Collocation Mini-Lessons

Business Communication

Lesson 35  ·  Professional & Workplace

B1 – B2

Register Key

General Casual News Professional Workplace
4 phrases  ·  5 example sentences each  ·  See how each phrase is used across different real-world contexts.

1 raise a question
Example Sentences ▾
  • ◆Never be afraid to raise a question — if you're wondering about it, others probably are too.General
  • ◆I want to raise a question before we go any further — does this actually make sense?Casual
  • ◆Opposition members raised questions about the transparency of the bidding process.News
  • ◆The auditor raised a question about the discrepancy between two sets of financial records.Professional
  • ◆The health and safety rep raised a question about the new chemical storage procedure.Workplace
2 discuss a problem
Example Sentences ▾
  • ◆Discussing a problem openly with someone you trust can make it feel far less overwhelming.General
  • ◆Can we please just discuss the problem like adults instead of avoiding it?Casual
  • ◆Community leaders met to discuss the problem of youth unemployment in the region.News
  • ◆The team set aside time at the end of each sprint to discuss any problems that had emerged.Professional
  • ◆The supervisor met with the two workers separately before discussing the problem as a group.Workplace
3 address a concern
Example Sentences ▾
  • ◆Addressing concerns early prevents small issues from turning into serious ones.General
  • ◆I just need someone to address my concern — I've been raising it for weeks.Casual
  • ◆The health secretary addressed public concerns about the safety of the new vaccine.News
  • ◆The client relations manager addressed the concern promptly and to the client's satisfaction.Professional
  • ◆The team leader addressed the concern about overtime hours at the next staff meeting.Workplace
4 reach an agreement
Example Sentences ▾
  • ◆Most conflicts can be resolved when both sides are genuinely willing to reach an agreement.General
  • ◆Have you reached an agreement yet, or is it still up in the air?Casual
  • ◆After months of difficult negotiations, the two parties finally reached a landmark agreement.News
  • ◆The procurement team reached an agreement with the supplier on revised delivery terms.Professional
  • ◆The union and management reached an agreement on pay that avoided a planned strike.Workplace
★ Bonus

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