Logistics process improvement

Tabla de contenido

Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1

Concept map.......................................................................................................... 2

1. Vocabulary: collocations .................................................................................. 3

What is a collocation? ......................................................................................... 3
Why learn collocations? ...................................................................................... 3
How to learn collocations .................................................................................... 3
Types of collocation ............................................................................................ 4

2. Wh questions..................................................................................................... 4
Some other expressions with What and Which ................................................... 5
Word order in questions ...................................................................................... 6

3. Word stress rules .............................................................................................. 7

Stress on first syllable ......................................................................................... 7
Stress on last syllable ......................................................................................... 7
Stress on penultimate syllable............................................................................. 7
Stress on ante-penultimate syllable .................................................................... 9

4. Phrases to participate in conversation ........................................................... 9

5. Present perfect ................................................................................................ 10

Use .................................................................................................................... 10

6. Conditional sentences .................................................................................... 13

7. Future time....................................................................................................... 14

8. Oral presentations .......................................................................................... 15

Do ..................................................................................................................... 15
Don’t: ................................................................................................................. 15
Useful language for presentations..................................................................... 16

9. Expressions for agreeing and disagreeing ................................................... 17

References ........................................................................................................... 23
 Introduction

What is your Fast

name? food Finally

Fuente: Pixabay (2016)

Is vital to know different expressions of the English language frequently used in the
business world and its pronunciation are essential for the development of the
logistics processes, due to allow an accurate and effective communication in the
different scales of the supply chain links and all the logistic process management,
especially when the partakers involved are native English speakers.

Because of the preview information, in this training material will be study the types
of common expression such as placements, Wh questions and some grammatical
figures often used.

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Concept map

In the conceptual map that is shared below, you can see the thematic content
interrelationship that arises in this learning material:

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 1. Vocabulary: collocations

What is a collocation?

A collocation is two or more words that often go together. These combinations just
sound "right" to native English speakers, who use them all the time. On the other
hand, other combinations may be unnatural and just sound "wrong".

Natural English... Unnatural English...

The fast train. The quick train.

Fast food. Quick food.

A quick shower. A fast shower.

A quick meal. A fast meal.

Why learn collocations?

 Your language will be more natural and more easily understood.

 You will have alternative and richer ways of expressing yourself.

 It is easier for our brains to remember and use language in chunks or blocks
rather than as single words.

How to learn collocations

 Be aware of collocations, and try to recognize them when you see or hear
them.

 Treat collocations as single blocks of language. Think of them as individual

blocks or chunks, and learn strongly support, not strongly + support.

 When you learn a new word, write down other words that collocate with it
(remember rightly, remember distinctly, remember vaguely, remember vividly).

 Read as much as possible. Reading is an excellent way to learn vocabulary and

collocations in context and naturally.

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 Revise what you learn regularly. Practice using new collocations in context as
soon as possible after learning them.

 Learn collocations in groups that work for you. You could learn them by topic
(time, number, weather, money, family) or by a particular word (take action, take
a chance, take an exam).

 You can find information on collocations in any good learner's dictionary. And
you can also find specialized dictionaries of collocations.

Types of collocation

There are several different types of collocation made from combinations of verb,
noun, adjective etc. Some of the most common types are:

 Adverb + adjective: completely satisfied (NOT downright satisfied).

 Adjective + noun: excruciating pain (NOT excruciating joy).

 Noun + noun: a surge of anger (NOT a rush of anger).

 Noun + verb: lions roar. (NOT lions shout).

 Verb + noun: commit suicide (NOT undertake suicide).

 Verb + expression with preposition: burst into tears (NOT blow up in tears).

 Verb + adverb: wave frantically (NOT wave feverishly).

2. Wh questions

To ask about: We use

What’s that under the table?
A thing.
Which is your report?
When is the meeting with the boss?
A time.
What time is the meeting with the boss?

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 Where did you get the feedback from
A place.
your boss?

A person. Who is your favorite colleague?

The way you do something. How do you export a product?

Why are you implementing an evaluation

The reason for doing something.
of your logistics process?

A period of time. How long does the meeting last?

The number of times you do

How often do you evaluate your product?
something.

The cost of something. How much does the transportation cost?

 We use what if there are many possible answers:

What is your name?

 We use Which if there are only a few possible answers.

Which do your prefer; coffee or tea?

Some other expressions with What and Which

What sort / kind of company have you got?

Which places do you want to visit?

What time does the office open?

Which part of Mexico is Monterrey in?

What color is the product?

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Word order in questions

 Be

With the verb be we ‘invent’ the subject and the verb.

They are in the meeting room. Are they in the meeting room?

You were late for the conference. Were you late for class?

 Modal verbs

With modal verbs (can, will, might) we also invert the subject and the verb to
form the question.

Erika can present the plan. Can Erika present the plan?

 Other verbs

With other verbs, we put the auxiliary verb do or does before the subject if you
are using present simple.

They work in the office. Do the work in the office?

Jamie has his own business. Does Jamie have his own business?

The question word comes before the auxiliary verb.

Where do you have the conference?

How often do you have meetings with your boss?

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 3. Word stress rules

There are two very simple rules about word stress:

 One word has only one stress. (One word cannot have two stresses. If you
hear two stresses, you hear two words. Two stresses cannot be one word. It is
true that there can be a "secondary" stress in some words. But a secondary
stress is much smaller than the main [primary] stress, and is only used in long
words.)

 We can only stress vowels, not consonants. Here are some more, rather
complicated, rules that can help you understand where to put the stress. But do
not rely on them too much, because there are many exceptions. It is better to try
to "feel" the music of the language and to add the stress naturally.

Stress on first syllable

Rule
Most 2 - syllable nouns.
Most 2 - syllable adjectives.
Example
Present - export - China - table.
Present - slender - clever -
happy.

Stress on last syllable

Rule Examples

Most 2 - syllable verbs. Present - export - decide - begin.

Stress on penultimate syllable

(Penultimate = second from end).

Rule Example

Words ending in – ic. Graphic - geographic - geologic.

Words ending in - sion and -
Television - revelation.
tion.

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8
Stress on ante-penultimate syllable

(Ante-penultimate = third from end).

Rule Example
Words ending in - cy, - ty, - phy Democracy - dependability,
and - gy. photography - geology.
Words ending in – al. Critical - geological.

Compound words

(Words with two parts).

Rule Example
For compound nouns, the stress
Blackbird - greenhouse.
is on the first part.
For compound adjectives, the
Bad-tempered, old-fashioned.
stress is on the second part.
For compound verbs, the stress is
Understand, overflow.
on the second part.

4. Phrases to participate in conversation

Giving an opinion Asking for opinions

In my opinion… What’s your feeling?

It seems to me that… What do you think about…?

Managing the discussion Disagreeing tactfully

Do we all agree on that, then?

Perhaps you should break for coffee.

I agree up to a point, but…
Could we come back to this later?

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 Interrupting Asking for clarification

Sorry, but could I just say… So are you saying that…?

Persuading
One point to consider…

Isn’t it the case that…?

5. Present perfect

The present perfect is formed from the present tense of the verb have and the past
participle of a verb.

The present perfect continuous is formed with have/has been and the -ing form of
the verb.

Use

We use the present perfect tense:

 For something that started in the past and continues in the present:

o They’ve worked in the company for nearly twenty years.

o She has planned this meeting since last two weeks.

Note: We normally use the present perfect continuous for this:

 She has been working in the company for twenty years.

 The logistics group has been discussing about the project.

 For something we have done several times in the past and continue to do:

o We’ve implemented warehousing procedures for two months.

o He has written two reports so far this week.

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 o I’ve been planning a new improvement process.

 We often use a clause with since to show when something started in the past:

o They’ve been working on the project since last week.

o I have worked here since I left school.

o I’ve been attending the meeting since it started.

 When we are talking about our experience up to the present:

We often use the adverb ever to talk about experience up to the present:

o My last meeting with the boss was the worst day I have ever had.

And we use never for the negative form:

A: Have you ever met the manager?

B: Yes, but I’ve never met his wife.

 For something that happened in the past but is important at the time of
speaking:

o I can’t get in my office. I’ve lost my keys.

o Teresa isn’t in the meeting room. I think she has gone home.

o I’m tired out. I’ve been working all day.

 We use the present perfect of be when someone has gone to a place and
returned:

A: Where have you been?

B: I’ve just been out to have some coffee.

But when someone has not returned we use have/has gone:

A: Where is Maria? I haven’t seen her for weeks.

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 B: She's gone to Paris for a new business for a week. She’ll be back tomorrow.

 We often use the present perfect with time adverbials which refer to the recent
past:

Just; only just; recently; already.

o Scientists have recently discovered a new breed of monkey.

o We have just used the most cost-effective packaging method.

 Or adverbials which include the present:

Ever (in questions); so far; until now; up to now; yet (in questions and
negatives).

o Have you ever exported a product?

o Where have you been up to now?

o Have you finished your report yet?

Warning

We do not use the present perfect with an adverbial which refers to

past time which is finished:

o I have checked the report yesterday.

o We have just implemented a new plan last week.

o When we were students we have been to some congresses.

But we can use it to refer to a time which is not yet finished:

Have you seen Helen today?

We have presented an improvement plan this week.

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 6. Conditional sentences

A conditional sentence typically consists of an If-clause (which presents a

condition) and a result clause.

Example:

If the company manufactures a product from parts purchased from suppliers, and
those products are then sold to customers, one will be able to speak about a
supply chain.

Overview of basics verbs forms used in conditional sentences

Situation If-clause Result clause Example
If companies
improve the
efficiency of their
True in the present / Simple
Will + simple form logistics processes,
future (first conditional) present
they will gain and
edge over their
competitors.
If companies didn’t
Untrue in the present / reduce
Would + simple
future (second Simple past transportation costs,
form
conditional) they would face
problems.
If the company had
improved the
logistics planning,
they would have
Untrue in the past Would have +
Past perfect had higher
(third conditional) past participle
productivity, happier
customers, and a
more profitable
company.

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 7. Future time

Will vs. be going to

To express a prediction: use will

The improvement of logistics planning When the speaker is making a

will inevitably lead to higher prediction (a statement about
productivity, happier customers, and a something she/he thinks that will be
more profitable company. true or will occur in the future), use will.

To express a prior plan or intention: use be going to

When the speaker is expressing a prior

plan (something the speaker intends to
The company is going to evaluate the
do in the future because in the past
logistics process in the next meeting.
she / he made a plan or decision to do
it), only be going to is used.

Future progressive
The future progressive expresses an
The staff will be having the meeting
activity that will be in progress at a time
during the morning.
in the future.

Future perfect
The future perfect expresses an activity
that will be completed before another
By the time the day ends, the
time or event in the future. (Note: by the
employees will have received
time introduces a time clause; the
feedback.
simple present is used in the time
clause).

Future perfect progressive

The future perfect progressive

When the manager of the company
emphasizes the duration of an activity
retires next year, he will have been
that will be in progress before another
working in the company for 20 years.
time or event in the future.

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 8. Oral presentations

Here are the British Council top tips for oral presentations:

Do

 Use the planning time to prepare what you’re going to say.

 If you are allowed to have a note card, write short notes in point form.

 Use more formal language.

 Use short, simple sentences to express your ideas clearly.

 Pause from time to time and don’t speak too quickly. This allows the listener to
understand your ideas. Include a short pause after each idea.

 Speak clearly and at the right volume.

 Have your notes ready in case you forget anything.

 Practice your presentation. If possible record yourself and listen to your

presentation.

 If you can’t record yourself, ask a friend to listen to you. Does your friend
understand you?

 Make your opinions very clear. Use expressions to give your opinion.

 Look at the people who are listening to you.

Don’t:

 Write out the whole presentation and learn every word by heart.

 Write out the whole presentation and read it aloud.

 Use very informal language.

 Only look at your note card. It’s important to look up at your listeners when you
are speaking.

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Useful language for presentations

Explain what your presentation is about at the beginning:

 I’m going to talk about ...

 I’d like to talk about ...

 The main focus of this presentation is ...

 Use these expressions to order your ideas:

 First of all, ...

 Firstly, ...

 Then, ...

 Secondly, ...

 Next, ...

 Finally, ...

 Lastly, ...

 To sum up, ...

 In conclusion, ...

Use these expressions to add more ideas from the same point of view:

 In addition, ...

 What’s more, ...

 Also, ...

 Added to this, ...

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To introduce the opposite point of view you can use these words and expressions:

 However, ...

 On the other hand, ...

 Then again, ...

9. Expressions for agreeing and disagreeing

Stating an opinion Interruptions

• In my opinion... • Can I add something here?

• If you want my honest opinion.... • If I might add something...
• According to Lisa... • Sorry to interrupt, but...
• As far as I'm concerned...
• If you ask me...
• Asking for an opinion…

Expressing agreement Settling an argument

• Let's just move on, shall we?

• I agree with you 100 percent.
• I couldn't agree with you more.
• That's so true.
• That's for sure.
• You're absolutely right.
• Absolutely.
• That's exactly how I feel.
• Exactly.
• I'm afraid I agree with James.
• (Agree with negative statement) Me
neither.
• (Weak) I suppose so. / I guess so.
• You have a point there.
• I was just going to say that.
• Let's drop it.
• I think we're going to have to agree
to disagree.
Expressing disagreement
• I don't think so.
• I'm afraid I disagree.
• (Strong) I totally disagree.
• (Strong) I'd say the exact opposite.
• Not necessarily.
• That's not always true.
• That's not always the case.
• No, I'm not so sure about that.

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Review of tenses

Simple present
Affirmative She drinks.
Negative She does not drink.
Interrogative Does she drink?
Form I, you we they play | he, she, it plays.
• Action in the present taking place once, never or several
times.
Uses • Facts.
• Actions taking place one after another.
• Action set by a timetable or schedule.

Present progressive
Affirmative He is reading.
Negative He is not reading.
Interrogative Is he reading?
Form To be (in the simple present) + verb + ing.
• Action taking place at the moment of speaking.
Uses
• Action arranged for the future.

Simple past
Affirmative I cried.
Negative I did not cry.
Interrogative Did I cry?
Regular verbs: verb + ed | Irregular verbs: forms differ and
Form
should be learned by heart.

• Action in the past taking place once, never or several times.

Uses
• Actions taking place one after another.

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 Past progressive
Affirmative He was driving.
Negative He was not driving.
Interrogative Was he driving?
Form To be (in the simple past) + verb + ing.
• Action going on at a certain time in the past.
Uses • Actions taking place at the same time.
• Action in the past that is interrupted by another action.

Present perfect simple

Affirmative They have slept.
Negative They have not slept.
Interrogative Have they slept?
• Have / has + past participle (past participle of regular verbs:
verb + ed.
Form
• Past participle of irregular verbs: forms differ and should be
learned by heart.
• Emphasis is on the result (not the duration).
• Action that started in the past & is still going on.
Uses
• Action that stopped recently.
• Finished action that has an influence on the present.

Present perfect progressive

Affirmative He has been thinking.
Negative He has not been thinking.
Interrogative Has he been thinking?
Form Have or has + been + verb + ing.

• Putting emphasis on the course or duration (not the result).

Uses • Action that recently stopped or is still going on.
• Finished action that influenced the present.

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 Past perfect simple
Affirmative She had won.
Negative She had not won.
Interrogative Had she won?

• Had + past participle (past participle of regular verbs: verb +

ed.
Form
• Past participle of irregular verbs: forms differ and should be
learned by heart.

• Action taking place before a certain time in the past.

Uses • Sometimes interchangeable with past perfect progressive.
• Putting emphasis only on the fact (not the duration).

Past perfect progressive

Affirmative He had been waiting.
Negative He had not been waiting.
Interrogative Had he been waiting?
Form Had + been + verb + ing.

• Action taking place before a certain time in the past.

Uses • Sometimes interchangeable with past perfect simple.
• Putting emphasis on the duration or course of an action.

Future simple
Affirmative I will open the door.
Negative I will not open the door.
Interrogative Will you open the door?
Form Will + verb.
• We use the simple future for instant decisions.
Uses • We use the simple future when we predict a future situation.
• We use the simple future in conditional sentences type one.

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 Future plan (going to)
Affirmative He is going to clean the car.
Negative He is not going to clean the car.
Interrogative Is he going to clean the car?
Form To be (in the simple present) + going + to + verb.

• To express the future when we intend to do something or

have decided to do something but did not arrange it. It is
Uses
just an intention.
• Predictions in the future.

Future plan (present progressive)

Affirmative He is traveling to Egypt next week.

Negative He is not traveling to Egypt next week.
Interrogative Is he traveling to Egypt next week?

Form To be (in the simple present) + verb + ing.

When we say what we have planned and arranged to do at a

Uses specific time in the future. These are fixed plans with definite
time and / or place.

Future progressive
Affirmative She will be listening to music.
Negative She will not be listening to music.
Interrogative Will she be listening to music?
Form Will + be + verb + ing.

• Action that is going on at a certain time in the future.

Uses
• Action that is sure to happen in the near future.

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 Future perfect
Affirmative He will have spoken.
Negative He will not have spoken.
Interrogative Will he have spoken?

Will + have + past participle (past participle of regular verbs:

Form Verb + ed | Past participle of irregular verbs: forms differ and
should be learned by heart.

Uses Action that will be finished at a certain time in the future.

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 References

 Allison, J. y Enmmerson, P. (s.f.). Meetings. Teamwork. The Business

Intermediate Student’s Book. Macmillan.

 British Council. (s.f.). Exams. Speaking exams. Oral presentations. Consultado

el 02 de diciembre de 2016, en http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org

 British Council. (s.f.). Grammar. Present perfect. Consultado el 02 de diciembre

de 2016, en https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org

 Cunningham, S. y Moor, P. Revision of Question forms. Cutting Edge pre-

intermediate. (2a ed.). Longman.

 English Club. (s.f.). Collocations. Consultado el 02 de diciembre de 2016, en

https://www.englishclub.com

 English Club. (s.f.). Expressions for agreeing and disagreeing. Consultado el 02

de diciembre de 2016, en https://www.englishclub.com

 English Club. (s.f.). Pronunciation. Word Stress Rules. Consultado el 02 de

diciembre de 2016, en https://www.englishclub.com

 My English Pages. (2016). Review of tenses. Consultado el 02 de diciembre de

2016, en http://www.myenglishpages.com

 Pixabay. (2016). Retroalimenatción. Consultado el 17 de octubre de 2016, en

https://pixabay.com

 Schrampfer, B. (s.f.). Understanding and Using English Grammar. (2a ed.).

Longman.

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 Control del documento

Nombre Cargo Dependencia Fecha

Centro de Servicios
Autor Lina Marcela Experta Empresariales y Agosto de
Camargo León técnica Turísticos. 2016
Regional Santander
Guionista - Centro
Luz Clarena Diciembre
Adaptación línea de Agroindustrial.
Arias González de 2016
producción Regional Quindío

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