Describing Relations Vocabulary

• Vocabulary relates to describing relations with the following verbs: break off, buildup, cement, cultivate, cut off, damage, develop, disrupt, encourage, establish, foster, improve, jeopardise, maintain, promote, restore, resume, sever, sour, strengthen, undermine
• Positive relation verbs: build up relations
• Negative relation verbs: break off relations

Choosing the Correct Verb

• Sales staff disrupt/damage the reputation of a company if impolite to customers
• Plan to promote/establish branch offices
• Merging with a US company greatly strengthened/maintained the sales force
• Relations fostered/undermined by poor after-sales service
• Communications system improves/sours relations with suppliers
• Strike disrupted/resumed production
• Talks broke off/cut off due to disagreement on points
• Product launch success cemented/jeopardised by advertising campaign
• Build up/cut off relationships with local agents to gain market share
• Business relations fostered/severed

Matching Sentence Halves

• Widespread rumors of a hostile takeover bid are certain to strain relations between the two leading French software companies Accounts Department's slow payment of invoices is causing stormy relations with some of the company's suppliers
• Long-term contracts cemented relations between the two companies
• Excellent relations with the local community are a credit to its highly effective PR Department
• Government's currency controls jeopardized the company's close relations with foreign investors

Multi-Word verbs

• Multi-word verbs are common are made with a verb and particles
• There are four types of multi-word verbs
• Multi-word verbs without an object
• Multi-word verbs with an object which are separable
• Multi-word verbs with an object which are inseparable
• Multi-word verbs with two particles

Conversation between two executives building relationships with clients

• The executives discuss how a previous disastrous relationship with Toyota is now fine
• The first executive built up his relationship with his original contact again after initial issues, they now play golf
• Conversation multi-word phrases include: set up, called it off, turn it round, build up, putting me off, met up, get on, worked out

Multi-word verbs with similar meanings

• Have a friendly relationship equates to get on
• Registered is similar to checked in
• Make stronger relates to build up
• Change something into something successful relates to clinch
• Postponing/delaying is putting me off
• Appear/arrive somewhere equates to turn up
• Disappoint is letting someone down
• Arrange is similar to set up
• Continue is similar to carry on
• Cancelled is similar to call off

Rephrasing comments with multi-word verbs

• "We can't hold the meeting tomorrow" becomes "We'll have to call off the meeting tomorrow"
• "They've postponed the presentation until Thursday" is unchanged
• "I'm sorry I've disappointed you" becomes "I'm sorry I've let you down"
• "She's arrange the conference call for nine o'clock is the same as "She's set up the conference call for nine o'clock"
• "This is a crucial meeting. Make sure you arrive on time" is the same as "This is a crucial meeting. Make sure you turn up on time"
• "Everyone continues working as if nothing had happened" is "Everyone carries on working as if nothing had happened"
• "You'll need to register at the Hilton around four o'clock" is the same as "You'll need to check in at the Hilton around four o'clock"
• "I have a good relationship with my new boss", to "I get on with my new boss"