HOW TO ASK ABOUT WHAT IS NEEDED

Helpful Phrases:


What do you need?
What do you need a new plotter for?
What are the requisites?
What are the requisites? For instance, can a foreigner buy property here?
What is required?
What documents are required for the whole importation process?
Is this necessary?
Is it necessary to spend so much money in new equipment?
Is it a must?
Is a coffee machine a must? Can't we just all have tea at the office?

HOW TO ASK FOR STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES

Helpful Phrases:


What are their strengths?
What are their mains strengths? Marketing? We can beat them there.
What do you do best?
What do you do best? I need to know before I help you write your CV.
Don’t they have any weak point?
Doesn't this team have any weak point? Are they all great players?
What is she good at?
What is Ben good at? Selling. He's a pro at that.
Aren’t they vulnerable at all?
Aren't they vulnerable at all? What if we reduce all our prices?

HOW TO ASK ABOUT ABILITIES

Helpful Phrases:


Could he?
Could he lead a team of ten experienced salesmen?
Are you able to?
Are you able to work under pressure?
How well do you?
How well do you know the UNIX system?
What about her?
What about her experience in public relations? Could she handle the press?
Do her skills include?
Do her skills include touch typing?

HOW TO ASK FOR DIRECTIONS

Helpful Phrases:


Where is?
Excuse me, where is the market?
How can I get?
How can get from Bloor Street to Lambeth Square?
Could you give me directions?
Could you give me direction to the Royal Albert Hall?
What’s the best way to get reach?
What‟s the best way to reach London? On the M1 or the M40?
Which route do you recommend?
Which route do you recommend from Burlington to Boston?

HOW TO ASK ABOUT FACILITIES

Helpful Phrases:


What does it include?
What does the rental contract include?
Is furniture provided?
Is furniture for the stand provided or do we have to bring our own?
Is there?
Is there a crane we could rent? Our machines are very heavy.
Do the facilities have?
Do the facilities have a parking lot?
What features?
What special features does the venue have?

HOW TO ASK FOR A PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Helpful Phrases:

What does it look like?

What does the building look like?

How big is it?

How big are the offices?

How much does it weigh?

How much does this container weigh?

How high is it?

How high is the whole structure?

What’s it made of?

What are the pens made of? Metal or plastic?

HOW TO ASK FOR PAYMENT

Helpful Phrases:


When is your next payment date?
When is your next payment date? I can't wait forever.
When will my cheque be ready?
When will my cheque be ready? On Monday?
According to our records
According to our records you still owe us $ 4,500.
Your instalment is past due
Your monthly instalment is past due. Do you have any problem?
When shall I pass by to collect?
When shall I pass by to collect? I do need the cash.

HOW TO ASK ABOUT PAYMENT TERMS

Helpful Phrases:


What are your payment conditions?
What are your standard payment conditions?
Could we talk about payment terms?
Could we talk about payment terms later? I'm in a hurry now.
How do you normally get paid?
How do you normally get paid? We generally send a cheque.
Would a letter of credit be all right?
Would a letter of credit be all right? It's the best method.
What about paying in installments?
What about paying in installments? We do need some financing.

HOW TO ASK ABOUT DELIVERY TIMES

Helpful Phrases:


When could we receive?
When could we receive the goods?
What are your shortest delivery times?
What are your shortest delivery times for Canada?
How long will it take to arrive?
How long will it take to arrive at our factory?
When can we count on having it?
When can we count on having it ready for shipping?
Could we get it by?
Could we get it into port by next Tuesday?

HOW TO ASK ABOUT WAITING TIMES

Helpful Phrases:


How long will?
How long will it be before you fix the leak?
Is he going to take a long time?
Is the Doctor going to take a long time?
How delayed?
How delayed is the flight?
Do you think we should wait?
Do you think we should wait? It's eleven and nothing has happened yet.
When will?
When will the speech end? I'm tired of sitting here!