Page 28 - RTARF - Essential English for Work

Starting a meeting

Starting a meeting
• If we are all here, I think we should start/get started/make a start.

• If we are all here, shall we start/get started/make a start?

• I think we’ll begin now.

• It’s time to start our meeting.

• Let’s begin.

Welcoming participants to a meeting
• It’s nice to see everyone.

• It’s great to see everybody.

• I’d like to start by welcoming everybody.

• Welcome, everybody.

• Hello everyone. Thanks for being here today./Thank you for

coming today.
• Thank you all for coming at such a short notice.

Saying who can’t attend a meeting
• I/We have received apologies (for absence) from ... .

• ... has sent his/her apologies.

• Unfortunately, ... wasn’t able to make it today.

• I’m afraid that ... can’t be with us today because ... .

24 RTARF Essential English for Work: Speaking Essentials