📝 Lesson Practice
🗣️ English Goal
Learn how to ask for a change in an order and confirm the new details.
💼 Workplace Goal
Practice communicating with a supplier to change the quantity and delivery date of an existing purchase order.
💭 Warm-Up Question
Have you ever asked a supplier to change an order? What did you ask to change?
📖 Short Reading
Maria works in the purchasing department. She ordered 100 chairs for the office. Today, she checks the order and sees that the delivery date is next month. She needs the chairs earlier because the old chairs are broken. Maria calls the supplier to change the delivery date to next week. The supplier says the chairs are available but delivery is later than the new requested date. Maria asks if it is possible to send 50 chairs next week and the rest later. The supplier agrees to send 50 chairs next week and 50 chairs later. Maria confirms the new delivery dates and the quantities. She writes an email to her manager to update the order. The order is now changed and the office will get some chairs soon.
🔎 Check Your Understanding
1.
Why does Maria want to change the delivery date?
2.
How many chairs did Maria order originally?
3.
What does the supplier agree to do?
4.
What does Maria do after the phone call?
📚 Key Vocabulary
| Word or phrase | Simple meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| order | a request to buy something | We placed an order for 100 chairs. |
| supplier | a company or person who sells goods | We call the supplier to change the order. |
| delivery date | the day when things arrive | The delivery date is next Monday. |
| quantity | the number or amount of items | We want to change the quantity to 50 chairs. |
| available | ready to use or buy | The chairs are available next week. |
| confirm | to say yes or agree | Please confirm the new delivery date. |
| change | to make something different | We need to change the order delivery. |
| request | to ask for something politely | Maria requested an earlier delivery. |
| update | to give new information | I will update my manager about the order. |
| problem | a difficulty or issue | There is a problem with the delivery date. |
💬 Useful Language
asking for a change:
Can we change the order quantity?
asking about delivery date:
When can you deliver the order?
confirming new details:
I confirm the new delivery dates and quantities.
requesting a partial delivery:
Can you send part of the order earlier?
reporting a problem:
There is a problem with the original delivery date.
following up politely:
Please let me know if this change is possible.
💬 Dialogue
🙂 Alex: Hello Sam, I need to change our order for chairs.
😀 Sam: Hi Alex, what changes do you want to make?
🙂 Alex: We ordered 100 chairs with delivery next month.
😀 Sam: Yes, that is correct.
🙂 Alex: Can you deliver 50 chairs next week? The rest can come later.
😀 Sam: Let me check. Yes, we can send 50 chairs next week.
🙂 Alex: Great, can you confirm the new delivery date for the first 50?
😀 Sam: The first 50 chairs will arrive on Monday next week.
🙂 Alex: Thank you, Sam. Please send the rest after that.
😀 Sam: I will confirm the updated order and delivery dates by email.
✏️ Exercise 1 – Fill in the Blanks
1.
Can you please ____ the delivery date to next week? (change / receive / send)
2.
We want you to ____ 50 chairs next week and the rest later. (deliver / cancel / inspect)
3.
Please ____ the new quantity before we confirm the order. (call / speak / check)
4.
There is a ____ with the delivery date. (problem / stock / price)
5.
Is the product ____ for delivery next week? (broken / available / missing)
6.
Can you ____ the new order by email? (explain / deliver / confirm)
🔗 Exercise 2 – Matching
1.
Order
2.
Supplier
3.
Delivery date
4.
Quantity
5.
Confirm
✅ Exercise 3 – Multiple Choice
1.
What do you say to ask for a change in the order quantity?
2.
How do you ask about the delivery date?
3.
If delivery is late, what can you ask the supplier?
4.
What should you do after you agree on changes with the supplier?
5.
How do you politely ask if the change is possible?
🧩 Mini Practice
Practice answering aloud.
Say: Can we change the order quantity to 50 units?
Say: When can you deliver the updated order?
Say: Please confirm the new delivery date by email.
Say: Can you send part of the order next week?
Ask: What changes do you want to make to the order?
Say: I want to change the delivery date and reduce the quantity.
Ask: How will you confirm the new order details?
Say: I will send an email to confirm the changes.
💼 Workplace Action
Write a short message to a supplier asking to change the delivery date of an order using a fictional example.
📝 Reflection
What is the most important detail to check when changing an order? Why?
🧭 Lesson Summary
In this lesson, you learned how to ask for changes to an order. You practiced changing quantities and delivery dates. Good job practicing workplace English for purchasing.
🔎 Answer Key
Check Your Understanding
- The old chairs are broken.
- 100 chairs
- Send 50 chairs next week and 50 later.
- She writes an email to her manager.
Exercise 1 – Fill in the Blanks
- change
- deliver
- check
- problem
- available
- confirm
Exercise 2 – Matching
- Order – A request to buy something
- Supplier – The company that sells goods
- Delivery date – The day when the goods arrive
- Quantity – The number of items
- Confirm – To say yes or agree
Exercise 3 – Multiple Choice
- Can we change the order quantity?
- When can you deliver the order?
- Can you send part of the order earlier?
- Confirm the new delivery dates and quantities.
- Please let me know if this change is possible.