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09 - The warehouse

Language for checking information

Anna's checking up on some orders today. As a result of some embarrassing mistakes in deliveries, Tip Top Trading's big boss in America has ordered a re-check of every order this month. Let's hear how she checks on things in the warehouse.

Intermediate · 160831 · 2016-08-31

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Context

Anna's checking up on some orders today. As a result of some embarrassing mistakes in deliveries, Tip Top Trading's big boss in America has ordered a re-check of every order this month. Let's hear how she checks on things in the warehouse. Language for checking information This episode explores language for checking information.

Vocabulary Cards
Phrase, meaning, example, and common mistakes with personal flags.
Favorite: 0Unknown: 0Login to save flags
  • 1. I just want to make sure that...

    US: I just want to make sure that...

  • 2. Could you possibly clarify...

    US: Could you possibly clarify...

  • 3. I just want to check...

    US: I just want to check...

  • 4. Just to be absolutely clear...

    US: Just to be absolutely clear...

  • 5. One thing I wasn't sure of was...

    US: One thing I wasn't sure of was...

Transcript
Speakers: Narrator, Paul, Tom, Denise, Anna, Ingle

1. Narrator

Welcome back! This is what's happening today: as a result of some 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:

US: Welcome back! This is what's happening today: as a result of some 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:

2. Paul

I just want to check you're happy with the grapes?

US: I just want to check you're happy with the grapes?

3. 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:

US: 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:

4. Tom

Ya, yah, I just want to make absolutely sure we get the order right for you and have the correct number of fruit...

US: Ya, yah, I just want to make absolutely sure we get the order right for you and have the correct number of fruit...

5. Narrator

Denise is, well, talking on the phone to a friend.

US: Denise is, well, talking on the phone to a friend.

6. Denise

Brown shoes don't look right on him! He's not a brown shoe sort of person...

US: Brown shoes don't look right on him! He's not a brown shoe sort of person...

7. Narrator

Anna has to go down to the warehouse, where the products are prepared for delivery.

US: Anna has to go down to the warehouse, where the products are prepared for delivery.

8. Anna

I have to speak to Mr. Ingle. Apparently he's not very friendly! He might not like me asking lots of questions!

US: I have to speak to Mr. Ingle. Apparently he's not very friendly! He might not like me asking lots of questions!

9. 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... Good luck!

US: 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... Good luck!

10. Anna

Mr. Ingle, I don't think we've met yet, I'm Anna.

US: Mr. Ingle, I don't think we've met yet, I'm Anna.

11. Ingle

Hello. Oi! What are you doing with those boxes? I told you to put them in storage. Anna, is it?

US: Hello. Oi! What are you doing with those boxes? I told you to put them in storage. Anna, is it?

12. Anna

Yes, sorry to bother you, I just want to check something. We've had a few problems with orders....

US: Yes, sorry to bother you, I just want to check something. We've had a few problems with orders....

13. Ingle

Well, that's not my fault. I do exactly what I'm asked to do. (To workers) No, not there, in storage!

US: Well, that's not my fault. I do exactly what I'm asked to do. (To workers) No, not there, in storage!

14. Anna

Oh, well, I just want to make sure that....

US: Oh, well, I just want to make sure that....

15. Ingle

Thirty years I've been doing this job, and I've never made a mistake.

US: Thirty years I've been doing this job, and I've never made a mistake.

16. Anna

Of course, but because we've had problems, we need to make absolutely sure that all deliveries are correct.

US: Of course, but because we've had problems, we need to make absolutely sure that all deliveries are correct.

17. Ingle

Humph.

US: Humph.

18. Anna

Could you possibly clarify what went out in today's delivery to Mr. Berry of, er, Bluetree Enterprises?

US: Could you possibly clarify what went out in today's delivery to Mr. Berry of, er, Bluetree Enterprises?

19. Ingle

500 redcurrants.

US: 500 redcurrants.

20. Anna

Right. That's fine.

US: Right. That's fine.

21. Narrator

Well done Anna, this is going very well. Remember that other phrase - "I just want to check..."

US: Well done Anna, this is going very well. Remember that other phrase - "I just want to check..."

22. Anna

Okay. Now, I just want to check what was sent to Cocoline Limited - it should have been fifteen mangos...

US: OK. Now, I just want to check what was sent to Cocoline Limited - it should have been fifteen mangos...

23. Ingle

Yeah. That's right.

US: Yeah. That's right.

24. Anna

Great, and just to be absolutely clear, you sent the soft mangos, not the plastic ones?

US: Great, and just to be absolutely clear, you sent the soft mangos, not the plastic ones?

25. Ingle

Yes, just like I was told to.

US: Yes, just like I was told to.

26. 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, but...

US: Good. One thing I wasn't sure of was whether we had enough yellow bananas in stock - I know there are some purple ones, but...

27. Ingle

Yeah well, we do need more yellow bananas.

US: Yeah well, we do need more yellow bananas.

28. Anna

Okay, I'll just write that down. Thank you Mr. Ingle. By the way, I like your overalls!

US: Okay, I'll just write that down. Thank you Mr. Ingle. By the way, I like your overalls!

29. Ingle

Oh thanks.

US: Oh thanks.

30. 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... Well, everything in the warehouse seems to be okay. Back in the office, Tom is having less luck.

US: 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... Well, everything in the warehouse seems to be okay. Back in the office, Tom is having less luck.

31. Tom

(on the phone) Really? Here it says 5,000 not five... oh...

US: (on the phone) Really? Here it says 5,000 not five... oh...

32. Narrator

It's going to be a long day for him! Until next time. Bye!

US: It's going to be a long day for him! Until next time. Bye!

Listening Challenge
Check your understanding before looking at the answer.

Question

What kind of fruit was sent out to Mr. Berry of Bluetree Enterprise?

Answer

Redcurrants.