Profession English

run out of something
 - to use all of something - to have nothing left.
e.g. 
The printer has run out of ink. Can you change the cartridge please?

We only have a couple of weeks to finish the project - we're running out of time!

 

figure something out
 - to finally understand something or find the solution to a problem after a lot of thought.
e.g.
It took me a few days to figure out how to use the new software.
He's checked the machine 3 times, but he still can't figure out why it's not working.

P3、Six Common Email Errors

1. 
I would like to remember everyone that registration for the conference ends on Thursday this week. -- Incoorect
I would like to remember everyone that registration for the conference ends on Thursday this week. -- Correct
- If you remember someone or something, you keep that person or thing in your mind.
- We use remind when we want to make people keep someone or something in their mind.

2. 
We can assure you that you will receive the goods until 2 pm on Friday. -- Incoorect
We can assure you that you will receive the goods by 2 pm on Friday. -- Correct
- If something happens until a specific time, you stop doing it at that time.
e.g.
I'm working until 7 pm this evening.
- If something happens by a specific time, it happens at or before that time.
- We use by for deadlines.

3. 
I'm afraid but Mr Johnson will not be able to attend the meeting tomorrow. -- Incoorect
I'm afraid Mr Johnson will not be able to attend the meeting tomorrow. -- Correct
- (I'm afraid + subject)
I'm afraid I don't agree.
- (I'm afraid that ...)
I'm afraid that won't be possible.

4. 
In our next meeting, we will discuss about the new marketing strategy. -- Incoorect
In our next meeting, we will discuss the new marketing strategy. -- Correct
- Never use about after discuss.

5. 
Would you mind to send me the results of the survey again? I think I deleted the original email by mistake. -- Incoorect
Would you mind sending me the results of the survey again? I think I deleted the original email by mistake. -- Correct
- Would you mind + ing
Would you mind helping me with this email?
Would you mind coming in a little earily tomorrow.

6. 
I would like to inform that we accepted your proposal, and would like to arrange another meeting to disscuss the next steps. -- Incoorect
I would like to inform you that we accepted your proposal, and would like to arrange another meeting to disscuss the next steps. -- Correct
- inform+ direct object
We informed him about the process last week.
Have you informed our partners about the new developments?

QUIZE TIME
1. What's the missing word?
We need to have the report finished ...... 12 pm on Monday.
- by

2. a, b or c?
Could you please ...... Mr Singh about the product catalogues?
a) reminds
b) remember
c) remind
- c

3. What's the missing word?
I think we should ...... these problem in our weekly meeting.
- discuss

4. a, b or c?
Would you mind ...... the details once again?
a) confirmation
b) confirming
c) to confirm
- b

5. What's the missing?
I'm ...... we won't have time to discuss that topic tomorrow.
- afraid

6. a, b or c?
We would like to ...... that this year's conference will take place in Chennai.
a) inform you 
b) informing
c) inform
- a

P4、Phrasal Verbs For Meetings Business
1. get through
- If you get through a task or an amount of work, you complete it.
We have a lot get through today, so let's begin.
Thanks for a great meeting everybody! We got through a lot of important business today.

2. Knuckle down
- to focus and work hard on the task or job to be done.
We'll have to really knuckle down if we want to finish the job on schedule.
The start of the month was hard, but we knuckled down and hit ours sales targets in the end.

3. go over
- to carefully check or review something
This proposal is very important so that's go over it one more time.
Alex, please go over the report and make sure there are no mistakes.

4. bring up
- to start discuss a topic
That's a very interesting point. - I'm glad you brought it up.
I'm sorry, but I don't think we have time for that. Maybe you should bring it up at the next meeting.

5. go on
- to start talking again after a pause or interruption.
Please go on. - I'm sorry for interrupting.
May I go on?

6. break something down
- to separate something into smaller parts so that it's easier to do or understand.
The process sounds quite complex. Could you break it down for us please?
There's a lot involved in this task, so it might be better to break it down into smaller tasks.

7. point something out
 - to tell someone somthing that they did not already know or had not thought about.
That's completely new to me! Thanks for pointing it out. 
I'd just like to point out that these results are from last year, not this year.

8. think something through
- to carefully think about the possible result of doing something.
I'm afraid that wasn't our best decision. We just didn't think it through.
I'm sorry, but I don't think this plan will work. You and your team need to think it through again.