10 useful and important phrases that B1-level English speakers can use in a business or professional context

10 essential B1-level Business English phrases

When you need someone to provide further explanation or make something clearer.

To ask someone in a polite way to repeat what they said because you didn't hear or understand it.

When you need to ask a colleague for help in a polite way.

To suggest having a meeting or discussion at a later time to discuss a specific topic or follow up on a project.

To express openness to considering someone's suggestion or idea.

When you need to decline a request politely or inform someone that what they are asking for cannot be done.

To show that you're making progress in relation to an established timeline and you're likely to complete a project on time.

To encourage colleagues to generate some ideas for a project or to solve a problem.

When you want to refer back to a previous discussion or check the progress on a topic.

I'd like to follow up on our previous conversation.

To request a concise summary or explanation of a topic, report, or presentation.

Could you give me a brief overview, please?