Describing Your Company

This unit provides key vocabulary for talking about company locations, departments, and common office items.

Describing Your Company - Exercise

This exercise focuses on vocabulary about Describing Your Company

Table: Company Descriptions and Facilities

Term	Definition	Example
Building	The main structure where employees work	"Our building has three levels."
Canteen	A place where employees can eat meals	"The canteen serves breakfast and lunch daily."
Employee Break Room	A room where employees rest and relax during breaks	"We relax in the employee break room."
Facilities	Areas and equipment provided for convenience	"Our facilities include a small gym."
Factory	Location where products are created	"The factory produces all our products."
Office	Room or area where desk work takes place	"I work in an open office environment."
Warehouse	Large space where products are stored	"The warehouse holds all our inventory."
Division	A specific department or area within a company	"I work in the marketing division."
Production	The process of manufacturing goods	"Production takes place on the ground floor."
Sales	Department responsible for selling products	"Sales are showing strong growth this quarter."
Coffee	A popular hot drink in offices	"Can I get you a coffee?"
Milk, Sugar, Tea	Common additions to coffee or tea	"We keep milk and sugar in the break room."
Coffee Machine	Machine that makes coffee	"The coffee machine is in the corner of the break room."
Laptop	A portable computer	"I use my laptop for meetings."
Photocopier	Machine used to make copies of documents	"The photocopier needs more paper."
Printer	Machine used to print documents	"Please use the printer for reports."

Tips for Usage

Describing the Company’s Size and Style:
When describing the company or its facilities, it’s helpful to use descriptive words, such as:

Large or small to describe size.
Modern or old-fashioned to talk about the style of the workspace or production areas.

Example: “Our office is modern and includes many amenities for employees.”
Adding Details about Rooms and Spaces:
To add details, try phrases like "contains," "is located," or "features."
Examples:

"The canteen contains a variety of food options for staff."
"The warehouse is located next to the shipping area."
"The break room features a coffee machine and a microwave."

Common Errors

Confusing Different Company Areas:
Take care not to mix up similar areas within the company:

Factory vs. Warehouse: A factory is where products are made, while a warehouse is for storing finished products before they are shipped.
Office vs. Division: An office is a space for desk work, whereas a division is a specific department, such as marketing or sales.
Facilities vs. Building: Facilities refer to amenities or rooms for employee comfort, like a gym or canteen, while the building refers to the whole structure.

Choosing Incorrect Descriptors for Equipment:
When describing office items, use specific adjectives:

Modern or outdated to describe equipment.
Large or compact for size.
Avoid using space-related words like “bright” or “dark” to describe equipment.

FAQ

What is the difference between a factory and a warehouse?

A factory is where items are produced, while a warehouse is where finished items are stored before they are shipped.

How do I describe where the coffee machine is located?

Use phrases like “The coffee machine is in the break room” or “The break room contains a coffee machine.”

How do I specify which department I work in?

Say, “I work in the [department name] division” (e.g., “I work in the marketing division”) or “I work in the [department] office” (e.g., “I work in the finance office”).

What’s a good way to describe a modern workspace?

Use words like “modern” and “well-equipped.” You might say, “Our office is modern and has excellent facilities like a gym and a comfortable break room.”

Is there a difference between a break room and a canteen?

Yes, a break room is a place for short rests or snacks, usually with a coffee machine or small refreshments. A canteen is where employees can have full meals and often has seating for lunch or dinner.