Describing Your Company’s Activity: Develop, Manufacture, Provide
CEFR: B1
Read/Listen first
At a technology expo, Peter meets Alexandra near the coffee stand. Peter asks, “What does your company do?” Alexandra smiles and says, “I’m a laboratory manager. I work in the pharmaceutical industry. Our lab develops medicine for pets—mostly for dogs and cats. We test new formulas and provide guidance for vets.” Peter nods. “I’m in electronics. I work for a company that manufactures circuit boards for smart speakers and security cameras. We supply small batches to startups and provide maintenance for devices after delivery.” Alexandra says, “So you develop and we manufacture and supply. That’s clear.” Peter adds, “Yes, and our company also provides training for technicians.” They exchange cards and finish their drinks. Each of them can now describe their industry, their role, and their company activity with simple phrases that work in professional conversations.⚡ Learning goals
- Ask and answer about a company’s activity using present simple.
- State your job, field, and employer with correct prepositions.
- Describe and compare basic operations: develop, manufacture, provide, supply, deliver.
✨ Key language
- What does your company do? “What does your company do exactly?”
- I work in … / I work for … “I work in electronics; I work for ComTel.”
- We provide / we manufacture / we develop “We provide support; we manufacture boards.”
⚙️ Rules & Grammar — 4 Structures
1️⃣ Present simple for company activity
Rule: Context: use this structure to describe work and company activity.Examples: Our lab develops medicine; My team manufactures boards; We provide training
Common pitfall + fix: Confusing he/she/it with plural verbs — Add -s: the company provides, the lab develops.
Choose the correct verb: Our company ___ high‑quality parts.
Tip: Third person singular takes -s.
Fill with the best answer: The lab ___ new medicines every year.
Tip: Third person singular with -s.
2️⃣ Prepositions of work (in/for/at)
Rule: Context: use this structure to describe work and company activity.Examples: I work in finance; I work for Bright Bank; I work at the R&D center
Common pitfall + fix: Using at/for/in interchangeably — Use in for field, for for employer, at for site.
Select the best option: I work ___ ComTel.
Tip: Use for + company/employer.
Fill with the best answer: She works ___ the healthcare industry.
Tip: Use in + field/industry.
3️⃣ Question forms with does
Rule: Context: use this structure to describe work and company activity.Examples: What does your company do?; Where do you work?; Who do you work for?
Common pitfall + fix: Forgetting ‘does’ in third‑person questions — Use does + base verb: What does it do?.
Pick the correct question.
Tip: Use auxiliary does + base form.
Fill with the best answer: ___ does your company provide?
Tip: Wh‑word + does + subject + base verb.
4️⃣ Noun compounds for operations
Rule: Context: use this structure to describe work and company activity.Examples: customer support team; production line schedule; delivery window
Common pitfall + fix: Mixing verb and noun forms — Use noun compounds for activities (e.g., delivery window)..
Choose the best collocation.
Tip: Common industry collocation.
Fill with the best answer: We planned the ___ line for tomorrow.
Tip: Use the noun production to modify line.
✍️ Vocabulary
develop
Meaning: create and improve over time.Synonyms: create, design.
Chunk/Idiom: develop a prototype.
Example: Our lab develops new formulas for pets..
Morphology: verb.
Self-practice: Say the word aloud and write one new sentence.
manufacture
Meaning: produce at scale in a factory.Synonyms: produce, build.
Chunk/Idiom: manufacture at scale.
Example: They manufacture boards for cameras..
Morphology: verb.
Self-practice: Say the word aloud and write one new sentence.
provide
Meaning: make available; supply.Synonyms: offer, give.
Chunk/Idiom: provide customer support.
Example: We provide support after delivery..
Morphology: verb.
Self-practice: Say the word aloud and write one new sentence.
supply
Meaning: deliver needed goods to a client.Synonyms: deliver, furnish.
Chunk/Idiom: supply spare parts.
Example: The company supplies sensors to partners..
Morphology: verb.
Self-practice: Say the word aloud and write one new sentence.
maintenance
Meaning: regular service to keep equipment working.Synonyms: servicing, upkeep.
Chunk/Idiom: do preventive maintenance.
Example: Technicians perform maintenance monthly..
Morphology: noun.
Self-practice: Say the word aloud and write one new sentence.
circuit board
Meaning: board holding electronic components.Synonyms: PCB, motherboard.
Chunk/Idiom: assemble a circuit board.
Example: Each circuit board is inspected twice..
Morphology: noun.
Self-practice: Say the word aloud and write one new sentence.
☁️ Examples (+ audio)
What does your company do exactly?
Our lab develops medicine for pets.
My team manufactures circuit boards.
We provide maintenance after delivery.
✏️ Exercises
Grammar
Choose the correct verb: The company ___ training for staff.
Tip: Use -s with he/she/it and singular company.
Pick the correct question.
Tip: Use does + base verb.
Fill with the best answer:
She works ___ the electronics industry.Tip: Use in + field/industry.
Fill with the best answer:
I work ___ Bright Bank in Paris.Tip: Use for + employer.
Vocabulary & Comprehension
Which word means ‘produce at scale’?
Tip: Manufacture = produce at scale.
Choose the best collocation.
Tip: Deliver + service/training.
Fill with the best answer:
We schedule monthly ___ to keep devices safe.Tip: Maintenance = regular service.
Fill with the best answer:
Each ___ is tested before shipping.Tip: Noun compound fits the context.
✅ Guided practice
Mini-dialogue:
A: What does your company do?B: We manufacture circuit boards and provide maintenance.
Why this matters:
Clear activity statements help partners understand your value. They also drive better questions and precise orders. Keep answers short, specific, and in present simple.Verb & Adjective Pack:
develop — develop a prototypemanufacture — manufacture at scale
provide — provide customer support
Try & compare:
Fill with the best answer: Our lab ___ new medicine for pets.
Tip: Present simple for general truths.
Self-correction: Fix the sentence: We works in electronics.
Tip: Remember: we work, the company works.
Practice aloud: Listen, repeat, then type the sentence.
We provide maintenance after delivery.
Tip: Notice verb + object and time phrase.