Money and Finance: Vocabulary & Phrasal Verbs

For better or for worse, money is an important part of our everyday lives. If you are learning English it is essential to learn the vocabulary and expressions related to finance and business, no matter if it is for tourism, for business or for living abroad.

There are FOUR sections in today’s class. First you answer 12 questions related to money, business and finance. Then you read a story about money and fill in the gaps. After this you find the definitions of phrasal verbs found in the story. Finally you will learn how to adapt your vocabulary.

PART 1

Click ‘START’ and answer these questions. After each question there is a full explanation to help you learn.

PART 2

Read the text and fill in the gaps with one of these words. Remember to double-click any word you don’t understand or can’t pronounce:

DEAL ;   EXPENSES ;   INHERITED ;   SHARES ;   CEO
DEPOSIT ;   FIRED ;   HEIR ;   PROFIT ;   INVESTING
SALE ;    FRANCHISE ;   LOSS ;   CHAIN ;   LOCATION

A few years ago my best friend came into some money. If you don’t know what that means, I’ll explain: Basically, his childless aunt died and as the sole (1)__________ he (2)_________ her property and savings. People told him to buy cars and expensive clothes, but I advised him to be careful: ‘A fool and his money are soon parted’ we say in English.

My friend took notice of what I was saying and started weighing up different options. He thought about (3)______ money in different companies by buying (4)_______, or just putting the money in the bank in a savings account.

Eventually he decided to set up his own business. He went to a trade fair and made a (5)_______ with a fast food (6)_______. He spent a lot of money furnishing the premises, but when it opened it didn’t take off the way he had been promised.

I think there were a quite a few reasons for this: Maybe he didn’t work out all the details. The (7)______ of the premises was not well thought out, for example. He didn’t make a business plan. I think Mark realised that it was not going to work out, because he tried to call it off at the last minute. The problem was that he had already put down a (8)________, and he had too much money tied up in the project to back out.

Anyway, to cut a long story short the business went under after a couple of years. After a few months Mark cut back on the (9)__________, but he was still making a (10)_______. Eventually he just gave up: He (11)_______ the staff and put the premises up for (12)_______. He would have gone bankrupt if he hadn’t reacted that way.

The franchise has since been taken over by another (13)_______. It just wasn’t making a (14)_______ and its (15)_______ didn’t have much idea about the food industry. Mark didn’t seem so bothered. In fact, I think he was relieved that he didn’t have to worry anymore. He hasn’t run out of money yet, anyway!

PART 3

Now find the matching phrasal verb in the text:

1. To start a business =

2. To lessen, to diminish =

3. When something is completely used and there is nothing left =

4. To inherit =

5. When an idea or project is successful =

6. To have second thoughts and leave a project before it has finished =

7. When one company buys another (usuallly smaller) =

8. When a business stops activity due to economic failure (go bankrupt) =

9. Stop doing something when you realise you are going to lose =

10. To cancel =

11. Have a good result or ending =

12. To calculate =

PART 4

Change the word according to the definition:

EXAMPLE. The person who is in a learning period in a new job (TRAIN) = TRAINEE

1. When a product or company does not make money (PROFIT) =

2. INVEST as a noun; How you have used your money =

3. INVEST as a noun; The people who invest their money =

4. A person who commits FRAUD =

5. FRAUD as an adjective; A dishonest, deceitful operation =

6. The other companies or individuals you COMPETE against =

7. Someone who has invested money in a company (SHARE) =

8. The individual marketing tool you use for your company or product (ADVERTISE) =

9. When something or somebody is unnecessarily extravagant with money (WASTE) =

10. The process or quality of CONSUMING (as a noun) =