Narrator: Welcome back! This is what's happening today: as a result some of
embarrassing mistakes in deliveries, Tip Top Trading's big boss in America
has ordered a re-check of every order this month. So, Paul is talking to key
customers to see if they've got what they needed:
Paul: I just want to check you're happy with the grapes?
Narrator: Tom, whom we all know was responsible for the disaster, is phoning his
clients to make sure he has the correct information about what they want:
Tom: Ya, yah, I just want to make absolutely sure we get the order right for you
and have the correct number of fruit...
Narrator: Denise is, well, talking on the phone to a friend.
Denise: Brown shoes don't look right on him! He's not a brown shoe sort of
person...
Narrator: Anna has to go down to the warehouse, where the products are prepared
for delivery.
Anna: I have to speak to Mr Ingle. Apparently he's not very friendly! He might
not like me asking lots of questions!
Narrator: Well, be polite, and start your sentences with things like:
I just want to make sure that...
Could you possibly clarify...
I just want to check...
Just to be absolutely clear...
One thing I wasn't sure of was...
Narrator: Good luck!
Anna: Mr Ingle, I don't think we've met yet, I'm Anna.
Ingle: Hello. Oi! What are you doing with those boxes? I told you to put them in
storage. Anna, eh?
Anna: Yes, sorry to bother you, I just want to check something. We've had a few
problems with orders…. English at Work © British Broadcasting Corporation 2012
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Ingle: Well, that's not my fault. I do exactly what I'm asked to do. (To workers)
No, not there, in storage!
Anna: Oh, well, I just want to make sure that….
Ingle: Thirty years I've been doing this job, and I've never made a mistake.
Anna: Of course, but because we've had problems, we need to make absolutely
sure that all deliveries are correct.
Ingle: Humph.
Anna: Could you possibly clarify what went out in today's delivery to Mr Berry of,
er, Bluetree Enterprises?
Ingle: 500 redcurrants.
Anna: Right. That's fine.
Narrator: Well done Anna, this is going very well. Remember that other phrase – "I
just want to check…"
Anna: OK. Now, I just want to check what was sent to Cocoline Limited – it
should have been fifteen mangos –
Ingle: That's right.
Anna: Great, and just to be absolutely clear, you sent the soft mangos, not the
plastic ones?
Ingle: Yes, just like I was told to.
Anna: Good. One thing I wasn't sure of was whether we had enough yellow
bananas in stock – I know there are some purple ones, butIngle:
We do need more yellow bananas.
Anna: Okay, I'll just write that down. Thank you Mr Ingle. By the way, I like your
overalls!
Ingle: Oh thanks.
Narrator: Well he was a bit unfriendly, but Anna got what she needed. Here are the
phrases she used:
I just want to make sure that...
Could you possibly clarify...
I just want to check...
Just to be absolutely clear...
One thing I wasn't sure of was... English at Work © British Broadcasting Corporation 2012
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Well, everything in the warehouse seems to be okay. Back in the office,
Tom is having less luck.
Tom: (on the phone) Really? Here it says 5,000 not five... oh...
Narrator: It's going to be a long day for him! Until next time. Bye!
