It is common in business for people to request or demand for things to happen or be done/completed. Normally, they will not only want to know if something will happen or be done, but they'll want to know when. When either requesting when something will happen or responding to this type of question, you could just say basic time phrases like next week or tomorrow.
But there are a lot of other time phrases (like 'right away' which means now) which are commonly used in both business and general English. To be able communicate more effectively, it is important that you understand these phrases.
In this online exercise, you will learn and remember time phrases in English that are used for both requesting for something to be done and responding when you are asked this type of question.
Click here to go to an exercise on English vocabulary used for talking about time in general.
Read the following three different business situations where one person is requesting/asking another person to do something or when something will be done.
From the context, try to guess what the meaning of the words/phrases in bold are. Then do the quiz at the end to check if you are right.
Peter:'Hi John, I need you to do something for me.'
John:'What is it?'
Peter:'I need the customer report straight away.'
John:'I haven't finished it yet. You told me that the deadline was next Friday. I'm so busy at the moment, it won't be ready until next Tuesday at the earliest'
Peter:'I know I said that the deadline was next Friday, but the Service Director is demanding to see it now. Can you try to finish it as soon as possible?'
John:'I can give you a copy of what I've done. So at least the Service Director has some information. I'll try to finish it as fast as I can.'
Peter:'Thanks. When do you think that will be?'
John:'Hopefully, by the end of the week. But I'm not making any promises.'
Wayne:'Gary, can I ask you a favour?'
Gary:'Sorry, two seconds, I just need to send an email.
OK, what do you need.'
Wayne:'Well, you know I'm writing a recommendation for changes to the department. I would just like you to have a look at what I've written. Just to see if there are any mistakes. It's not urgent. I don't need to give it to my manager for a month.'
Gary:'It shouldn't be a problem. I have some things to do, but I'll look at it by Friday at the latest. Is that OK?'
Wayne:'As I said, I don't need to give it to my manager for a month. So, in your own time.'
Jenny:'When do you expect to send out the minutes for yesterday's meeting?'
Mark:'Well, I've got two very urgent things to do before I can start it. Can't it wait for a couple of days?'
Jenny:'No, it can't. I'd appreciate it if you could start doing it straight away!'
Mark:'I'm afraid I can't. I'll start it when I have time.'
Match the words/phrases in bold from the above text to each of the definitions/descriptions below. Click on the "Check" button at the bottom of the quiz to check your answers.
When the answer is correct, two icons will appear below the answer. The "" icon contains extra information on the word/phrase. In the "" icon, you can listen to the pronunciation of the word/phrase.
Now that you understand the meaning of the words/phrases and when to use them, practise using them by creating your own sentences with them in English. Also click on the "" icon under each correct answer and listen how each is pronounced correctly.
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