- Isn’t your presentation sometime this week?

- Yes, it is. To be honest I’ve got butterflies in my stomach already, because our CEO will be there and an awful lot hangs on me getting it right on the day. If I do, we could dramatically increase our sales to the client I’m presenting to.

- Well, I really wish you luck with it! As long as you make sure you know your subject inside out and you structure the presentation well, I’m sure you’ll be fine.

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Situation: two colleagues discussing an important presentation.

Style: general

. .

Functions:

1. Checking information: Isn’t your presentation sometime this week? (note: a negative question expects a positive answer and is therefore often used as a way of checking or confirming information.)
2. Being honest: To be honest I’ve got butterflies in my stomach already (note: please copy the tone carefully here)
3. Wishing luck: Well, I really wish you luck with it! (note: please copy the tone carefully here)
4. Reassuring: I’m sure you’ll be fine. (note: please copy the tone carefully here)

. .

Notes:

1. To be honest = frankly speaking (more formal)
2. butterflies in my stomach (idiom) = a feeling a nervousness that makes my stomach feel uneasy
3. CEO = Chief Executive Officer (Head of the company)
4. an awful lot = a great deal (more formal)
5. hangs on (phrasal verb) = depends on
6. hangs on me getting it right = hangs on my getting it right (more formal – using “my getting it right” is correct grammar but we usually say “me getting it right”.)
7. getting it right = doing it correctly (more formal)
8. If I do (omitting the main verb) = If I get it right on the day
9. dramatically increase  (more emphatic) = increase by a very large amount
10. the client I’m presenting to (omitting the relative pronoun ‘that’, ‘who’ or ‘whom’)= the client to whom I am presenting (much more formal)
11. As long as = provided that (more formal) / providing
12. you make sure = you ensure (more formal)
13. you know your subject inside out (phrasal verb) = you know your subject extremely well
14. you structure the presentation well = you give the presentation a clear structure

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Audio file name: DailyStep-4_business-presentations-004_01

- Have you finished the final draft of your presentation?

- Just about. I’ve yet to do the conclusion and put the finishing touches to some of the graphics, but otherwise it’s more or less done.

- When are you giving the presentation, again?

- In two days time. So that only gives me two days to be word perfect!

- Actually, it’s better not to try to be word perfect, as you may get flustered if you deviate from the script. Much better to change the words a little each time you practise.

- OK, thanks for the tip, I will.

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Situation: talking about a deadline and giving advice about a presentation.

Style: general

. .

Functions:

1. Asking for repeated information: When are you giving the presentation, again? (note: please copy the tone of the speaker very carefully here )
2. Saying that not much time remains: So that only gives me two days…
3. Giving advice: Actually, it’s better not to try to be word perfect, (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
4. Giving advice: Much better to change the words a little each time you practise. (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
5. Accepting advice: OK, thanks for the tip, I will. (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)

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Notes:

1. the final draft = the final written version
2. Just about = Almost / Very nearly (more formal)
3. I’ve yet to do the conclusion = I haven’t done the conclusion yet
4. put the finishing touches to (idiom) = make the final changes to / complete the final details of
5. otherwise it’s more or less done = apart from that, it’s more or less done
6. it’s more or less done = it’s pretty much finished (less formal)/ it is almost complete (more formal)
7. In two days time = two days from now
8. So that only gives me two days = So I only have two days left / So I only have two days remaining
9. to be word perfect (idiom) = to learn all the words perfectly
10. you may get flustered = you may become flustered (more formal)
11. flustered = upset and confused
12. you deviate from = you depart from / you do not stick to (phrasal verb) the plan of
13. Much better to change (informal)= It is much better to change
14. the tip = the piece of advice
15. I will = I will change the words a little each time I practise

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Audio file name: DailyStep-4_business-presentations-004_02

- So, tomorrow’s the big day! What time do you start the presentation?

- It was meant to be first thing, but we’ve had to put it back to four o’clock. Actually, I’d much rather just get it over with.

- I wish I could be there to give you some moral support! But I’ll be thinking of you when the clock strikes four. How long does the presentation take?

- Well, the whole session should be about an hour long, but that would include the discussion and questions afterwards. The presentation itself is about twenty minutes.

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Situation: two colleagues discussing a presentation.

Style: general

. .

Functions:

1. Starting a conversation about an important event: So, tomorrow’s the big day! (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here)
2. Expressing a preference: Actually, I’d much rather just get it over with. (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
3. Being supportive: But I’ll be thinking of you. (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
4. Expressing expectation: the whole session should be about an hour long

. .

Notes:

1. It was meant to be first thing = it was supposed to be first thing (note: using the past tense “was meant to be…” indicates that the plan has changed. If the speaker says “is meant to be…” then the plan has not changed )
2. first thing (idiom) = first thing in the morning (very early in the morning)
3. put it back (phrasal verb) = delay it
4. Actually,… = In fact,…
5. I’d much rather just get it over with = I would much prefer to just get it over with
6. get it over with (phrasal verb) = finish it so I don’t have to worry about doing it
7. some moral support (idiom) = some support to make you feel more confident
8. when the clock strikes four = when it turns four o’clock
9. the whole session should be = I expect the whole session to be

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Audio file name: DailyStep-4_business-presentations-004_03

- Hello, Mr Robertson. Thank you for coming over today. I’ll be starting the presentation just as soon as Mr Johnson, our CEO, gets here. How was your journey here today?

- Much better than expected, thank you. I did think the adverse weather conditions might delay me somewhat, but in fact the only thing that did was the traffic.

- Oh, yes, there are so many road works around here at the moment. The traffic has been terrible lately. Can I offer you some tea or coffee while we wait?

- Oh, yes please. I’d love a coffee.

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Situation: greeting and taking care of a visitor from another company.

Style: general

. .

Functions:

1. Thanking: Thank you for coming over today.
2. Explaining the schedule: I’ll be starting the presentation just as soon as… (note: we use the future continuous tense “I’ll be starting” here, instead of the future simple tense ‘I’ll start’ to indicate that this will happen in the normal course of events.)
3. Explaining why you changed your mind: I did think… but in fact.. (note: there is extra stress is on the word ‘did’. This indicates that the speaker no longer thinks this.)
4. Offering refreshments: Can I offer you some tea or coffee while we wait? (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)

.

Notes:

1. coming over (phrasal verb) = coming here from another place
2. just as soon as = immediately after (more formal)
3. CEO = Chief Executive Officer (Head of the company)
4. gets here = arrives (more formal)
5. Much better than expected (omitting words in order to be brief)= It was much better than I expected it to be / It was much better than I thought it would be
6. the adverse weather conditions (much more formal)= the bad weather conditions
7. somewhat = to a certain extent (more formal)
8. the only thing that did (omitting the main verb) = the only thing that delayed me
9. road works = road repair work
10. around here = in this area (more formal)
11. at the moment = at present (more formal)
12. lately = recently
13. Can I offer you...? (more friendly) = Would you like...?

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Audio file name: DailyStep-4_business-presentations-004_04

- How was it, then? I’ve heard it went down a storm.

- Yes, it did. Our client was so impressed he’s already indicated they’ll be placing more orders as of today.

- That’s fantastic! You must be really pleased!

- Not to mention relieved! Actually, over the moon would be nearer the mark, especially with my pay review just around the corner. My appraisal is next week so it couldn’t have come at a better time.

- That’s true. You’ll probably be in line for a pay rise, you lucky thing!

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Situation: two colleagues talking about a presentation and how well it went.

Style: general

. .

Functions:

1. Asking about an event: How was it, then? (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here)
2. Reacting positively: That’s fantastic!
3. Making an assumption: You must be really pleased! (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
4. Adding important information: Not to mention relieved!. (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
5. Being more accurate: Actually, over the moon would be nearer the mark (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)

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Notes:

1. went down a storm (idiom) = was very well received by the audience (more formal)
2. Yes, it did. (short answer) = Yes, it went down a storm
3. as of today = from today onwards (less formal)

6. Not to mention relieved (note: this expression really means “And I should not forget to mention…” or “And it is also important to mention…”) = and I am also relieved

4. over the moon (idiom) = extremely happy
5. nearer the mark (idiom) = closer to the truth
6. my pay review = the time when my salary comes under review
7. just around the corner (idiom) = happening in the near future
8. it couldn’t have come at a better time = this is the best time it could possible have happened
9. be in line for = be considered for / be eligible for (more formal)
10. a pay rise = a pay increase (more formal)
11. you lucky thing = you are very lucky!

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Audio file name: DailyStep-4_business-presentations-004_05