Cooperate vs We can do business together

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Cooperate

Top 2,000 (common)C1verb

We can do business together

Top 2,000 (common)
 CooperateWe can do business together
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/kəʊˈɒpəreɪt/","/kəʊˈɒpəreɪts/","/kəʊˈɒpəreɪtɪd/","/kəʊˈɒpəreɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kəʊˈɑːpəreɪt/","/kəʊˈɑːpəreɪts/","/kəʊˈɑːpəreɪtɪd/","/kəʊˈɑːpəreɪtɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //wiː kæn duː ˈbɪz.nɪs təˈɡeð.ər//🇺🇸 //wi kæn du ˈbɪz.nɪs təˈɡɛð.ər//
MeaningTo work together with someone for a common purpose.We can work together for money or trade.
ExampleThe two groups agreed to cooperate with each other.After the meeting, I told her, 'We can do business together.'
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelC1-
Part of speechverb
Collocationsfully, closely, will, would, agree to, in, on, with, fully, closely, will, would, agree to, in, on, withpotential partners, trade agreements, mutual benefits, business relationships, joint ventures
Antonymsoppose, disagree, compete-
Common mistakes'Cooperate' is often confused with 'collaborate', which has a slightly different nuance., Learners sometimes forget to use 'with' when mentioning the other party., Using 'cooperate' as a standalone verb without a context can be incorrect.Confusing with 'do business with' which implies a specific agreement., Using in informal conversations where it's not relevant.
Usage notesUse 'cooperate' in contexts involving teamwork and collaboration. It's appropriate in both professional and casual settings, but avoid in overly informal conversations. Best used when discussing joint efforts in projects or activities.Use in professional settings to suggest collaboration. Appropriate in business discussions but not in casual contexts.

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Cooperate
We can do business together

Frequently asked questions: Cooperate vs We can do business together

What's the difference between Cooperate and We can do business together?

Cooperate: To work together with someone for a common purpose. We can do business together: We can work together for money or trade.

Can you show an example of each?

Cooperate: The two groups agreed to cooperate with each other. We can do business together: After the meeting, I told her, 'We can do business together.'

Can I use Cooperate and We can do business together interchangeably?

Not always. Cooperate and We can do business together are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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