TV Series, movies & podcasts: A fun, easy way to improve your English.
CEFR Level: intermediate to advanced
For this blog, we’ve asked our smart native-speaker English trainers to dish (=share some secrets, gossip) about their favorite shows. With these recommendations, you can Improve your English with TV series, films & podcasts. So sit back, relax, and have fun while keeping your English accent, vocabulary, comprehension and sentence structures growing and improving! Popcorn is optional.
As you will see, these choices are “all over the map,” literally and figuratively, so we think you will agree that there’s, “something for everybody!” I know that I will definitely be diving into some of these recommendations. And now, I’ll have even more ideas when clients ask, “What should I watch? Listen to?”
For example, “Suits” is great for business English clients. “Ted Lasso” can help with understanding the difference between British and American English accents. And Ira Glass’s “This American Life” (podcast) is a treasure trove of true stories, told very, very well. I love it.
Please note that our “where to watch-it” is based on Amsterdam, the hometown of The English Center. But all of these recommendations are widely available.
Before we move on to our “fast, fun fluency” recommendations for improving your English, let’s explain how watching, listening and reading English really works.
Pro Tip! Stop and replay when you miss something. Pause and take a note. Keep your phone’s recorder ready to capture sentences you didn’t understand. Stop and repeat the lines you just heard; be dramatic and exaggerate your intonation.
Pro Tip! Make a note of new words and phrases. Put them in your new vocabulary spreadsheet. (You have one, right?) Translate them after, then define them, and write a sentence with each word or phrase.
Pro Tip! Use movie subtitles, not as a crutch, but to help your brain connect the way words look & are spelled with the way they sound. This is very helpful for English learners, because English spelling is often quite disconnected from English pronunciation.
About vocabulary spreadsheets vs. notebooks: I must admit that there is some research to suggest that recall is better when words are written rather than typed, but I think that the functionality of a spreadsheet is unbeatable. In any case, don’t lose those shiny new English words! Capture them, revisit them, study them, speak them, and remember them.
And now, the recommendations! In no particular order :-), starting with the series.
Series Title: Ted Lasso
Genre: Comedy drama
Where: AppleTV+
Comment: Really positive and heartwarming. Many people love this series!
Accents: British and American English
Recommended by: English Center Trainer, Eva
For those of you who want to take your English to the next level with professional training, consider a personalized intensive English course with an English Center native-speaker trainer. Or perhaps an English accent course to perfect your spoken English? Contact us about a free intake and find out which course would be best for you.
Series Title: “Ghosts”
Genre: Horror free / character driven comedy
Where: BBC iPlayer
Trailer Link: https://youtu.be/5e0nB1mSd9Q
Recommended by English Center Trainer, Alexandra
Series Title: The White Lotus (season 1 & 2)
Genre: Dark comedy / drama / anthology
Where: HBO Max
Trailer: https://youtu.be/TGLq7_MonZ4
Accents: British, Australian, American, other
Recommended by English Center Course Advisor & Trainer, Kerry
Series Title: Schitts Creek
Genre: Comedy / drama / sitcom / satire
Where: Hulu
Trailer: https://youtu.be/W0uWS6CnC2o
Accent: American
Recommended by English Center Trainer, Yvonne
Series Title: “The Black Adder”
Genre: BBC TV series / sitcom / drama / historical fiction
Where: Prime Video
Trailer/sample: https://youtu.be/RZnGGFoVY7c
Accent: British
Recommended by English Center Trainer, Aubrey
Series Title: “Friends”
Genre: Sitcom / comedy / relationship-based story lines.
Comment: This is an iconic, acclaimed and beloved series. It’s highly recommended for the study of English pronunciation and idiom.
Where: Prime VIdeo
Trailer: https://youtu.be/IEEbUzffzrk
Accent: American
Recommended by: our client, Tatiana S, and English Center Trainer’s Marike and Harbani
Series Title: “Suits”
Genre: Drama
Where: Netflix
Trailer: https://youtu.be/85z53bAebsI
Accent: American
Pro tip: Great for Business English because it is a legal drama and hey, it features Meghan Markle!
Recommended by our client Erik M.
Film (and book) Title: “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
Author: Harper Lee
Genre: Americana / family / historical fiction
Where: Prime Video or bookstores (see below)
Trailer: https://youtu.be/4-CrrtYjrbM
“Mockingbird” is often listed as the greatest American novel ever written, yet it is an easy read. Highly recommended! This 1962 film won Academy Awards for Best Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Accent: American
Prefer to read it? Support your local book store and buy the book at American Book Center or Waterstones. Next best choice is Bol.com or, of course, Amazon.
Recommended by: English Center Trainer, Krys, who loves southern film & literature and wants to remind everyone that both the book and the film are absolutely top notch.
Film Title: “Wicked Little Letters”
Genre: Comedy / mystery / drama
Where: Pathè Thuis
Accent: British
Recommended by English Center Trainer, Eva
Film Title: “Shakespeare in Love”
Genre: Period romantic comedy
Where: Pathè Thuis and Amazon Prime
Accent: British
Recommended by: Brenda de Jong-Pauley, Director, The English Center
Film Titles: “Shaun of the Dead” (Pathe Thuis & MUBI)
“Hot Fuzz” (Prime Video and Pathe Thuis)
Genre: Comedy / British humour / buddy movie
Where: See above
Accent: British
Fun note: The English Center is proud to have provided Texas-style English dialect coaching to actor Nick Frost (Welsh star of the 2 aforementioned movies.) However, the coaching was for a third, more recent film, the dark comedy “Krazy House,” released in 2024.
Recommended by English Center Trainer, Aubrey
Film Title: The Dressmaker
Genre: comedy / drama
Where: Prime Video
Based on the book by: Rosalie Ham
Accent: Australian
Recommended by English Center Course Advisor & Trainer, Kerry (an Australian!!)
Film (and Series!) Title(s): “Ripley” (a series) and “The Talented Mr. Ripley” (a film)
Genre: Suspense / psychological thriller
Where: Both versions at Netflix
Comment: There are two great versions of this story. I wonder which one you’ll like better?
Recommended by English Center Course Advisor & Trainer Kerry
TED Talks: A treasure trove of (free) smart talks, all in English, on all kinds of topics! Transcripts and translations are often included. Go to TED.
Recommended by Brenda de Jong-Pauley, Director, The English Center
In Spotify, you’ll find a huge selection of podcasts. Truly something for everyone! Listen to Podcasts when you’re brushing your teeth, cooking dinner, gardening, soaking in the bath, walking in the park, or basking in the sun. With or without earbuds, I love podcasts, and they are definitely a fun, easy way to improve your English.
A few of my favorite English podcasts are–
“This American Life.” The first ever Pulitzer Prize winning podcast, narrated by Ira Glass. Wonderful (!) and very popular with our clients. True stories that unfold like movies. (American English)
“You Must Remember This.” All about Hollywood, from its inception to the end of the 20th century. Karina Longworth shares the secret and forgotten stories of Hollywood’s first century. A must-hear for any film buff. (American English)
“Letter from an American:” A narrated newsletter by Heather Cox Richardson, historian and professor at Boston College, examining the history behind today’s politics. (American English)
“Radiolab” Science and history through the lens of investigative journalism.(American English)
“The Economist” (British and world news) As they describe it, “Making sense of the stories behind the headlines.” (British English)
“The Ted Interview:” Head of Ted, Chris Anderson, interviews leading thinkers and creators from around the world.
“The Daily” (New York TImes) (American English)
“The New Yorker Radio Hour” (political) (American English)
“The Moth” (first person stories, told by the person who experienced it) (American English)
Podcasts recommended by Brenda de Jong-Pauley, Director, The English Center
“Body Electric” (limited series about how our technology is affecting how we use our bodies. From NPR: National Public Radio, US)
Recommended by English Center Trainer, Taylor
“Pushkin Industries” (an array of podcasts covering history, current affairs, true crime, business, culture and more)
Recommended by English Center Trainer, Casey
“LeVar Burton Reads” (short stories with great intonation, to help with accent/pronunciation)
Recommended by English Center Trainer, Yvonne
Now that you know how easy it is to improve English with TV series, films & podcasts, plus what to keep in mind while you are watching or listening (Pro Tips) we hope that you get lots of fun, easy practice.
And if you want to take a more serious approach to your spoken English sound, we’ve got you covered with English Accent Training.
Or if you want a fast improvement in your English, and the fun approach may not be quite enough 😉 check out our Intensive English Course page.
What do our clients think about us? Just click the TrustPilot icon to read some reviews.
Author “Improve English with TV Series, Films & Podcasts” – Brenda de Jong-Pauley, MA. Director, The English Center
You’re not a kid anymore. Learn Like a Grownup!
In this post, we’ll introduce our private intensive English course for adults and explain how this kind of learning can help you achieve your professional language goals.
An intensive English course for adults is an adult-level, deep-dive, immersive program that focuses on rapidly improving your English proficiency. Private intensive courses are typically short in duration as compared to regular language courses, but they’re more demanding.
These courses are private and customized, we will build it around you! No more boring high school English grammar lessons. This is English for busy, professional adults.
Intensives involve several hours of training each day – typically 2-8 hours per day over one to three weeks, working with several trainers. This intensive apporach ensures that learners are fully immersed in the language. The English Center private Intensive courses are usually between 20–50 hours in total. Unlike regular courses, which spread learning over several months, an intensive English program concentrates your learning, offering a fast-paced, effective, and economical language experience. In other words, they deliver a lot of educational value for your investment.
Rapid Improvement: The most significant benefit of a private intensive English course for adults is the speed at which you can improve your language skills. The concentrated nature of the program ensures that you are constantly learning, practicing, expanding your knowledge, and building fluency & confidence.
Deep Dive Into English: Unlike weekly classes, intensive immersion courses demand your attention. They force your brain to function in English. You will go deep with the language, discover new words, make mistakes, and get relevant corrections and support, all in real time. Working with your native-speaker trainer, you will be fully engaged and truly enjoy spoken English communication. We promise that you will want to come back every day!
Skills focus: In your intensive course, we will use your tasks as the core of the course. Do you need to give presentations? Lead meetings? Close sales? Whether you just need to speak up in small meetings or present to hundreds of people in a grand hall, we will practice the language and the associated soft skills (diplomacy, intonation, engagement strategies) that will help you communicate as well in English as you do in Dutch, Spanish or French.
In the Netherlands, English is our favorite second language: And in our major Dutch cities, when you walk outside, you can keep practicing. Everyone you meet will speak English. In a shop? Speak English! In a restaurant? Order in English. At the museum, ask for the English language audio tour. At the major sites of the Netherlands, there will be no shortage of practice opportunities!
Enhanced Confidence: Regular practice and interaction in English helps build your confidence in using the language. You become more comfortable speaking, writing, and understanding English in various contexts. Your English becomes “top of mind.” It is easily accessed and produced.
Personal and Professional Advantages: Proficiency in English can significantly impact your academic and career prospects. It opens up opportunities for higher education, better job prospects, and the ability to communicate effectively in a global environment.
Professionals who want to perform better and feel more confident: Whether you are striving for a new job or very happy in your current position, better English will help you work faster, smarter, more productively, and with less stress. Better English means greater confidence, and that is something we all want!
Busy People: Adults who cannot commit to months of attendance in a weekly course are great candidates for an intensive immersion course. Just like planning for a holiday, course participants set aside 1 to 3 weeks to focus, really focus on English! And our clients can choose the best time of the year, including summer holidays!
I need it now (!) people: Professionals who need to prepare for an important event and have no time or patience for months of training. We can usually start these people fast.
Professionals Seeking New Jobs & Career Advancement: For professionals looking to enhance their career prospects, improving English skills can be a game-changer. It enables better communication, boosts confidence, and can lead to promotions and new opportunities.
Nederlanders and expats who live in the Netherlands: Local clients will be happy to know that they do not have to stay in a hotel to take this training. This non residential course means you can stay home and still be in class every day. As a plus, all of our locations are well located for public transport.
Anyone who needs to improve quickly: Whether you’re motivated by an English job interview, an important presentation at work or a business trip to London – anyone who wants to learn English quickly and effectively can benefit from an intensive course.
Our intensive private English courses are built around YOU. Your needs, your career goals, your work tasks, your learning style and your schedule.
Here’s what you can expect:
Customized (personalized) Learning Plans: We understand that each learner has unique goals and learning styles. Our courses are tailored to meet your individual needs, ensuring you get the most out of your learning experience. Our intensive courses always use the content that is the most relevant to you. For some clients, that means a private course in “English for Real Estate.” For others it’s “English for Pharma” or marketing. We have taught everyone from actors to CEOs, from insulation installers to psychologists, from software architects to fashion designers. Every intensive course is custom designed for you, the adult learner.
Experienced and Certified Instructors: Our instructors are highly qualified, experienced, and native English speakers. They use proven teaching methods to help you achieve your goals. When taking an intensive English course, you will work with several trainers.
Interactive and Engaging Lessons: Our private intensive English lessons are designed to be interactive and engaging, making learning enjoyable and effective. You will participate in various activities, including speaking, listening, reading, and writing exercises.
Flexible Scheduling Options: We offer flexible scheduling to accommodate your busy lifestyle. Whether you prefer morning, afternoon, or evening classes, we have options that fit your schedule.
Smart, Supportive Learning Environment: We provide a supportive and encouraging learning environment, ensuring that you feel comfortable and motivated throughout your course. Our trainers are carefully chosen. They are international, friendly, smart, supportive and, of course, 100% native speakers. You will enjoy working with your English Center teacher!
We have been delivering quality intensive training since 2009 and we’re certified by CEDEO, a Dutch organisation providing recognition to training providers who deliver high quality training. See more about CEDEO here.
Our Trustpilot reviews also reflect our high quality, personalised and customised approach to English language training. Click on the Trustpilot link to read our reviews.
Our private intensive English courses take place in two of the Netherlands most popular cities, Den Haag and Amsterdam. Study with us here in the Lowlands, and many of Europe’s finest museums will be right at your fingertips! When your lesson is finished, explore these two historic cities, where English is extensively spoken. Practice speaking English everywhere you go!
If you prefer a quieter setting, you can study with us in Amstelveen – part of Metropolitan Amsterdam – but with more of a suburban vibe and lots of green. Finally, you can choose an online intensive course. All our courses are taught by the same carefully selected native-speaker English team.
In general, you can start your private English Intensive course quickly. For more information, or to enroll, contact The English Center.
Don’t just take our word for it – hear from our satisfied students!
“Absolutely recommended for anyone who wants to improve English speaking. I took an intensive 5 morning English speaking course and it brought me a lot. By practicing presentations, pitches and conversations about my work, I learned many new words but gained a lot of confidence. I can recommend it to anyone who wants to improve their English!”
“Great experience: It was a great experience with The English Center.
My teacher made a course to suit my needs and my concerns by focusing on my most frequent weaknesses and shortcomings.
I feel more confidence with my English skills since I made the course. It’s totally recommendable.”
Click to the Intensive Business English Course page and fill out the course enrolment form. Be sure to include your details, learning goals and preferences. Go to the Intensive Business English Course enrollment form now.
Or… request a free intake: Book a no-obligation Free Appointment with an English Center trainer. Let’s get to know each other and discover if this kind of course is right for you.
Or just call us. We are happy to speak with you in English or Dutch. +31 (0)20 823 0569.
Wil je je zakelijke Engelse vaardigheden snel verbeteren? Onze spoedcursus zakelijk Engels in Amsterdam is gemaakt om je in 1 tot 3 weken klaar te stomen voor elke zakelijke uitdaging. Ervaar een intensieve en effectieve leerervaring, vanuit onze mooie leslocatie in het prachtige Museumkwartier. Kortom: geniet van een inspirerende omgeving terwijl je je taalvaardigheden naar een hoger niveau tilt.
Stel je een typische cursusdag voor bij The English Center, waar je les krijgt op onze prachtige locatie in het Museumkwartier. Bij aankomst word je verwelkomd in een elegante omgeving, met klaslokalen op vijf verdiepingen, elk met een unieke artistieke stijl en een adembenemend uitzicht op het Vondelpark. De locatie zelf is al een bron van inspiratie, gelegen op slechts vijf minuten lopen van het Museumplein, omringd door de beroemdste musea, heerlijke restaurants en het wereldberoemde Concertgebouw. Zie je het al voor je? Dan volgt nu een overzicht van hoe een typische lesdag er uit kan zien.
We beginnen elke dag met een kennismaking en het vaststellen van persoonlijke leerdoelen. Tijdens deze sessie bespreken we welke specifieke zakelijke Engelse vaardigheden je wilt verbeteren. Of het nu gaat om presentatievaardigheden, diplomatieke taal, vloeiend spreken, of het schrijven van effectieve e-mails, we stemmen de rest van de dag af op jouw behoeften.
Na de kennismaking ligt de focus op presentatievaardigheden. Het geven van een presentatie in het Engels kan een uitdaging zijn, maar met de juiste technieken en zelfvertrouwen wordt het een stuk makkelijker. We behandelen alles, van het opstellen van een pakkende opening tot het effectief beantwoorden van vragen uit het publiek. Je leert hoe je je boodschap helder en overtuigend kunt overbrengen, en we besteden aandacht aan lichaamstaal, stemgebruik en visuele hulpmiddelen. Deze sessie bevat praktische oefeningen waarbij je een korte presentatie voorbereidt en presenteert, gevolgd door constructieve feedback.
Een belangrijk onderdeel van zakelijk Engels is de juiste uitspraak en vloeiend spreken. In dit uur richten we ons op het verbeteren van je uitspraak en intonatie door middel van gerichte oefeningen en feedback. We gebruiken verschillende technieken zoals herhaling, luister- en spreekoefeningen om je te helpen duidelijker en zelfverzekerder te spreken. Je leert hoe je de juiste klemtonen legt en hoe je vloeiender kunt spreken zonder te haperen. Dit uur helpt je niet alleen om beter verstaanbaar te zijn, maar ook om meer vertrouwen te krijgen in je spreekvaardigheid.
Na een intensieve ochtend is het tijd voor een welverdiende pauze! Geniet van het prachtige uitzicht op het Vondelpark en maak een korte wandeling om je hoofd leeg te maken. Onze locatie, op slechts vijf minuten lopen van het Museumplein, biedt tal van mogelijkheden om even te ontspannen en op te laden.
Na de pauze gaan we verder met rollenspellen en simulaties van zakelijke situaties. Dit is een zeer interactieve sessie waarin je de kans krijgt om je nieuwe vaardigheden in de praktijk te brengen. Of het nu gaat om een vergadering, een onderhandeling of een netwerkbijeenkomst, je oefent in een veilige en ondersteunende omgeving. Door deze realistische scenario’s leer je hoe je effectief kunt communiceren, problemen kunt oplossen en professioneel kunt handelen in verschillende situaties. De feedback die je ontvangt, helpt je om je prestaties te verbeteren en je zelfvertrouwen te vergroten.
De laatste sessie van de dag richt zich op het gebruik van diplomatieke taal in een zakelijke context. Het vermogen om tactvol en beleefd te communiceren is essentieel in veel zakelijke situaties, vooral bij onderhandelingen, het geven van kritiek of het omgaan met gevoelige kwesties. Je leert hoe je diplomatieke taal kunt gebruiken om je boodschap duidelijk en respectvol over te brengen zonder confrontaties te veroorzaken. Deze sessie omvat oefeningen in het formuleren van diplomatieke zinnen en het toepassen van deze vaardigheden in verschillende contexten.
Wil je meer weten of een afspraak maken? Bel ons op +31 (0)20 823 0569 of neem contact met ons op. Begin vandaag nog met het verbeteren van je zakelijke Engels in een van de mooiste delen van Amsterdam.
Wat onze studenten van ons vinden: Bezoek TrustPilot voor geverifieerde beoordelingen.
Welcome to A Day With TEC: Intensive Business English Amsterdam! Do you want to quickly improve your business English skills? Our intensive business English course is designed to prepare you for any business challenge within 1 to 3 weeks. We offer an intensive and effective learning experience, located in the beautiful Museum Quarter. Enjoy an inspiring environment while taking your language skills to the next level.
Imagine a typical course day with The English Center, where you have chosen to study at our beautiful location in the Museum Quarter. Upon arrival, you are welcomed into an elegant setting, with classrooms spread over five floors, each with a unique artistic style and a breathtaking view of Vondelpark. The location itself is a source of inspiration, just a five-minute walk from Museumplein, surrounded by the most famous museums, excellent restaurants, and the world-renowned Concertgebouw. Here is an example of a typical course day.
We start each day with an introduction and setting personal learning goals. During this session, we discuss which specific business English skills you want to improve. Whether it’s presentation skills, diplomatic language, fluent speaking, or writing effective emails, we tailor the rest of the day to your needs.
After the introduction, we focus on presentation skills. Giving a presentation in English can be challenging, but with the right techniques and confidence, it becomes much easier. We cover everything from crafting a compelling opening to effectively answering audience questions. You learn how to convey your message clearly and convincingly, with attention to body language, voice usage, and visual aids. This session includes practical exercises where you prepare and deliver a short presentation, followed by constructive feedback.
The second session of our Intensive Business English Amsterdam course is proper pronunciation and fluent speaking. In this hour, we focus on improving your pronunciation and intonation through targeted exercises and feedback. We use various techniques such as repetition, listening, and speaking exercises to help you speak more clearly and confidently. You learn how to place the correct stress and speak more fluently without hesitation. This hour not only helps you become more understandable but also boosts your confidence in speaking skills.
After an intensive morning, it’s time for a well-deserved break. Enjoy the beautiful view of Vondelpark and take a short walk to clear your mind. Our location, just a five-minute walk from Museumplein, offers plenty of opportunities to relax and recharge. Ready for the second half of our intensive business english training day!
After the break, we continue with role plays and simulations of business situations. This is a highly interactive session where you get the chance to practice your new skills in real-life scenarios. Whether it’s a meeting, negotiation, or networking event, you practice in a safe and supportive environment. These realistic scenarios teach you how to communicate effectively, solve problems, and act professionally in various situations. The feedback you receive helps you improve your performance and increase your confidence.
The final session of the day focuses on using diplomatic language in a business context. The ability to communicate tactfully and politely is essential in many business situations, especially during negotiations, giving feedback, or handling sensitive issues. You learn how to use diplomatic language to convey your message clearly and respectfully without causing confrontations. This session includes exercises in formulating diplomatic sentences and applying these skills in different contexts.
Our course location at Van Eeghenlaan 27, in the heart of the Museum Quarter, offers an ideal learning environment. With beautifully furnished classrooms and an inspiring view of Vondelpark, the location itself is part of the learning experience. After class, you can enjoy the proximity to famous museums, excellent restaurants, and the world-renowned Concertgebouw.
Would you like to know more or make an appointment? Call us at +31 (0)20 823 0569 or contact us. Start improving your business English today in one of the most beautiful areas of Amsterdam.
What do our clients think about us? Just click the TrustPilot icon to read some reviews.
Welkom bij deze crash course Praktische Grammatica Zakelijk Engels, speciaal afgestemd op de zakelijke wereld. Of je nu e-mails opstelt, presentaties voorbereidt of spreekt met collega’s en klanten, door deze 12 grammaticaregels te beheersen, communiceer je duidelijker, professioneler en effectiever.
Wil je je Engelse grammatica en fluency met het oog op je schrijfcarrière verbeteren? Bekijk dan onze Korte Cursus Engels. Voor wie op zoek is naar een complete cursus, met snel resultaat is onze Spoedcursus Zakelijk Engels ideaal. Een intensieve cursus om je business English een flinke boost te geven!
Praktische zakelijk Engels grammatica is een complex mijnenveld van regels met veel uitzonderingen. We hebben deze 12 belangrijkste Engelse grammatica regels geselecteerd om je een spoedcursus te geven.
In zakelijke communicatie heeft de actieve vorm de voorkeur omdat het zinnen van meet af aan duidelijk maakt. In de actieve vorm weten we meteen wie handelt – wie de actie uitvoert die door het werkwoord wordt uitgedrukt. In het Engels willen we over het algemeen graag direct weten “wie het gedaan heeft”. Een ander pluspunt van de actieve vorm is dat deze meestal minder woorden vereist, wat voldoet aan het belangrijke criterium van beknoptheid (meer hierover later.)
Passief: The report was completed by Tom.
Actief: Tom completed the report.
Consistentie in werkwoordtijden helpt je boodschap duidelijk en gemakkelijk te begrijpen te houden. Het wisselen van tijden midden in een zin kan de lezer in de war brengen.
Inconsistent: We were moving quickly with planning the project while the other team had been encountering lots of problems.
Consistent: We were moving quickly with planning the project while the other team was encountering lots of problems.
Komma’s kunnen de betekenis van je zinnen dramatisch veranderen. Ze verduidelijken de betekenis door pauzes aan te geven en elementen binnen een zin te scheiden. En de aanwezigheid of afwezigheid van een komma kan (soms) de betekenis van een zin drastisch veranderen. Vergelijk bijvoorbeeld:
“Let’s eat, Tom.” (Deze zin bevat een komma en is een beleefde suggestie aan je collega, Tom, om samen te lunchen)
en
“Let’s eat Tom!”.:-o (Deze zin is een suggestie aan een derde persoon of een groep mensen om Tom te kannibaliseren/op te eten. Oh jee. Gelukkig zijn niet alle kommafouten zo gevaarlijk ;-).
Op zoek naar versnelde Engelse grammaticalessen? Voor een handige lijst met eenvoudige kommaregels, ga naar de blog van The English Center: Wanneer gebruik je één komma in het Engels? -ideaal voor wie meer wil leren over praktische Zakelijk Engels grammatica.
In zakelijk Engels schrijven is beknoptheid essentieel. Vermijd het gebruik van overbodige paren, overmatige bijvoeglijke naamwoorden (probeer het perfecte werkwoord te vinden) en opvulwoorden die geen waarde toevoegen aan de inhoud. Wanneer je je werk nakijkt, verwijder dan de onnodige woorden. Zie jezelf als een beeldhouwer die alles weghaalt wat niet nodig is om tot het perfecte beeld te komen.
Verbose: We are currently in the process of reviewing all of the various different options.
Concise: We are reviewing all options.
Voornaamwoorden vervangen zelfstandige naamwoorden. Voornaamwoorden moeten altijd in aantal en geslacht overeenkomen met de zelfstandige naamwoorden waarnaar ze verwijzen. Misbruik / overmatig gebruik van voornaamwoorden kan verwarring veroorzaken en onprofessioneel overkomen.
En in de huidige tijd, wees ook bewust voor de voornaamwoorden die je gebruikt voor mensen die trans, non-binair, etc. kunnen zijn. Als je niet zeker weet wat iemands voorkeursvoornaamwoord is, vraag het hen. Ten slotte, wees je ervan bewust dat het voornaamwoord “they” nu wordt geaccepteerd als enkelvoudig voornaamwoord voor non-binaire mensen.
Incorrect: Mary and Lisbeth are really fun to work with. She is always cracking jokes and keeping us laughing while we work.
Correct: Mary and Lisbeth are really fun to work with. They are always cracking jokes and keeping us laughing while we work.
It’s is een samentrekking van ‘it is’ of ‘it has,’ terwijl ‘its’ een bezittelijk voornaamwoord is (een voornaamwoord dat aangeeft aan wie iets toebehoort). Dit is een veelgemaakte fout, maar gelukkig gemakkelijk te corrigeren.
Incorrect: Its important to check it’s toner.
Correct: It’s important to check its toner.
Een korte cursus Engelse grammatica is niet compleet zonder het over de ‘future tense’ te hebben. Er zijn veel manieren om over iets in de toekomst te praten in het Engels.
Hieronder vind je enkele voorbeelden. Samentrekkingen zijn toegevoegd om de vele correcte manieren om over de toekomst te spreken te illustreren.
I fly to Paris tomorrow.
I am going to fly to Paris tomorrow.
I’m going to fly to Paris tomorrow.
I am flying to Paris tomorrow.
I’m flying to Paris tomorrow.
I will fly to Paris tomorrow.
I’ll fly to Paris tomorrow.
I will be flying to Paris tomorrow.
I’ll be flying to Paris tomorrow.
Natuurlijk zijn er enkele subtiele verschillen in de bovenstaande zinnen.
PRO TIP > Wanneer we “going to” zeggen, benadrukken we dat de toekomstige actie gepland is. Dus, wanneer je baas zegt, “When will the report be finished?”, is het beter om te zeggen, “I’m going to finish it today,” dan te zeggen, “I’ll finish it today.” De eerste klinkt alsof het afmaken van het rapport al een gepland item voor vandaag is, en de laatste klinkt alsof je ter plekke reageert. Misschien was er geen plan. Dus, Engelse sprekers gebruiken “going to” om intentie aan te geven. Om aan te geven dat er al een plan is. Om je manager gerust te stellen dat je “er bovenop zit.”
Wil je meer weten over de toekomende tijd bij praktische Zakelijk Engels grammatica? Ons favoriete grammaticaboek, English Grammar in Use, van Raymond Murphy, heeft een geweldige uitleg van één pagina over de toekomst. Deze vind je op pagina 295.
Regels voor hoofdletters helpen om namen te identificeren en laten ons zien dat een nieuwe zin is begonnen. Maar pas op! Amerikaans Engels en Brits Engels hebben verschillende regels over het gebruik van hoofdletters. Over het algemeen gebruiken Amerikanen veel meer hoofdletters dan de Britten, Australiërs, etc.
PRO TIP > Ken de stijlgids van je bedrijf en houd je aan die regels.
En nog twee tips: ‘uppercase’ en ‘capital letters’ zijn hetzelfde. En, ‘title case’ is anders dan ‘sentence case’.
Regels voor zinnen zijn over het algemeen hetzelfde in zowel AE als BE en instrueren ons simpelweg om elke zin met een hoofdletter te beginnen en hoofdletters te gebruiken voor Namen.
De regels voor titels zijn waar we verschillen zien:
AE: Capitalize the first word, the word I, proper nouns, and all words more than 4 letters.
BE: Capitalize the first word, the word I, and proper nouns.
Incorrect title case AE en BE: About the acme marketing department
Correct title case AE: About the Acme Marketing Department
Correct title case BE: About the Acme marketing department
Incorrect sentence case AE en BE: The acme Marketing Department is very strong.
Correct sentence case AE en BE: The Acme marketing department is very strong.
In AE title case, gebruik hoofdletters voor ALLE woorden langer dan 4 letters!
In BE title case, gebruik zinsgeval. Met andere woorden, gebruik dezelfde regels als voor een zin.
Deze regel geldt zowel in AE als BE: Gebruik altijd hoofdletters voor de eerste woorden en eigennamen (namen van personen en plaatsen).
Nog steeds geen duidelijkheid over eigennamen (proper nouns)? Eigennamen zijn woorden zoals Amsterdam, Mary, Rijksmuseum, Empire State Building, Schiphol, President Macron. Het zijn woorden die betrekking hebben op een specifiek wezen of ding.
PRO TIP > Wil je meer weten over Amerikaanse hoofdlettergebruik? Bekijk dan deze beknopte richtlijnen voor hoofdlettergebruik van de APA:
PRO TIP > Wil je meer weten over hoofdlettergebruik en alles wat met stijl te maken heeft in Brits Engels? Overweeg dan om een exemplaar van The Economist Style Guide aan te schaffen.
Gebruik apostrofs om bezit aan te geven OF om samentrekkingen te vormen. Het weglaten of verkeerd plaatsen van apostrofs kan misverstanden veroorzaken of een onprofessionele indruk geven. En dat is nu net wat je níet wil. Daarom helpen we je graag met deze uitleg over praktische Zakelijk Engels grammatica.
Bezitsvorm enkelvoudig zelfstandig naamwoord: The company’s policies
Bezitsvorm meervoudig zelfstandig naamwoord: The companies’ policies
Bezitsvorm en samentrekking: At Maxim’s Sportswear, we’re expanding our market, and we won’t stop till we’ve achieved our goals.
Voorzetsels zijn belangrijk om relaties tussen verschillende elementen in een zin te beschrijven. Verkeerd gebruik ervan kan je betekenis onduidelijk maken of je minder natuurlijk laten klinken wanneer je Engels spreekt. Het toevoegen van voorzetsels wanneer ze niet nodig zijn, kan zinnen omslachtig doen lijken.
Incorrect: She is responsible with managing of the team.
Correct: She is responsible for managing the team.
Correct but unnatural: That is the desk of Susan.
Correct and natural: That is Susan’s desk.
Correct: The center of the city is bustling with activity.
Correct and more concise: The city center is bustling with activity.
PRO TIP > Er zijn zoveel mogelijke combinaties van voorzetsels dat dit, eerlijk gezegd, een moeilijk gebied is om te beheersen. Maar hier is een regel die over het algemeen werkt. Bij het spreken over transport, gebruik “on” voor treinen, bussen, trams, schepen, paarden, fietsen, vliegtuigen. De geheugensteun is dat je op deze kunt staan. Voor situaties waarin je niet kunt staan, gebruik je “in.” In a car, in a truck, in a helicopter.
PRO TIP > Spreken over ziekenhuizen: In or at?
Als je zegt dat je “in the hospital” bent, kan de luisteraar zich zorgen maken en aannemen dat je ziek bent of een ongeluk hebt gehad. Wanneer je zegt dat je “at the hospital” bent, zal de luisteraar denken dat je iemand bezoekt die ziek is.
Deze is appeltje eitje. Als je een -s toevoegt aan een meervoud, gebruik dan nooit een apostrof. Het meervoud van een zelfstandig naamwoord is meestal -s zonder apostrof.
Incorrect: Photo’s
Correct: Photos
Incorrect: I have so many report’s to finish by the end of this week.
Correct: I have so many reports to finish by the end of this week.
Woorden die eindigen op -y, veranderen naar -ies.
Bijvoorbeeld: Dictionary > Dictionaries
Woorden die eindigen op -s, -sh, -ch, -x en -o veranderen naar -es
Bijvoorbeeld: bus > buses, dish > dishes, church > churches, box > boxes, potato > potatoes
Onregelmatige meervoudsvormen: children, men, women, feet, mice, fish
In uitspraken over het verleden gebruiken we een werkwoord in de verleden tijd.
I worked a lot last week.
Maar… in vragen en ontkennende uitspraken met het hulpwerkwoord “did,” gebruiken we de infinitiefvorm. Bijvoorbeeld:
Did you work a lot last week? No, I didn’t work much at all last week.
Deze regel werkt voor regelmatige en onregelmatige werkwoorden. 🙂 En het werkt wanneer je de samentrekking (didn’t) gebruikt.
PRO TIP > Deze regel lijkt misschien tegen je intuïtie in te gaan, maar als je het patroon eenmaal weet te herkennen, wordt het makkelijker om deze veelgemaakte fout te vermijden. Leer het patroon met deze voorbeelden:
Negotiate
Think
Hopelijk vond je deze crash course Praktische Zakelijk Engels Grammatica nuttig. Wil je meer leren over Engelse grammatica voor zakelijk gebruik? Dan is de cursus Korte Cursus Engels of onze Spoedcursus Zakelijk Engels – voor snel resultaat – iets voor jou.
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Welcome to your Crash Course English Grammar, tailored specifically for the business world. Whether you’re drafting emails, preparing presentations, or speaking with colleagues and clients, mastering these 12 grammar rules will enhance your clarity, professionalism, and effectiveness.
Would you like to improve your English grammar and fluency for your career? The English Center provides quality, private Business English training, online and on location in Amsterdam, Den Haag and Amstelveen.
English Grammar is a complex minefield of rules with lots of exceptions. We have chosen our top 12 to give you our personal English Center rapid tutorial on English Grammar.
In business communication, using the active voice is preferred because it makes sentences clear from the start. In the active voice, we know immediately who is acting – who is performing the action expressed by the verb. In English, we generally prefer to know the “who did it” right up front. Another plus of active voice is that it generally requires fewer words, so it ticks the all important concision box. (More about that later.)
Passive: The report was completed by Tom.
Active: Tom completed the report.
Consistency in verb tenses helps keep your message straightforward and easy to understand. Switching tenses mid-sentence can confuse the reader.
Inconsistent: We were moving quickly with planning the project while the other team had been encountering lots of problems.
Consistent: We were moving quickly with planning the project while the other team was encountering lots of problems.
Request a free intake with The English Center and start your journey to better English today!
Commas can change the meaning of your sentences dramatically. They clarify meaning by indicating pauses and separating elements within a sentence. And the presence or absence of a comma can (sometimes) dramatically change the meaning of a sentence. For example, compare:
“Let’s eat, Tom.” (This sentence contains a comma and is a polite suggestion to your colleague,Tom, to have lunch together)
and
“Let’s eat Tom!”.:-o (This sentence is a suggestion to a third person or a group of people to cannibalize/eat Tom. Oh my. Thankfully, not all comma errors are that dangerous ;-).
For a useful list of concise commas rules, go to The English Center blog Comma Rules Made Simple.
In business writing, brevity is key. Avoid using redundant pairs, excessive adjectives (try to find the perfect verb instead), and filler words that don’t add value to the content. When you edit your work, delete the unnecessary words. Think of yourself as a sculptor, chiseling away everything that is not needed in order to reveal the beauty of the final product.
Verbose: We are currently in the process of reviewing all of the various different options.
Concise: We are reviewing all options.
Pronouns replace nouns. Pronouns should always agree in number and gender with the nouns they refer to. Misuse / excessive use of pronouns can lead to confusion and appear lazy or unprofessional.
And in the post millennium period, be especially sensitive to the pronouns you use for people who may be trans, nonbinary, etc. If you are not sure of someone’s preferred pronoun, ask them. Finally, be aware that the pronoun “they” is now accepted as a singular pronoun for non binary people.
Incorrect: Mary and Lisbeth are really fun to work with. She is always cracking jokes and keeping us laughing while we work.
Correct: Mary and Lisbeth are really fun to work with. They are always cracking jokes and keeping us laughing while we work.
It’s is a contraction of ‘it is’ or ‘it has,’ while ‘its’ is a possessive pronoun (a pronoun that shows to whom something belongs.) This is a common mistake but it’s easily corrected.
Incorrect: Its important to check it’s toner.
Correct: It’s important to check its toner.
There are lots of ways to speak about the future in English, so this is one tense that should not make you tense (haha). Here are some examples. Contractions have been added to illustrate the many correct ways to speak about the future..
I fly to Paris tomorrow.
I am going to fly to Paris tomorrow.
I’m going to fly to Paris tomorrow.
I am flying to Paris tomorrow.
I’m flying to Paris tomorrow.
I will fly to Paris tomorrow.
I’ll fly to Paris tomorrow
I will be flying to Paris tomorrow.
I’ll be flying to Paris tomorrow.
Of course, there are some nuanced differences in the sentences above.
PRO TIP > – When we say, “going to,” we emphasize that the future action is planned, Thus, when your boss says, “When will the report be finished?”, it’s better to say, “I’m going to finish it today,” than to say, “I’ll finish it today.” The former sounds like finishing the report is already a planned item for today, and the latter sounds like you are responding in the moment. Maybe there was no plan. Thus, English speakers use “going to” to show intent. To indicate that a plan is already in place. To reassure your manager that you are “on top of it.”
Want to know more about the future tense? Our favorite grammar book, English Grammar in Use, by Raymond Murphy, has a great one page explainer about the future. It’s on page 295.
Capitalization rules help identify proper nouns and show us that a new sentence has begun. But watch out! American English and British English have different rules about capitalization. In general, Americans use a lot more capitals than the Brits, Aussies, etc.
PRO TIP> Know the style guide for your company and stick with those rules.
I have to admit to capitalization mixing, as I just cannot decide which style I like better. Hopefully you will not fall prey to this problem. And 2 more tips: “uppercase” and “capital letters” are the same thing. Finally, title case is different than sentence case.
Sentence case rules are generally the same in both AE and BE and simply instruct us to start each sentence with a capital letter and to use capitals for proper nouns.
Title case rules are where we see differences:
AE: Capitalize the first word, the word I, proper nouns, and all words more than 4 letters.
BE: Capitalize the first word, the word I, and proper nouns.
Incorrect title case AE and BE: About the acme marketing department
Correct title case AE : About the Acme Marketing Department
Correct title case BE: About the Acme marketing department
Incorrect sentence case AE and BE: The acme Marketing Department is very strong.
Correct sentence case AE and BE: The Acme marketing department is very strong.
In AE title case, capitalize ALL words longer than 4 letters!
In BE title case, use sentence case. In other words, use the same rules you would use for a sentence.
This rule applies in both AE and BE: Always capitalize these things – first words and proper nouns (names of persons and places).
Still not clear about proper nouns? Proper nouns are words such as Amsterdam, Mary, Rijksmuseum, Empire State Building, Schiphol, President Macron.They are words that pertain to a particular being or thing.
PRO TIP> Want to know more about American capitalization? Check our these concise capitalization guidelines from the APA
PRO TIP> Want to know more about capitalization and all things stylistic in British English? Consider getting a copy of The Economist Style Guide.
Use apostrophes to indicate possession OR to form contractions. Omitting or misplacing apostrophes can cause misunderstandings or give an unprofessional impression.
Possession singular noun: The company’s policies
Possession plural noun: The companies’ policies
Possession and contraction: At Maxim’s Sportswear, we’re expanding our market, and we won’t stop till we’ve achieved our goals.
Are you interested in Intensive English grammar training? Learn more about our intensive English courses here.
Prepositions are important for describing relationships between different elements in a sentence. Misusing them can make your meaning unclear or make you sound less natural when speaking English. Adding prepositions when they are unnecessary can make your sentences wordy and less concise.
Incorrect: She is responsible with managing of the team.
Correct: She is responsible for managing the team.
Correct but unnatural: That is the desk of Susan.
Correct and natural: That is Susan’s desk.
Correct: The center of the city is bustling with activity.
Correct and more concise: The city center is bustling with activity.
PRO TIP> There are so many possible proposition combinations that this is, admittedly, a tough area to master. But here is one rule that generally works. When speaking of transport, use “on” for trains, buses, trams, ships, horses, bikes, airplanes. The memory cue is that you can stand up on these. For situations where you cannot stand up, use “in.” In a car, in a truck, in a helicopter.
PRO TIP> Speaking about hospitals: In or at?
If you say you are in the hospital, the listener may be alarmed and will assume you are sick or you have had an accident.
If you say you are at the hospital, the listener will think you are visiting someone who is sick.
This one is straightforward. If you are adding an -s to a plural, never use an apostrophe. The plural of a noun is usually -s without an apostrophe.
Incorrect: Photo’s
Correct: Photos
Incorrect: I have so many report’s to finish by the end of this week.
Correct: I have so many reports to finish by the end of this week.
Words ending in -y, change to -ies.
E.g Dictionary > Dictionaries
Words ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -x and -o change to -es
E.g bus > buses, dish > dishes, church > churches, box > boxes, potato > potatoes
Irregular plural forms children, men, women, feet, mice, fish
In statements about the past, we use a past tense verb.
I worked a lot last week.
But… in questions and negative statements with the auxiliary (helping) verb “did,” we use the infinitive form. For example:
Did you work a lot last week? No, I didn’t work much at all last week.
This rule works for regular and irregular verbs. 🙂 And it works when you use the contraction (didn’t).
PRO TIP> This rule may seem counterintuitive, but when you have learned the pattern, it will become easy to avoid this common error. Learn the pattern with these examples:
Negotiate
– Statement: She negotiated a new contract with the client.
– Negative: She did not negotiate a new contract with the client.
– Question: Did she negotiate a new contract with the client?
Think
– Statement: I thought about our project goals over the weekend.
– Negative: I did not think about our project goals over the weekend.
– Questions: Did you think about our project goals over the weekend?
We hope you found this Crash Course English Grammar useful. Want to learn more about English grammar for business? Take a look at our English Language Short Course!
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William Shakespeare wordt universeel beschouwd als de grootste Engelse toneelschrijver aller tijden. Zijn woorden hebben schrijvers wereldwijd en door de eeuwen heen geïnspireerd. En dat is niet voor niets: Shakespeares toneelstukken zitten vol ironie en unieke woordspelingen die hem een vooraanstaande plek in de geschiedenis hebben opgeleverd.
In deze blog lichten we tien van onze favoriete citaten toe uit de prachtige toneelstukken van de man die bekend staat als “the bard”, Mr. William Shakespeare.
Geïnteresseerd in een cursus Zakelijk Engels?
Wil je graag je algemene Engels verbeteren?
(As You Like it, Act 2, Scene 7)
Met deze zinnen vertelt Shakespeare ons hoe hij de wereld ziet. Hij gelooft dat we, net als acteurs, vele rollen spelen en door zeven levensfasen gaan, van ‘mewling'(jammerend) kind tot ‘mere oblivion’ (vergetelheid, de dood). Dit citaat herinnert ons eraan dat we slechts spelers zijn, die de rollen spelen die ons in dit leven zijn gegeven. Misschien probeert de toneelschrijver ons te vertellen dat we het leven en de bijkomende drama’s niet al te serieus moeten nemen.
(Julius Caesar, Act 2, Scene 2)
Dit citaat, oorspronkelijk uitgesproken door Julius Caesar in het gelijknamige stuk, toont het scherpe verschil tussen lafheid en moed. Shakespeare vertelt ons dat de angst voor de dood de lafaard weerhoudt om écht te leven. De lafaard sterft vele “kleine doden” elke keer dat hij zich door angst laat tegenhouden. De moedige man daarentegen leeft zijn leven ten volle en sterft slechts één keer, wanneer de dood hem komt halen.
(The Merchant of Venice, Act 3, Scene 1)
Dit citaat is onderdeel van een monoloog van Shylock, de Joodse geldschieter, waarin Shylock zijn menselijkheid toont terwijl hij zijn recht op wraak verdedigt. In het stuk wordt hij bedrogen en krijgt hij de schuld die hem toekomt niet. Onrecht is hem aangedaan en, zoals beschreven in het Oude Testament, hij wil wraak. Het loopt niet goed af met Shylock en hij verliest alles. Ondanks de tragische uitkomst was deze monoloog een gedurfde zet van Shakespeare – hij daagde hier het sterke antisemitisme van zijn tijd uit.
(Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 2)
Het verhaal achter dit citaat is een van mijn favorieten. Binnen Hamlet is er een ander toneelstuk dat door Hamlet wordt gecreëerd om de wandaden van zijn moeder, de koningin, aan te tonen. In het toneelstuk zweert de koningin om voor altijd van haar man te houden en nooit opnieuw te trouwen (wat de echte koningin wel heeft gedaan). Wanneer haar wordt gevraagd wat ze van het toneelstuk vindt, is dit citaat het commentaar van de echte koningin op het personage (dat op haar is gebaseerd). Belangrijk om te weten: in Shakespeares tijd betekende het woord “protest” beloven of zweren. De echte koningin vindt dat de koningin in het stuk haar geloofwaardigheid verliest door zulke overdadige beloftes te doen.
(The Tempest, Act 4, Scene 1)
Volgens Shakespeare is het leven vluchtig en zullen onze grootste prestaties en dierbaarste relaties op een dag niet meer zijn dan een herinnering, zoals iets dat we ons herinneren uit een droom. Dit “kleine leven” zal op een dag worden voltooid door wat velen de eindeloze slaap noemen, of de dood, die ons doet ontwaken uit deze wereld.
(Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 1)
Dit citaat wordt vaak verondersteld een dubbele betekenis te hebben. Het wordt uitgesproken door Hamlet tegen Ophelia, maar lijkt eigenlijk gericht aan alle vrouwen, en zijn moeder in het bijzonder. Als Hamlet een klooster bedoelt – zoals wij het nu kennen – wijst het erop dat Ophelia dan geen gemene mannen hoeft te verdragen die wreed zijn tegen anderen. Aan de andere kant, in Elizabethaans Engeland, was het woord “klooster” slang voor bordeel! Als dit de echte betekenis was, bekritiseert hij Ophelia voor haar onkuisheid.
(Julius Caesar, Act 3, Scene 1)
Dit citaat is in het Latijn en betekent vrij vertaald ‘Zelfs jij, Brutus?’ In het stuk zijn dit de laatste woorden van Caesar wanneer hij wordt vermoord door de samenzweerders. Hun leider, Brutus, is een oude vriend van Caesar, die het gevaar van Caesar’s ambities inzag en vond dat hij moest worden gestopt. Dit citaat blijft in ons geheugen hangen omdat het de ultieme verraad door een vertrouwde en geliefde vriend symboliseert.
(Romeo and Juliet, Act 2, Scene 5)
Romeo en Julia. De namen die gelijk staan aan beelden van gepassioneerde, romantische, tragische liefde. Deze waarschuwing wordt door Pater Laurence uitgesproken tegen Romeo. Romeo antwoordt de pater dat het hem niet uitmaakt of hij leeft of sterft, zolang Julia de zijne is. De pater voelt dat een liefde die zo hevig brandt als die van hen waarschijnlijk door zijn eigen vlam en passie zal worden verteerd. Met dit citaat roept Shakespeare ongetwijfeld beide betekenissen van “gewelddadig” op – de gewone betekenis van ruw en brutaal, evenals de iets minder gebruikelijke betekenis van gehaast, onstuimig en heetgebakerd.
In Hamlet geeft Polonius dit advies aan zijn zoon, Laertes. Ondanks Shakespeare’s neiging tot ironie, voelt deze regel eerlijk en oprecht aan. Verfijnd in zijn eenvoud, vertellen deze tijdloze woorden ons hoe we een waarachtig en authentiek leven kunnen leiden.
(Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 1)
Dit is waarschijnlijk Shakespeares beroemdste citaat. Het is onderdeel van een monoloog waarin Hamlet, in een staat van emotionele wanhoop, zich afvraagt of hij zijn leven moet beëindigen of niet. Volgens Hamlet is leven machteloos zijn in wat er met je gebeurt. De enige manier om je volledige macht te claimen is door te kiezen voor de dood, waar veiligheid is tegen de vele kwellingen van het leven.
Shakespeares toneelstukken en sonnetten hebben een onmiskenbare stempel gedrukt op de Engelse taal. Met honderden woorden en zinnen die worden toegeschreven aan de beroemde Engelse schrijver, citeer je zelf waarschijnlijk Shakespeare ook wel eens, zonder het dat je het doorhebt.
Mocht ik per ongeluk jouw favoriete quotes hier niet hebben geciteerd, accepteer dan alsjeblieft mijn excuses. En over excuses gesproken.. 😉 om dit artikel in stijl af te sluiten, geniet van Shakespeares meest geroemde excuses, afkomstig uit A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
(Act 5, Scene 1)
“If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber’d here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend:
if you pardon, we will mend:
And, as I am an honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck
Now to ‘scape the serpent’s tongue,
We will make amends ere long;
Else the Puck a liar call;
So, good night unto you all.
Give me your hands, if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.”
In deze betoverende toespraak vraagt Puck om ‘restore or make amends’ (te herstellen of goed te maken). Hij vraagt ook om ‘pardoned’ (vergeven) te worden. Welke woorden kunnen we uit deze toespraak leren, en welke inzichten over excuses maken in Shakespeare’s tijd.. en vandaag de dag!
Vandaag de dag gebruiken we nog steeds dezelfde woorden en uitdrukkingen om onze excuses aan te bieden. We zeggen “pardon me” en “I want to make amends.” Of “I hope I did not offend you,” en we schudden elkaar de hand (“give me your hand”) om te laten zien dat er geen wrok meer is.
En dat is The Happy End van deze blog!
1. “All the world’s a stage” Watch the video here.
3. “If you prick us, do we not bleed?” Watch the video here.
4. “The lady doth protest too much, methinks” Watch the video here.
5. “We are such stuff as dreams are made on” Watch the video here.
6. “Get thee to a nunnery.” Watch the video here.
8. “These violent delights have violent ends” Watch the video here.
9. “This above all: to thine own self be true” Watch the video here (begin viewing at 0.50 min).
10. “To be or not to be, that is the question” Watch the video here.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 5, Scene 1 Watch the scene here.
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Geschreven door Isabelle Tomlow, PR en Communicatie Stagiair
The English Center, Datum: Juni 2019
Bijgewerkt februari 2021, mei 2024
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Vocabulary is the number one task for language learners. This “Essential Business English Terms” glossary is appropriate for anyone who wants to expand their Business English vocabulary and is especially intended for non native speakers at an intermediate or higher level. This list is very far from exhaustive (= it is far from complete), but it can help you measure your vocabulary knowledge, and we hope, teach you some new key Business English terms.
If this little vocabulary lesson triggers your interest in advancing your English fluency, you might want to read more about our customized, private intensive English courses, online and in Amsterdam, Den Haag, & Amstelveen.
This compact glossary is divided into ten categories of essential business vocabulary. It starts with “entrepreneurship” and ends with “corporate ethics,” but there’s a lot in between! So… are you ready? Let’s dive into the wordy-world of Business English, exploring the essential terms that everyone in business needs to know.
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Entrepreneurs are, perhaps, the rock stars of the business world. They start new companies. Many of these companies will fail, but some will prosper. Ever heard of Steve Jobs?;-) Tip: In American English, pronounce entrepreneurship as on-trə-prə-nər-ship.
1. Entrepreneur – An individual who starts and runs a business, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit.
2. Stakeholder – Any person or group who has an interest in the success and operations of a business.
3. Risk tolerance – The level to which an entrepreneur or investor is willing to risk their money.
4. Startup business or startup company – a new company.
5. Angel investor – An angel investor provides initial money for startup businesses, usually in exchange for ownership equity in the company.
6. Seed money – The initial investment needed to start a new company.
This category covers a few of the common terms related to business finance and investments, which are essential for understanding the financial dynamics of a company.
1. Asset – Anything of value owned by a business, which can provide future economic benefits.
2. Liability – Financial obligations that a company owes to others, like loans and mortgages.
3. Equity – The value of an owner’s shares within a company, representing their stake.
4. Capital – Wealth in the form of money or assets, used or invested in a business by its owners.
5. P&L – Profit and loss.
6. ROI – Return on investment.
7. Balance sheet – a statement of the assets, liabilities, and capital of a business or other organisation. It is a “snapshot,” detailing the balance of income and expenditure (=spending) over a given period of time.
The field of marketing and sales is full of specialised terminology that helps professionals strategize and communicate effectively.
1. Brand – Simply stated, a name, symbol, or design that identifies and differentiates a product from others. David Ogilvy said that a brand is “the intangible sum of a product’s attributes.” In modern usage, “brand” often refers to the totality of how people think and feel about a company and its products or services.
2. Market Research – The process of gathering, analysing, and interpreting information about a market.
3. Conversion Rate – The percentage of visitors who take a desired action, crucial in sales and marketing.
4. B2B (Business-to-Business) – Transactions conducted between companies, rather than between a company and individual consumers.
5. B2C (Business-to-Consumer) – Transactions conducted between companies and consumers, rather than between 2 companies.
6. Cold calling – Calling potential clients with whom there is no previous relationship.
7. Prospects and leads – A prospect is stronger than a lead, but most prospects start as leads. A prospect is a “qualified lead” with whom the seller has had contact. The prospect is an engaged lead, though still not yet a “sale.”
8. CRM – Customer relationship management: a platform such as Hubspot or SalesForce.
Understanding human resources and employment terms is key for those involved in or interested in the management of workplace environments and employees. It’s also helpful for job seekers, especially as it relates to recruitment.
1. Recruitment – The process of finding, screening, and selecting qualified people for a job at an organisation.
2. Onboarding – The process of integrating a new employee into the organisation and its culture.
3. Turnover – The rate at which employees leave a workforce and are replaced. But watch out! The word turnover can also refer to gross income or sales over a particular period. You will know the meaning by the context in which the word is used.
4. Workforce Planning – The process of analysing, forecasting, and planning workforce supply and demand.
5. Outsourcing- The practice of having certain job functions done outside a company instead of having an in-house department handle them.
6. Background check – A method for gathering information about a job candidate, including the following “proofs”: Identity proof, proof of past employment, address proof and educational qualifications proof, among others.
7. Human capital – Employees.
For international business professionals, these are a few of the terms necessary for talking about global trade dynamics.
1. Globalisation – The process of interaction and integration among people, companies, and governments worldwide.
2. Export – Goods or services produced in one country and sold to buyers in another.
3. Import – Bringing goods or services into a country from abroad for sale.
4. Trade barrier – A government-imposed restraint on the flow of international goods or services.
5. Customs – The part of the government that enforces trade regulations and collects tariffs.
6. Tariff – A tariff is a customs duty or tax levied on imports of merchandise goods. Most of the time a tariff is a percentage of value or a specific tariff (e.g. $100 per ton).
7. Free trade – A policy that allows goods and services to be traded without restrictions or tariffs.
With the rise of digital businesses, knowledge of technology-related terms is essential. Digital language is not just for the geeks anymore ;-).
1. E-commerce – The buying and selling of goods or services using the internet.
2. Big Data – Extremely large data sets that may be analysed computationally to reveal patterns and trends.
3. Cloud Computing – The practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage, and process data.
4. Cybersecurity – Measures taken to protect a computer or computer system against unauthorised access or attack.
5. Digital marketplace – An online store where customers can purchase digital products, such as software as a service (SaaS), infrastructure as a service (IaaS), and hardware as a service (HaaS), as well as many other types of digital offerings.
6. Multi vendor marketplace – A large-scale e-commerce store where multiple vendors can promote and sell their goods and services. Companies like Amazon, and in the Netherlands, Bol.com, are e-commerce platforms.
Legal and compliance terms are central in ensuring that businesses operate within the boundaries of law and corporate governance.
1. Compliance – Adherence (=acting in accordance with) to laws, regulations, policies, and ethical standards in business operations.
2. Intellectual Property (IP) – Legal rights arising from the intellectual activity in the industrial, scientific, literary, or artistic fields.
3. Litigation – The process of taking a dispute to a court.
4. Due Diligence – An investigation or audit of a potential investment or product to confirm all facts and financial information.
5. Code of Ethics – A document that conveys organisational values, a commitment to standards, and a set of ideals. In practice, used interchangeably with Code of Conduct.
6. Corporate attorney – a lawyer (=attorney) who is specialised in the area of the law related to corporations.
7. Lawsuit – A legal action in a court of law which deals with a dispute between two people or two organisations. Lawsuits often result in financial settlements.
Effective project management and understanding operational terms are key to ensuring business projects and processes run smoothly.
1. Milestone – A significant point or event in a project, program, or portfolio.
2. Agile – A method of project management used for software development, emphasising incremental delivery.
3. Supply Chain – The entire system of producing and delivering a product or service, from the supplier of raw materials to the end consumer.
4. Inventory Management – The supervision of non-capitalized assets, or inventory, and stock items.
5. COO – Chief Operating Officer.
6. Deliverables – The product or products of what you expect to have at the end of your project. Some examples of deliverables include a new product, a sales deck, or an increase in traffic.
Effective communication and networking are essential for business success, and these terms are foundational.
1. Elevator Pitch – A brief, persuasive speech used to spark interest in what your organisation does.
2. Stakeholder Engagement – The process of involving individuals who may be affected by the decisions made by an organisation.
3. Feedback – Input about employee performance. This can be quite formal and extensive (360 degree feedback) or just a few brief, informal comments from a superior.
4. Networking – Interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional contacts.
5. Non verbal communication – This term often refers to body language and includes any communication that is not word dependent.
6. Upward communication – Upward communication refers to the flow of information from employees or lower-level colleagues to their superiors or higher-level management. “Managing up” means managing your superiors.
7. Brainstorming – An open and lively exchange & collection of ideas, suggestions and input with little judgement or evaluation.
Understanding corporate ethics and social responsibility is key for businesses aiming to operate sustainably and ethically.
1. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) – A business model in which companies are responsible for the societal impacts of their activities.
2. Ethical Sourcing – The process of ensuring the products being sourced are obtained in a responsible and sustainable way. (Ethics are the moral principles that guide a person or a company’s conduct.)
3. Transparency – The practice of openly sharing information related to company operations, decisions, and performance. (Transparency is related to the adjective transparent or “see through.”)
4. Sustainability – Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. (related to the verb “sustain.”)
5. Whistleblower – A person who (safely and privately) reports misconduct or other problems in a company. The whistleblower’s role is to report the issue to the appropriate person (always someone in authority). They do not investigate or determine the appropriate actions that may follow.
6. Circular economy – The circular economy model of production and consumption can include sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. In this way, products are used as long as possible, and waste is reduced.
This glossary of essential business English terms provides a resource for anyone who wants to begin enhancing their business vocabulary. As the world of business continues to evolve, staying informed with key Business English terms (both old ones and new, trending ones) will be crucial in navigating the global business landscape. Everyday new words and terms come into common usage, and we all have to keep up! This post provides just an inkling (=a little bit) of the totality of general terms for Business English, not to mention the plethora (=a lot of) specialist terms that every sector makes use of.
We hope this article helped you check your current knowledge of Business English terms as well as helping you learn some new terms. And of course, if this article inspired you to work on your English vocabulary, we’re here to help.
Contact The English Center today.
Brenda de Jong-Pauley, MA, for The English Center
Word count: approx. 2000
How to disagree diplomatically and respectfully in Business English: A lesson with 25 sample phrases
Business meetings and negotiations are often “won” by the people who are the best communicators. In your native tongue, you may be a diplomacy champ, but how skillful are you in English? Diplomacy is a social and cultural construct, and if English is not your first language, you may not be skillful in navigating the subtleties of diplomatic English.
For example, can you disagree diplomatically in English? Can you disagree clearly but politely and respectfully – without creating hurt feelings, hostility, resistance or even enemies? No? No worries! We have some advice.
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Table of contents: How to Disagree Diplomatically
First, you have to listen. People will notice if you are texting, booking a vacation or planning your next clever comment while they are speaking. Show respect for the speaker with your face, eyes, body language and of course, your ears. And if you did not hear/understand/grasp what they said, ask them to restate it. Once you know what they said, you can connect to it and disagree diplomatically and authentically.
Many Nederlanders have a very direct approach to disagreement, but you are warned to soften that in order to keep things friendly with English speakers. Dutch directness may be respected, but it is not always appreciated. As English speakers, we apply rules of diplomacy to our conversations. So be careful that you do not appear rude “in the eyes” of your English-speaking colleagues.
Of course when you speak English with people from other cultures / other countries, expectations can be different, and some cultures do require or expect a rather direct approach, but English speakers like diplomacy.
A good way to begin to disagree diplomatically is by restating the other speaker’s point of view. For example, “Tom, I hear what you’re saying about the profits from last quarter. You’re right that they weren’t very good. However, I want to point out that there were some extraordinary conditions that caused that slump, and we don’t expect this downturn to continue.
With this restatement of Tom’s concerns, I have let him know that I heard him. But I have still clearly disagreed with his point of view.
Your colleague says, ”Mary has been doing an excellent job. I think we should give her a promotion.” If you do not agree that Mary has been doing a great job and should receive a promotion, you might say something like, “It sounds like you’re very happy with Mary’s performance and she has indeed done some great work on our team. But I have some concerns about her organizational ability, and I don’t feel that she’s ready for a promotion just yet.”
Sometimes it’s not necessary to restate what your colleague has said. Sometimes it’s as simple as saying, “I hear what you’re saying. I know you’re concerned about this problem and I am, too. However, I don’t fully agree with the solution that you’re proposing.”
As you can see in the texts above and below, the conjunctions “however” and “but” are doing a lot of “heavy lifting” (=working hard) in diplomatic English. These connecting words are super important as they prepare the listener for the disagreement which follows the initial phrase.
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Author: Brenda de Jong-Pauley, MA, Director, The English Center of Amsterdam, January 2024. Updated February 2025.
A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens (1812–1870), is perhaps the most beloved of all English language Christmas tales, and always feels right at this time of year. The reader need not be a Christian, or a member of any religion whatsoever, to understand the simple message of the story: Be kind. Be generous. Be a good person.
In A Christmas Carol, first published in 1843, Charles Dickens’ central character, the grouchy (=irritable, angry, bad-tempered) and miserly (= selfish, greedy, hoarding) old businessman, Ebenezer Scrooge, discovers that true success is found not in wealth, but in kindness to others.
As the story opens, Ebenezer Scrooge is a rich but mean-spirited (=unkind, selfish) old man who openly mocks (=is aggressively critical of, makes fun of) the notion (=idea or concept) of Christmas as a time for generosity (giving and sharing) and kindness. Dickens says, “Oh! but he was a tight-fisted hand (=reluctant to spend any money) at the grindstone, Scrooge! A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner!” (=These adjectives all refer to greed and the desire to acquire wealth, no matter who gets hurts.)
But one cold night, when he is visited in his bedchamber (=bedroom) by 3 time-traveling ghosts, Scrooge is forced to confront (=to deal directly & honestly with) his past, present, and future.
As he faces the truth of his own greed and cruelty, under the guidance (=counsel) of the 3 powerful ghosts, Scrooge develops compassion (feelings of kindness) for what we would today call his “wounded inner child,” and by extension, for others.
After the ghostly visits, Scrooge awakens full of good will and joy. He has truly been reborn, and understands that “charity, mercy . . . and benevolence” are everyone’s business, (= everyone’s responsibility).
Charity =giving to those in need; Mercy =forgiveness/kindness; benevolence =consistently having good, kind intentions.
Truly “a new man,” Scrooge runs into the snowy street and pays the first boy he sees to purchase and deliver a huge Christmas turkey to the family of his employee, Bob Cratchit. Bob has long suffered under the terrible work conditions and miserly pay at Scrooge’s office and does not expect anything but cruelty from Ebenezer.
Scrooge also merrily accosts (= abruptly says hello to) some men he knows, and shocks them by offering to contribute (= to give money) to their charity. Finally, he attends his nephew’s Christmas party. He is so full of sincere kindness and happiness that he is almost unrecognizable. (= it is hard to believe he is the same person).
The next day, when Scrooge and Bob Cratchit are back at work, Scrooge pretends to be his old, mean self, but then surprises Cratchit with a huge raise (=a much larger salary) and help for Bob’s troubled family.
Scrooge continues to be a good man. He becomes a “second father” to TIny Tim, the sickly son of Bob Cratchit, who, according to the Ghost of Christmas Future, was going to die. But because of Ebenezer’s newly found kindness, the boy is saved, and Scrooge carries the kind and generous Christmas spirit forward into every single day of his life.
The narrator concludes the story by quoting Tiny Tim, who says, “God bless us, Every one!”
“Bah humbug” – Ebenezer Scrooge
Bah humbug, which is still used to playfully express a negative attitude about a festive event is built from: Bah indicates contempt or disgust; and humbug, meaning nonsense or rubbish. The phrase first appeared in print when spoken by Ebenezer Scrooge in a Christmas Carol.
“God bless us every one!” – Tiny Tim
“It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide; and, if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death.” – Jacob Marley
“Come in, come in! and know me better, man! I am the Ghost of Christmas Present. Look upon me! You have never seen the like of me before!” – The Ghost of Christmas Present
“If they would rather die, they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.” – Ebenezer Scrooge, before he is transformed into a good man.
“You may be an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a crumb of cheese, a fragment of underdone potato. There’s more of gravy than of grave about you, whatever you are!” – Ebenezer Scrooge, when a ghost appears and he tries to convince the ghost, and himself, that this is all just a bad dream caused by indigestion.
“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me.” – Ebenezer Scrooge, after his transformation.
Click our link to go to the Project Gutenberg page. There are no strings attached. No cost, no form to complete. And you can read the text of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol on any device.
You should be able to view these movies on YouTube. In the Netherlands, all the links I am posting go to free, public domain content. I hope they are also free wherever you are. There are several options for your Scrooge / A Christmas Carol movie viewing pleasure. I will share a few below.
The oldest black and white version of the film, from 1935, is called Scrooge. If you are a true movie lover, do not miss this vintage presentation of A Christmas Carol.
If you just want a little sample, but not the entire film, try this trailer for the 1951 version of A Christmas Carol, called Scrooge, also in black and white.
Or if something more modern suits you better, this Hallmark TNT movie is from 1999. A Christmas Carol with Patrick Stewart.
This link goes to A Christmas Carol, the Musical (2004).
And finally, here is a full audiobook, A Christmas Carol.
Read Ten Things To Know About Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Brenda de Jong-Pauley, The English Center of Amsterdam, 2023
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