iTEP Business-Core flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Subject-verb agreement

The verb matches the true subject, not intervening phrases. In "The list of items is ready," the singular "list" controls the verb despite the plural noun that follows it.

Present perfect

Have or has plus past participle. It connects a past action to the present moment, as in "We have sent the invoice," meaning it is now on its way.

Passive voice

Be plus past participle, used when the doer is unknown or unimportant. "The order was shipped" focuses on the shipment rather than the person who shipped it.

Reported speech shift

When relaying someone's words, move the tense back one step. "I will call" becomes "She said she would call"; "we are reviewing" becomes "they were reviewing."

Uncountable business nouns

Words like information, equipment, feedback, advice, and staff take no plural ending and pair with much or little rather than many or few.

Modal meaning contrast

Must states obligation, should states recommendation, may or might states possibility, and can states ability or permission. Choosing the wrong modal changes the strength of a commitment.

Correction in listening

Speakers often name a figure or time and then revise it. The final stated value, usually introduced by "actually" or "on second thought," is the one to record.

Hedged language

Words such as might, possibly, and I'm not sure signal that no decision has been made. Treating these as confirmed facts is a common listening error.

Announcement structure

Workplace announcements move from greeting to purpose to details to a requested action. The task you must perform appears as an imperative near the end.

Problem-solution marker

Phrases like so, which means, and what we'll do is introduce the resolution after a complaint. This turn usually answers inference questions about outcomes.

Sequence markers

First, then, after that, and finally order events in meetings. Note whether an item is decided or deferred with "let's table that" before answering order questions.

Politeness as request

Phrases such as I was wondering if and would you mind are indirect requests, not questions about the speaker's curiosity. They expect the listener to take action.

Memo header fields

A memo opens with To, From, Date, and Subject. The subject line names the topic and frequently states the action the reader should take.

Executive summary

The opening section of a business report that condenses findings and conclusions. Reading it first gives the fastest route to main-idea questions.

Fact versus recommendation

Findings report what happened, such as sales falling eight percent. Recommendations use should, propose, or recommend and state what the writer advises doing next.

Conditional clauses in policy

Notices place limits in clauses beginning with unless, provided that, or subject to. These restrict the main rule and are frequent targets of detail questions.

Email register markers

Formal messages use titles, full verb forms, and no contractions. First-name greetings and short closes signal familiar internal communication instead.

Complaint letter stages

A complaint states the problem, supplies evidence, and requests a remedy. A reply acknowledges the issue, explains it, and offers a resolution.

Purpose sentence placement

In business email, the reason for writing belongs in the first line after the greeting, so the reader knows the requested action immediately.

Request formula

A complete request supplies context, a specific ask, a deadline, and a reason. Missing any element forces the reader to reply with clarifying questions.

Bad-news structure

Open neutrally, explain briefly, state the decision plainly, then offer an alternative or next step. Burying the decision at the end confuses the reader.

Impersonal complaint phrasing

Describe the problem rather than blaming the reader. "The order arrived two days late" works better than "you failed to deliver" in written correspondence.

Cohesion connectors

However signals contrast, therefore signals result, in addition signals accumulation, and meanwhile signals parallel timing. Each marks a specific logical relation between sentences.

Action-ownership close

End correspondence by naming who will do what and when. "I will follow up Thursday" commits to action, while "let me know" leaves responsibility unclear.

Presentation skeleton

For a short talk, state the topic, give two or three points each with an example, then close with a summary or recommendation. This fits ninety seconds comfortably.

Signposting phrases

Expressions like first, the key point is, for instance, and to sum up make the structure of a spoken answer audible and easy to follow.

Direct answer first

Begin with a clear position such as "I'd choose the second option," then give reasons. Leading with background delays the answer and lowers clarity scores.

Paraphrase for gaps

When a word is missing, describe the function instead of stopping. Saying "the tool we use to track shipments" keeps speech flowing and meaning intact.

Telephone opener

Identify yourself, your department, and your purpose in one line: "This is Ana from finance, calling about the invoice." This orients the listener immediately.

Parallel structure

Items in a list share grammatical form. "Reviewing budgets, scheduling meetings, and drafting reports" is correct; mixing gerunds with infinitives breaks the pattern.

Affect versus effect

Affect is usually a verb meaning to influence. Effect is usually a noun meaning the result. Confusing them is one of the most common business writing errors.

Gerund after recommend

Verbs including recommend, suggest, consider, and enjoy take an -ing form. "We recommend delaying the launch" is correct; "recommend to delay" is not.