Introducing Your Business: Products, Services, and Plans
CEFR: B1
Read/Listen first
At a convention center, I met Lina during the coffee break and we started talking about work. She asked what my company does, so I explained that we manufacture small electronic boards and deliver them to suppliers who build smart devices. Last quarter we launched a new model, and we cut delivery time by two days. I’ve recently worked with a retailer that sells our kits online, and the feedback has been encouraging. Lina said her lab develops medicine for pets, although she’s not a vet herself. She could introduce me to one of their logistics partners, and I would appreciate that. Next month we’re going to attend another trade show, and we will present a demo that explains how the product works. Before we leave, we need to agree on prices and after we sign the contract, we’ll schedule the first shipment.⚡ Learning goals
- I can introduce my job and describe what my company does in simple business terms.
- I can ask polite questions about another company’s activity and industry.
- I can talk about past results and future plans during a networking chat.
✨ Key language
- What does your company do? “We manufacture small electronic boards.”
- We’ve recently… “We’ve recently worked with a retailer.”
- We’re going to… “We’re going to attend another trade show.”
⚙️ Rules & Grammar — 4 Structures
1️⃣ Present perfect (recent experience/results)
Rule: Use have/has + past participle to talk about recent experience or results connected to now.Examples: I’ve recently worked with a retailer that sells our kits online.; We’ve cut delivery time by two days.; The feedback has been encouraging.
Common pitfall + fix: Using a finished-time marker like yesterday with present perfect — Use past simple with finished time: Yesterday we launched….
Choose the best sentence to share a recent result.
Tip: Present perfect links the result to now; no finished time is stated.
Fill with the best answer: We ______ recently ______ with a retailer that sells our kits online.
Tip: Use have/has + past participle for recent experience.
2️⃣ Past simple (finished time)
Rule: Use past simple for completed actions in a finished period (e.g., last quarter).Examples: Last quarter we launched a new model.; We cut delivery time by two days.; I met Lina during the coffee break.
Common pitfall + fix: Using present perfect with a finished time phrase — Say: Last quarter we launched… (past simple)..
Which sentence is correct with “last quarter”?
Tip: Finished time → past simple.
Fill with the best answer: I ______ Lina during the coffee break and we started talking.
Tip: Past simple of meet is met.
3️⃣ Polite requests with could / would
Rule: Use could to ask politely and would to express polite preference or appreciation.Examples: She could introduce me to one of their logistics partners.; I would appreciate that.; Could you tell me what your company does?
Common pitfall + fix: Sounding too direct in networking situations — Add could/would: Could you…? / I would….
Pick the most polite question at a conference.
Tip: Could softens the request.
Fill with the best answer: I ______ appreciate that introduction.
Tip: Use would to sound polite and appreciative.
4️⃣ Future plans with going to / will
Rule: Use going to for planned actions and will for promises or decisions at the moment.Examples: Next month we’re going to attend another trade show.; We will present a demo.; After we sign the contract, we’ll schedule the first shipment.
Common pitfall + fix: Using will for a fixed plan you already decided — Use going to for plans: We’re going to attend….
Choose the best option for a planned action.
Tip: Going to fits a plan already decided.
Fill with the best answer: After we sign the contract, we’______ schedule the first shipment.
Tip: We’ll = we will (future). Type: ll
✍️ Vocabulary
convention center
Meaning: a large place where events, trade shows, or conferences happen.Synonyms: venue, conference hall
Chunk/Idiom: at a convention center
Example: We met at a convention center during the coffee break.
Morphology: noun phrase (noun)
Self-practice: Say where you met someone: “I met you at a ____.”
supplier
Meaning: a company that provides parts or materials to another business.Synonyms: provider, vendor
Chunk/Idiom: deliver to suppliers
Example: We deliver boards to suppliers who build smart devices.
Morphology: noun (noun)
Self-practice: Complete: “Our main supplier provides ____.”
deliver
Meaning: to transport something to the destination.Synonyms: ship, transport
Chunk/Idiom: deliver them to suppliers
Example: We deliver the boards within five working days.
Morphology: verb (verb) / delivery (noun)
Self-practice: Make a sentence with a time: “We deliver in ____ days.”
manufacture
Meaning: to make products in a factory or organized process.Synonyms: produce, make
Chunk/Idiom: manufacture small electronic boards
Example: We manufacture small electronic boards for smart devices.
Morphology: verb (verb) / manufacturer (noun)
Self-practice: Answer: “What do you manufacture?”
retailer
Meaning: a business that sells products directly to customers.Synonyms: store, seller
Chunk/Idiom: worked with a retailer
Example: I’ve worked with a retailer that sells our kits online.
Morphology: noun (noun) / retail (verb)
Self-practice: Replace: “shop” → “retailer” in your sentence.
develop
Meaning: to create and improve a product, service, or idea over time.Synonyms: create, improve
Chunk/Idiom: develops medicine
Example: Her lab develops medicine for pets like dogs and cats.
Morphology: verb (verb) / development (noun)
Self-practice: Say what you develop at work: “We develop ____.”
☁️ Examples (+ audio)
We manufacture small boards and deliver them to suppliers across Europe.
Last quarter we launched a new model at a trade show.
I’ve recently worked with a retailer that sells our kits online.
After we sign the contract, we’ll schedule the first shipment.
✏️ Exercises
Grammar
Which sentence uses the present perfect correctly?
Tip: Present perfect: have/has + past participle, no finished time.
Choose the correct past simple sentence.
Tip: Finished time → past simple.
Fill with the best answer:
Next month we’re going to ______ another trade show.Tip: Going to + base verb for plans.
Fill with the best answer:
I would ______ that introduction.Tip: Would + base verb for polite appreciation.
Vocabulary & Comprehension
In the text, a “supplier” is a company that…
Tip: Supplier = provider/vendor in a business chain.
What does “retailer” mean here?
Tip: Retailer = store/seller to end customers.
Fill with the best answer:
We cut ______ time by two days.Tip: Delivery time = time needed to deliver.
Fill with the best answer:
Her lab develops ______ for pets.Tip: The text says the lab develops medicine for pets.
✅ Guided practice
Mini-dialogue:
A: Hi, nice to meet you. What does your company do?B: Nice to meet you too. We manufacture electronic boards and deliver them to suppliers.
A: That sounds interesting. Have you worked with any retailers yet?
B: Yes, I’ve recently worked with one online.
Why this matters:
Networking is easier when you can explain your company activity in one clear sentence. Polite questions with could/would help you sound professional at events. Sharing one past result and one future plan keeps the conversation moving.Verb & Adjective Pack:
manufacture — We manufacture small boards.deliver — We deliver within five working days.
encouraging — The feedback has been encouraging.
Try & compare:
Fill with the best answer: We’ve recently ______ with a retailer that sells our kits online.
Tip: Present perfect: have/has + past participle (worked).
Self-correction: Fix the sentence: We have launched a new model last quarter.
Tip: Finished time phrase → use past simple.
Practice aloud: Listen, repeat, then type the sentence.
Could you tell me what your company does?
Tip: Focus on the polite opening “Could you…”.