Business English - Asking III - Ders #6
1. ASK ABOUT PRESENT ACTIVITIES
What's up?
What‟s up? Why have the lines stopped production?
What's happening?
What‟s happening in Detroit? Haven‟t they finished the assignment yet?
What are you working on?
What are you working on now? Still on the MRT routine?
Anything new?
Anything new in the merchandising world?
What’s the current situation?
What‟s the current situation in the metrology field?
2. ASK ABOUT THE FUTURE
What are your plans?
What are your plans for next year?
What’s your projection?
What‟s your projection on developments in the field?
What’s your forecast?
What‟s your forecast for this coming season?
What do you expect?
What do you expect will happen once Murphy takes office?
What do you anticipate?
What do you anticipate? Will the new model outsell the old one?
3. ASK FOR A SUBSTITUTE
Could you replace me?
Could you replace me tomorrow? I‟ve got an appointment with the dentist.
Would it be possible for you to take over?
Would it be possible for you to take over from me? I don‟t feel well.
You might have to stand in for
You might have to stand in for Colum. He has to travel to Ireland.
We need a substitute
We need a substitute teacher for a few days. Could you come in?
Can you take my place?
Can you take my place for an hour? I‟m meeting Ian at the station.
4. ASK FOR AN EXPLANATION
Could you explain?
Could you explain your reasons for delivering the goods late?
How can you justify?
How can you justify this price increase?
I don't understand why
I don‟t understand why we always have problems with quality.
Why is it that?
Why is it that you‟re charging us a commission?
How come?
How come your cheque always gets lost in the post?
5. ASK FOR REPETITION
Sorry, I didn't catch that
Sorry, I didn‟t catch your last sentence. It‟s too noisy here.
I missed that. Could you repeat it, please?
I missed your explanation. Could you repeat it, please?
Pardon?
Pardon? I didn‟t get what you said about Harvey.
Excuse me
Excuse me. Could you read that once again please?
What did you say?
What did you say? I think I understood you wrongly.
What was that again?
What was that again? I‟m afraid I‟m a bit deaf.
6. ASK FOR SOLUTIONS
What should we?
What should we do now?
How can we work it out?
How can we work it out? Do you think you have the answer?
What’s the way?
What‟s the best way to solve this crisis?
What is the solution?
What is the solution? Shall we reset the system?
How do we?
How do we fix the engine?
7. ASK FOR CONFIRMATION
Do you actually mean that?
Do you actually mean that Dynacore will be taken over?
Is it true that?
Is it true that Jo is leaving?
Are you certain about this?
Are you completely certain that these figures are right?
Is it sure?
Is the takeover sure?
Are you one hundred percent positive?
Are you one hundred percent positive? If so, we‟ll buy the stock.
8. ASK TO COMMENT
Could I make a point here?
Could I make another point here? Apart from expensive, the car is ugly.
I’d like add
I‟d like to add that Malone has generally been right in his forecasts.
Could I say something?
Could I say something about Hugh‟s proposal?
May I interrupt?
May I interrupt you for a minute, Jessica?
I’d like to make a comment.
I‟d like to make a quick comment. We need to finish in ten minutes.