IELTS Speaking Lesson about Business – Keith Speaking Academy

Let’s look first at some essential vocabulary and collocations you need to talk about this IELTS Speaking topic of business.

Remember, try and make your own example sentences using this vocabulary.

Business (countable noun) 

= a company

We have a lot of new businesses in this city

I want to start my own business.

Business (uncountable noun) 

Trade, or buying and selling

Business is good at the moment

_______________

Now let’s look at the words used to describe different groups of people and businesses, starting from the smallest and becoming bigger. 

1. An

   entrepreneur

(someone who starts a new business)

A freelancer = a consultant 

(someone who is self-employed but does work for other people or companies)

2. A

   business

   = a company 

We can also say, 

• an

  enterprise

  = a

  firm

   

• A

  venture

  = a new business (emphasizing

  the risk

  )

• A

  start-up 

  = a new business, often used to talk about technology firms 

There are a lot of tech start-ups in Silicon Valley 

3. An

   industry

• Primary

  (mining, fishing, farming) 

• Secondary

  (car manufacturing)

• Tertiary

  (services; teaching, nursing…)

• Heavy

  (B2B; oil, shipbuilding) 

• Light

  (consumer-oriented; B to C manufacturing of clothes, furniture, electronic gadgets) 

4. A

   sector

   (contains several industries; Agriculture, Education, Retail, Financial services…)