Leeds from XDF Paper Company
RECEIVER- Hold on a second, please!
CALLER - Thank you!
RECEIVER- I´m sorry, Mr Leeds. I´m afraid Ms Baton is not in the office at the
moment. Can I take a message?
CALLER- Yes, please. Could you tell Ms Baton I phoned?
RECEIVER- Sure, I´ll give her your message
CALLER- Thank you very much! Have a nice day!
RECEIVER- You´re welcome! You too, sir

8. Functional language.- ESL 1 (1.8)
Telephoning II
RECEIVER -Good af……….! Parker Com…….. Sch……..
CALLER –G……… af……..! Cou….. I speak to the Head Te……, pl………?
RECEIVER –Ma…. I ha….. your name, please?
CALLER- Oh, of course. So……!. Th….. is Sarah R…….. I´m Michael Reuter´s
mo…… He …. at Year 11
RECEIVER-I se… Ha…. on a mi….., pl……!
CALLER – Al……., th……!
RECEIVER- I´m sorry, the H…… T….. is in a meeting r….. no… Could you call h….
back in ab….. 10 min…., pl……?
CALLER- Yes, sure. Th…… you!
RECEIVER- You´re wel……..!
CALLER- Goo………..!
RECEIVER- Goo……..!
*
KEY:
RECEIVER -Good afternoon! Parker Comprehensive School
CALLER –Good afternoon! Could I speak to the Head Teacher, please?
RECEIVER –May I have your name, please?
CALLER – Oh, of course. Sorry! This is Sarah Reuters. I´m Michael Reuters
´mother. He is at Year 11
RECEIVER- I see. Hang on a minute, please!
CALLER – Alright, thanks!
RECEIVER- I´m sorry, the Head Teacher is in a meeting right now. Could you call
him back in about 10 minutes, please?
CALLER- Yes, sure. Thank you!
RECEIVER- You´re welcome!
CALLER- Goodbye!
RECEIVER- Goodbye!

9. Functional language. ESL 1 (1.9)
In a restaurant:
WAITER- Good afternoon! Are you ready to order?:
CUSTOMER- Not yet, give us two minutes, please!: Aún no, denos dos minutos,
por favor
WAITER- Can I get you any drinks in the meantime, sir?:
CUSTOMER- Yes. What would you like to drink, dear? : Sí ¿Qué te gustaría
tomar, querida?
WOMAN- I would like a cup of white wine, please:
WAITER- White wine, yes. And the gentleman?:
CUSTOMER- I´ll have water, please: tomaré agua, por favor
WAITER- Er… Still or sparkling water?:
CUSTOMER- Still, please!: sin gas, por favor
(Five minutes later)
WOMAN- Could I test the wine, please?:
WAITER- Yes, of course. Here you are, madam: Sí, desde luego. Aquí tiene,
señora
CUSTOMER- Excuse me, waiter. What do you recommend?:
WAITER- I do recommend the roast beef. It´s excellent, sir:
CUSTOMER- Shall we order the roast beef, darling?:
WOMAN- Yes. That sounds great: sí, suena bien
WAITER: Would you like anything else?:
WOMAN- Nothing else, thanks!: nada más, gracias
CUSTOMER- How long will it take, waiter?:
WAITER- It´ll take about twenty minutes, sir:
CUSTOMER – All right, then! Thank you! :
(Some minutes later the waiter comes back with the dishes)
WAITER - Enjoy your meal!: ¡qué aproveche!
CUSTOMERS – Thank you! :
(Later on)
WOMAN- Could we have another bottle of wine, please? :
WAITER- Sure! : por supuesto
CUSTOMER – Excuse me, do you mind bringing us some more bread, please? :
(Some minutes after that)
WAITER - Would you like any coffee or dessert?:
CUSTOMER- No, thanks! : no, gracias
WAITER - Was everything alright? :
CUSTOMER- Yes. Everything was delicious. By the way, could we have the bill,
please? : Sí. Todo estaba delicioso. A propósito, ¿podría traer la cuenta?

10. Functional language. ESL 1 (1.10)
Offers:
ofrecimientos
1./
Shall I + V + C ?
Shall I bring you some water?
Shall I close the windows? (¿cierro las ventanas?)
Shall I ask her?
Shall I phone you? (¿te llamo?)
2./
Would you like + ME + to + V + C ?
Would you like me to copy my phone number on a paper?
Would you like me to type exercise 4 for you? (¿quieres que te pase el ejercicio 4
a máquina?)
Would you like me to phone your parents?
Would you like me to do it? (¿te gustaría que te lo hiciese yo?)
Requests:
peticiones
Could you + V + C?
Could you tell me the time, please? (¿podría decirme la hora, por favor?)
Could you just wait a second?
Could you bring us some more wine, please?
Could you speak slowly? (¿podría hablar despacio?)
I ´ll have + C / I´d like to + V + C
I´ll have a Coke, please
I´ll drink a decaf
I´ll have a cheese sandwich (yo tomaré un sandwich de queso)
I´d like to eat a hamburger
I´d like to drink a beer (me gustaría beber una cerveza)
[cf.-International Express (OUP)]

11. Functional language. ESL 1 (1.11)
Extremely useful phrases (I)
that´s none of your business.
by the way.a propósito / por cierto
yes, please!.
no, thanks!. No, gracias
(after a sneeze) Bless you!.¡Jesús! (después de un estornudo)
your turn.su turno
ladies first.las mujeres primero
S.O.S.
(for a picture) say cheese!.decid queso [en castellano: patata]
pardon? / I beg your pardon?. ¿cómo dice? / ¿perdón?
OK / okay.de acuerdo / vale [uniendo las yemas de los dedos pulgar e índice
formando una O y dejando los demás dedos en forma de K
correct.
unfair!.
look out!
for example.por ejemplo
is that clear?.¿está eso claro?
Extremely useful abbreviations (I)
&c.etcétera / y el resto
pp.pages
i.e.
e.g.exempli gratia (por ejemplo)
N.B.Nota Bene (tome nota / muy importante)
aka.
asap.as soon as possible (tan pronto como sea posible)
RSVP. répondez s'il vous plaît (del francés, en las cartas o correos: responda por
favor)
E.Fouz.-200316

12. Functional language.- ESL 1 (1.12)
Making arrangements
We are having an important meeting at 9 am tomorrow
To suggest a time or a place to meet
Are you free on Wednesday?
Can we meet next Monday at the café?
Shall we have a coffee this afternoon?
How about (meeting on) Thursday?
What about (meeting in) my office?
To say a time or a place is not convenient for you
No, I´m sorry. I´m not free on Tuesday
Oh, I´m busy all day on Monday
I´m sorry, I can´t
I´m afraid I can´t. I´m very sorry
To agree a time or a place
Wednesday morning is fine for me too
That sounds fine / great / good
Let ´s meet at your office at 10 am
Cf. Angela Buckingham, International Express-Elementary
Oxford