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Grammar fix

do business

work commercially

to buy, sell, or trade goods or services with other people or companies, usually to make money.

collocationB1common

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • Many companies prefer to do business with partners they trust.work
  • In my opinion, it’s important to do business honestly if you want to build a good reputation.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: do business (with someone/in somewhere)

WrongWe do business to many countries.

RightWe do business with many countries. / in many countries.

You do business WITH a partner or IN a place — not 'to'.

Patterndo business (with someone/in somewhere)

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff Our company conducts commercial transactions with several Asian firms.

Natural We do business with several firms in Asia.

'Do business with' is the natural phrase; 'conducts commercial transactions' is a press release.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

  • do business (with/in)
    with themin Chinatogetheronline

Don't confuse it

'Do business' is about commercial activity, not starting a company (which is 'start a business').

Try it in Daily Speak →