UNIT 1

MAKING
CONNECTIONS
Business English 1
Centre for Education and Language
 CONTENTS
1.Vocabulary
Social networks and the internet

2.Work skills
Writing a professional profile

3.Grammar
Present Simple and Present Continuous

4.Functions
Networking
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this unit, Students will be able to:

 Identify and use present simple in sentences;

 Identify and use present continuous in sentences;
 Write professional profile on LinkedIn or Jobstreet;
 Recognize and use words associated with social
networks and the internet; and
 Practice effective networking.
GRAMMAR
 Simple Present Tense
• Simple present tense is used to
describe :  For examples:
Thoughts and feelings 1. I think she took the
Things that are true/facts book.
Repeated actions or
routines
2. We live in this area.
Habits 3. My brother jogs every
 We form the present simple with evening.
the infinitive form of the verb. For 4. I spend most of my
he, she, and it, we add an –s to
time in the office in
the end of the verb.
front of a computer.
For example:
I work for Apple. He works for
Microsoft.
 Simple Present Forms
• Positive Form
• Singular Nouns (He, She, It,
Your friend): verbs end with –
s or –es.
• For example:
It gets busier each day.
Meena thinks so too.
He kicks the ball.
 Plural Nouns (We, They, I,
You): verbs end without –s or
es.
• For example:
Many people love to watch
movies.
You know the answer, right?
I wear casual dress everyday.
Simple Present Forms
• Negative & Question Forms
 Use do not or does not
before the verb
 Do not add –s or –es to the
verb
 For example:
 She doesn’t like
swimming.
 I don’t know how to fix it.
Do you have it now?
 Why does he do it?
1.To describe repeated actions or habits.
I get up at seven every morning

2.To talk about things that are always or generally true.

The sun sets in the west

3. To describe a permanent situation or a condition with no definite start or finish

but which is true now.
We live in London

4. With adverbs of frequency such as always, usually, …

She often studies in the library

5. With time expressions such as every day/ week/ year, in the

morning/afternoon/ evening and at night.
I go to the gym once a week

6. To express future meaning with actions and events that are part of a fixed
timetable.
The train leaves at 8’30

7. To describe a scene in the past in a vivid way.

Then he comes and says …
• State Verbs
 State verbs are used to describe thoughts, feelings, and
the senses.
 Not changing or not likely to change
 We generally use the Present Simple with state verbs.
 For example:
• I don’t believe what she says on her blog. (am not
believing)

• He knows a lot about data systems. (is knowing)

State Verbs

Not normally used

in ‘be + verb –ing’
verbs
Let’s watch the video!
Read the High Flyer article and then answer the questions
below.
1. How does Lynn keep in touch with her friends and
family?
2. How has LinkedIn changed the way Harry recruits
staff?
3. How do Keith and Lucie plan to use social media
to promote their business?

How many Present Simple and Present

Continuous forms can you find from the
article?
 Answers
1. Facebook
2. He posts adverts on the site. Its quicker than
traditional ways and its free.
3. They plan to promote events and offers, etc. using
Twitter and Facebook feeds, and a blog.
 Activity
Read the example sentences and match them with
descriptions a-d.

1. Our company uses LinkedIn.

2. I spend most of my time in the office in front of a
computer.
3. We’re currently improving the site.
4. In marketing these days, smartphone users are
becoming more and more important.
a. a habit or routine ___
b. a trend ___
c. an activity in progress or temporary situation ____
d. a fact ____
Present Continuous Tense
• Used to show that an ongoing action is happening now,
either at the moment of speech or now in a larger sense.
• Can also be used to show that an action is going to take
place in the near future
• It is formed using am/is/are + present participle
• Questions are indicated by inverting the subject
and am/is/are.
• Negatives are made with not.
Statement :You are watching TV.
Question : Are you watching TV?
Negative : You are not watching TV.
Present Continuous Uses
USE 1 Now
• to express the idea that something is happening
now, at this very moment.
• Examples:
You are learning English now.
You are not swimming now.
Are you sleeping?
Is he sitting or standing?
They are reading their books.
USE 2 Longer Actions in Progress Now
• “Now" can mean: this second, today, this month,
this year, this century etc.
• We are in the process of doing a longer action
which is in progress; however, we might not be
doing it at this exact second.
• Examples: (All of these sentences can be said while
eating dinner in a restaurant.)
I am studying to become a doctor.
I am not studying to become a dentist.
I am reading the book Tom Sawyer.
Aren't you teaching at the university now?
USE 3 Near Future
• Something will or will not happen in the near future.
• Examples:
I am meeting some friends after work.
I am not going to the party tonight.
Is he visiting his parents next weekend?
USE 4 Repetition and Irritation with "Always"
• Words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the
idea that something irritating or shocking often
happens.
• The meaning is like simple present, but with
negative emotion. Remember to put the words
"always" or "constantly" between "be" and
"verb+ing."
• Examples:
• She is always coming to class late.
• He is constantly talking. I wish he would shut up.
• I don't like them because they are always
complaining.
Present Continuous Forms
 For most verbs, we add –ing:
 starting, playing, studying, …
 If the verb ends in a consonant +e, we drop –e and
add –ing:
 living, deciding, …
 If the verb has one syllable and ends in a single
vowel + a consonant, we double the consonant
and add –ing:
stopping, planning, …
 If the verb ends in w or x, we don’t double the final
consonant:
 fixing, showing, …
 If the verb has 2 syllables, ends in a vowel + a
consonant and the stress on the last syllable, it doubles
the final consonant:
 preferring, beginning
 If the verb has 2 syllables and ends in –l, it doubles the l:
 Travelling
 If the verb ends in –ie, it changes –ie to –y and adds –
ing:
tying, dying
Let’s watch the video!
Practice
Choose the correct verb forms to complete the sentences.

1. They stay/ are staying at the Savoy every year.

2. We stay/ are staying in London till Wednesday.
3. The value of the euro always goes/ is always going down when
the dollar goes up.
4. The value of the yen goes / is going up because of the recent
economic measures.
5. A Japanese electronics company develops/is developing a new
type of glass for smartphones.
6. Most start-ups develop/are developing quickly, but reach a peak
after two years.
7. I try / am trying to book my flight, but there aren’t any seats
available.
8. He always tries/ is trying really hard, but he often comes last.
9. I sometimes wait /am sometimes waiting more than 30 minutes
for my train to work.
10. I wait / am waiting for Harry. He should be finished soon.
 Answers
1. stay
2. are staying
3. always goes
4. is going
5. is developing
6. develop
7. am trying
8. tries
9. sometimes wait
10. am waiting
Practice 2
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

1. A What ___________ you __________ (think) of the new database?

B It’s great. I __________ (use) it a lot at the moment.

2. A How ________ (be) your new car?

B It _________ OK, but I _______ (prefer) the old one.

3. A __________ you _________ (know) how to use this new software?

B I’m not sure. I _________ (check) the instructions right now.

4. A When _________ Gina usually _________ (start) work?

B She usually __________ (start) at 8.00,but this week she _____(start) at 10.00.

5. A Where _________ (be) Carlos?

B He _________ (not be) at his desk. Maybe he ________ (make) some coffee.

6. A How ________ the new sales rep ________ (do)?

B He _______ (have) a few problems with one of his customers.

7. A How many applicants ________ we _________ (have)?

B We only __________ (have) four: none of them ________ (have) experience.
VOCABULARY
SOCIAL NETWORKS AND THE INTERNET
Read the user guide on how to use a social networking site.
 Answers
2. click
3. login
4. chat
5. upload
6. link
7. download
8. post
9. access
 Thank you
Reference:

Baker, D., Harding, K., & Lane, A.

(2015). International express: intermediate. Oxford:
Oxford University Press.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z19NAX_gWxI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elcs9lc6wIM