Business English Masterbook

The Complete Professional English Resource

Part of The Mastery Series by Empire English Online

Open the Door to Global Business Success

In today's interconnected world, Business English is the universal language of commerce. Whether you're negotiating contracts in Singapore, presenting to stakeholders in Frankfurt, or leading video conferences across time zones, your ability to communicate with precision and confidence determines your professional success.

The Business English Masterbook is a comprehensive 156-page resource designed for serious adult learners who demand more than a basic phrasebook. This is not a beginners' guide to office vocabulary—it is a rigorous, professionally structured reference that takes you from Pre-Intermediate (A2) through Advanced (C1) level, aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

What's Inside

PART 1: Business Core Foundations

Eight essential chapters covering the communication skills every professional needs:

• Chapter 1: Business Communication Essentials — The 7 Cs of communication, formality registers, politeness strategies, active listening techniques
• Chapter 2: Professional Email & Correspondence — Email structure, opening and closing phrases, tone selection, common mistakes to avoid
• Chapter 3: Meetings & Presentations — Chairing meetings, contributing effectively, presentation language, handling Q&A
• Chapter 4: Numbers, Data & Financial Language — Describing trends, percentages, graphs, financial terminology
• Chapter 5: Telephone & Video Conference Skills — Call openings, message-taking, managing technical difficulties, virtual meeting etiquette
• Chapter 6: Negotiation & Persuasion Language — Making proposals, expressing conditions, reaching agreements, diplomatic language
• Chapter 7: Networking & Relationship Building — Small talk, follow-up communication, maintaining professional relationships
• Chapter 8: Cross-Cultural Business Communication — Cultural awareness, avoiding misunderstandings, adapting your communication style

PART 2: Vocabulary Master Bank

430+ essential business terms organised across 19 professional fields, each with:

• Part of speech
• Clear definition in plain English
• Authentic example sentence
• CEFR level indicator (A2, B1, B2, C1)

Fields covered:

1. Office & Workplace
2. Meetings
3. Email & Written Communication
4. Telephone & Video Calls
5. Project Management
6. Sales & Customer Relations
7. Marketing & Advertising
8. Finance & Accounting
9. Human Resources
10. Customer Service
11. Operations & Logistics
12. Legal & Compliance
13. Economics & Markets
14. Presentations & Public Speaking
15. Technology & Digital Business
16. Strategy & Planning
17. Leadership & Management
18. Negotiations & Contracts
19. Start-ups & Entrepreneurship

PART 3: Grammar Reference

12 comprehensive chapters covering the grammar structures essential for professional communication:

1. Tenses for Business
2. Modal Verbs
3. Conditionals
4. Passive Voice
5. Reported Speech
6. Relative Clauses
7. Articles
8. Prepositions
9. Linking Words & Discourse Markers
10. Comparatives & Superlatives
11. Gerunds & Infinitives
12. Word Order & Emphasis

PART 4: Abbreviations & Jargon

248 abbreviations and business jargon terms across eight categories:

• General Business (ASAP, FYI, TBC, EOD...)
• Finance & Accounting (ROI, EBITDA, P&L, YoY...)
• Technology & IT (API, SaaS, CRM, UX...)
• Marketing & Sales (B2B, B2C, CTR, SEO...)
• Human Resources (HR, KPI, PTO, NDA...)
• Email & Communication (RE, CC, BCC, OOO...)
• Business Jargon A–M (bandwidth, deliverables, leverage...)
• Business Jargon N–Z (pivot, stakeholder, synergy...)

PART 5: Practice Exercises

30 exercises with complete answer key, covering:

• Vocabulary matching and gap-fill
• Grammar transformation and correction
• Communication role-plays and scenarios
• Abbreviation and jargon identification

PART 6: Business Writing Templates

17 ready-to-use templates for professional communication:

• Formal and informal emails
• Meeting agendas and minutes
• Reports and proposals
• CVs and cover letters
• Complaint and apology letters
• And more...

PART 7: Phrasal Verbs for Business

150 essential phrasal verbs organised into 8 practical categories:

• Meetings & Discussions
• Projects & Tasks
• Communication
• Finance & Numbers
• Negotiations
• Employment & HR
• Problems & Solutions
• General Business

Each entry includes definition, example sentence, and usage notes.

PART 8: Collocations & Fixed Expressions

214 natural word combinations that make your English sound fluent and professional:

• Verb + Noun collocations (make a decision, reach an agreement)
• Adjective + Noun collocations (steep learning curve, tight deadline)
• Business idioms and expressions
• Fixed phrases for emails, meetings, negotiations, and presentations

PART 9: Appendices

Comprehensive reference materials:

• Appendix A: Quick Reference Charts
• Appendix B: Irregular Verbs for Business
• Appendix C: British vs American English
• Appendix D: Useful Resources
• Appendix E: Glossary of Key Terms
• Appendix F: Complete Index

Key Features

✓ CEFR-Aligned — Clear progression from A2 to C1

✓ 430+ Vocabulary Terms — Across 19 professional fields

✓ 248 Abbreviations — Essential business shorthand

✓ 150 Phrasal Verbs — Organised by business context

✓ 214 Collocations — Natural word combinations

✓ 12 Grammar Chapters — Business-focused explanations

✓ 30 Practice Exercises — With complete answer key

✓ 17 Writing Templates — Ready to use immediately

✓ British English Standard — With American variants noted

✓ 156 Pages — Comprehensive yet accessible

Who This Book Is For

• Business professionals communicating with international colleagues and clients
• Business and management students preparing for global careers
• Professionals seeking to enhance workplace communication skills
• Business English teachers developing professional curricula
• Exam candidates preparing for Cambridge Business English Certificates (BEC), BULATS, Linguaskill, or TOEIC

What Makes This Book Different

Unlike general English courses that treat business vocabulary as an afterthought, the Business English Masterbook takes a context-first approach. Every word, phrase, and grammatical pattern is presented in authentic professional contexts—the kind you encounter in real meetings, emails, negotiations, and presentations.

The vocabulary has been carefully selected based on three criteria:

1. Frequency — How often the term appears in real business workplaces
2. Necessity — Whether the term is essential for professional communication
3. Difficulty — Whether the term causes problems for non-native speakers

Symbols Used Throughout

• 💡 Pro Tip — Important usage notes and common mistakes to avoid
• ⚠️ Warning — Critical errors that can cause miscommunication
• 🇬🇧 British English — Where British and American usage differs
• 📖 Learning Strategy — Techniques for more effective study
• 🎯 Exam Focus — Points particularly relevant for Cambridge examinations

Specifications

FeatureDetailPages156CEFR LevelsA2 – C1Vocabulary Terms430+Abbreviations248Phrasal Verbs150Collocations214Grammar Chapters12Writing Templates17Practice Exercises30LanguageBritish English (with American variants)SeriesThe Mastery Series

About Empire English Online

Empire English Online creates professional English language resources for serious learners. With over 15 years of international teaching experience, we develop CEFR-aligned materials that meet the highest standards of accuracy and pedagogical effectiveness.

The Mastery Series provides comprehensive vocabulary coverage, authentic usage examples, and practical communication skills for learners working in specific professional fields.

www.empireenglishonline.uk

Opening the Door to the World