Meaning & use
commercial enterprises
Last updated
“commercial enterprises” is a form of “commercial enterprise”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nounpluralbusinessformal
businesses or companies that aim to make a profit.
Grammar: Always plural in this form. The singular is 'commercial enterprise'. Takes a plural verb: 'commercial enterprises are growing'.
Patterns
- commercial enterprises are
- commercial enterprises in a country
- set up commercial enterprises
The government encouraged commercial enterprises to invest in the region.
Many commercial enterprises are now using artificial intelligence.
Small commercial enterprises often struggle to compete with large corporations.
Word forms
| singular | commercial enterprise |
|---|
Common combinations
- large commercial enterprises
- Large commercial enterprises dominate the market.
- private commercial enterprises
- Private commercial enterprises are more efficient than state-owned ones.
- commercial enterprises operate
- Commercial enterprises operate in a competitive environment.
- support commercial enterprises
- The new law is designed to support commercial enterprises.
Synonyms and how they differ
- businesses
- More general and common; 'commercial enterprises' sounds more formal and often appears in official or academic writing.
- companies
- Focuses on the legal entities; 'commercial enterprises' can include any profit-making activity.
Opposites
Word family
- commercial enterprise noun
- A single business or company.
Practice
Choose the correct verb: 'Commercial enterprises ___ an important role in the economy.'
Choose one answer.
'Commercial enterprises' is plural, so it takes the plural verb 'play'. 'Plays' is singular and would need 'a commercial enterprise'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “commercial enterprises”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.