Business planning: making predictions with the first conditional
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Think about these questions before reading. Share your ideas with a partner.
- When you make a big plan, like for a holiday or starting a new course, what are the first steps you usually take?
- Imagine you are planning a big project. What is one possible problem you might face, and what could you do to prepare for it?
- Think about a popular company or brand. What do you think they will do in the future to stay successful?
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Planning the App Launch
Listen to the dialogue. Notice how the vocabulary and grammar from the lesson are used.
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Read the article and answer the questions in your own words.
01What is the main topic of the lesson described in the article?
Sample answerThe lesson is about making predictions in a business context.
02According to the article, when do we use the first conditional?
Sample answerWe use it to talk about a possible situation in the future and what will probably happen as a result.
03What type of vocabulary words does the article say students will learn?
Sample answerThey will learn words related to business actions, like 'launch', 'campaign', and 'expand'.
04In what kind of real-world scenario does the article say students can practice the new language?
Sample answerThey can use it in a team meeting where they have to discuss a new project and make suggestions.
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Key vocabulary for making predictions
Vocabulary
These expressions will help you communicate more naturally when discussing business plans and possible outcomes.
Examples
Target audience — the specific group of people that a product or marketing campaign is aimed at.
A very common business term. We often use it with verbs like 'reach', 'identify', or 'define'. Example: 'If we understand our target audience, we will create a better product.'
Get the green light — to get official permission or approval to start a project or plan.
This is a common, slightly informal idiom used in business. Example: 'We can launch the new website as soon as we get the green light from the director.'
Run into problems — to experience unexpected difficulties or challenges.
This is a natural way to talk about potential negative outcomes. It's a good alternative to 'have problems'. Example: 'We might run into problems with the supplier if demand increases too quickly.'
Long-term goal — an aim or objective that you want to achieve in the distant future, like in five or ten years.
This is often contrasted with a 'short-term goal'. It's a key phrase in strategy meetings. Example: 'Our long-term goal is to become the market leader.'
Break into a market — to successfully enter a new market or industry for the first time, often when it is difficult.
Use this phrase to show that entering the market is a challenge. Example: 'If this campaign is successful, we could break into the youth market.'
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Key business planning terms
Learn these words to talk about business plans and predictions.
Match each term with its correct definition.
Drag or click to match
Definitions
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Grammar: First conditional
Grammar
We use the first conditional to talk about possible future situations and their likely results. It's perfect for business planning because it helps us discuss the consequences of our actions, like what could happen if we launch a new product or start a new marketing campaign.
Examples
If we secure the new investment, we will open another office.
Use 'will' for a result that you are quite certain about.
If the competition lowers their prices, we might lose some customers.
Use 'might' or 'could' when the result is possible, but not certain.
Our profits will increase if the new marketing campaign is successful.
The 'if' clause can come second. When it does, we don't use a comma.
Key points
- Structure: If + present simple, ... will/might/could + base verb.
- Always use the present simple tense in the 'if' clause, never 'will'.
- Use a comma after the 'if' clause when it comes at the beginning of the sentence.
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Spot the error
Read the sentences below about making business predictions.
Each sentence contains one error. Find and correct it.
01If we will get the green light, we will start the project next month.
Corrected version
If we will get the green light, we will start the project next month.
02The company plans to expansion into the Asian market next year.
Corrected version
The company plans to expansion expand into the Asian market next year.
03Our target audience are young professionals aged 25 to 35.
Corrected version
Our target audience are is young professionals aged 25 to 35.
04We might run on problems with the supplier if we don't sign the contract soon.
Corrected version
We might run on into problems with the supplier if we don't sign the contract soon.
05If the marketing campaign will be successful, our sales will increase.
Corrected version
If the marketing campaign will be is successful, our sales will increase.
06Our long-term goal is to do a new market in South America.
Corrected version
Our long-term goal is to do break into a new market in South America.
07We need to launch a new advertising campain to attract more customers.
Corrected version
We need to launch a new advertising campain campaign to attract more customers.
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Useful phrases: Discussing a new project in a team meeting
Vocabulary
Here are some practical phrases for when you are in a meeting. Use them to make suggestions, agree, express concerns, and talk about possible results for a new project.
Examples
What if we focus on the European market first? — use this to make a suggestion in the form of a question.
Register: Neutral. This is a polite and collaborative way to introduce a new idea for the team to consider.
That's a good point. If we do that, we'll probably attract a younger audience. — use this to agree with someone and add a likely result.
Register: Neutral. This shows you are listening and helps move the conversation forward by building on someone else's idea.
I see what you mean, but my only concern is the budget. — use this to politely express a potential problem or disagreement.
Register: Neutral/Formal. This is a soft way to disagree. You show you understand their idea ('I see what you mean') before introducing your concern.
So, just to be clear, if we launch in May, what's the expected outcome? — use this to ask for clarification about a possible result.
Register: Neutral/Formal. Use this when you want to confirm you understand the potential consequences of a decision.
I have a good feeling about this, as long as we secure the funding first. — use this to express cautious optimism.
Register: Neutral/Informal. This phrase shows you are positive about the project but also aware of an important condition for its success.
Okay, so the plan is: if we get approval, our first step will be to... — use this to summarize the decision and the next action.
Register: Neutral. This is useful at the end of a discussion to make sure everyone agrees on the plan and what happens next.
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Planning a new product launch
Read the passage about a team planning a new project.
Fill in each blank with the correct word from the word bank.
Word bank
Before we can our new app, we need to do more research on our audience. If we don't understand our customers, we will definitely into problems later on. Our goal is to become the market leader, but first, we need to successfully into the European market. Once we the green light from the board, we can start the marketing campaign.
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Discuss these questions with a partner. Try to use vocabulary from the lesson.
- Some businesses launch new products quickly, even if they might run into problems later. Other businesses wait until a product is perfect. Which approach do you think is better for long-term success?
- Think about a new business trying to break into the market in your country. What kind of product or service would be popular, and who should their target audience be?
- Imagine a company's long-term goal is to expand internationally. If they get the green light to start, what is the biggest challenge they will face, and how could they prepare for it?