📝 Lesson Practice
🗣️ English Goal
Explain a simple purchasing problem clearly and politely to a supplier or colleague.
💼 Workplace Goal
Practice telling a supplier or colleague about a problem with an order, such as missing items, damaged goods, or wrong quantities.
💭 Warm-Up Question
Have you ever had a problem with a delivery at work? What was the problem?
📖 Short Reading
Alex ordered 50 chairs for the office. The order was for delivery on April 10. When the chairs arrived, Alex checked the boxes. Ten chairs were damaged and five chairs were missing. Alex called the supplier to explain the problem. The supplier said they would send the missing chairs soon. Alex asked the supplier to replace the damaged chairs. The supplier agreed and said they will send new chairs next week. Alex told the warehouse to keep the damaged chairs for pickup. Alex will check the new delivery carefully.
🔎 Check Your Understanding
1.
What did Alex order?
2.
When was the delivery scheduled?
3.
What was wrong with the delivery?
4.
What did the supplier promise?
📚 Key Vocabulary
| Word or phrase | Simple meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| order | a request to buy goods | I placed an order for 50 chairs. |
| delivery | the time when goods arrive | The delivery is scheduled for April 10. |
| damaged | broken or not in good condition | Ten chairs are damaged in the shipment. |
| missing | not received but should be there | Five chairs are missing from the order. |
| supplier | a person or company that sells goods | I called the supplier to explain the problem. |
| replace | to give a new item instead of a damaged one | The supplier will replace the damaged chairs. |
| check | to look at something carefully | Alex checked the boxes after delivery. |
| pick up | to take something away | The warehouse will keep the damaged chairs for pickup. |
| agree | to say yes to a request | The supplier agreed to send new chairs. |
| shipment | the goods sent from a supplier | There was a problem with the shipment today. |
💬 Useful Language
reporting a problem:
There is a problem with the order.
reporting a problem:
Ten items arrived damaged.
asking for a solution:
Can you please replace the damaged goods?
asking about missing items:
Five items are missing from the delivery.
confirming next steps:
When can you send the missing items?
giving a short update:
I checked the delivery and there is a problem.
💬 Dialogue
🙂 Alex: Hello Sam, I have a problem with our latest order.
😀 Sam: Hi Alex. What is the problem with the order?
🙂 Alex: Ten chairs arrived damaged, and five chairs are missing.
😀 Sam: I am sorry to hear that. Can you send photos of the damaged chairs?
🙂 Alex: Yes, I will send the photos now.
😀 Sam: Thank you. We will replace the damaged chairs and send the missing ones soon.
🙂 Alex: When can I expect the new delivery?
😀 Sam: We can send the chairs by next Wednesday.
🙂 Alex: Great. Please confirm this by email.
😀 Sam: I will send the confirmation today.
✏️ Exercise 1 – Fill in the Blanks
1.
There is a ____ with the order. (problem / price / supplier)
2.
Ten items arrived ____. (missing / damaged / delayed)
3.
Five items are ____ from the shipment. (late / heavy / missing)
4.
Can you please ____ the damaged goods? (replace / order / deliver)
5.
Alex will ____ the boxes after delivery. (send / check / call)
6.
The supplier agreed to send the chairs by next ____. (Monday / Friday / Wednesday)
🔗 Exercise 2 – Matching
1.
order
2.
delivery
3.
damaged
4.
missing
5.
replace
✅ Exercise 3 – Multiple Choice
1.
What should Alex do first after the delivery problem?
2.
Which phrase is good to report a problem?
3.
What does 'replace' mean?
4.
If items are missing, what can you ask the supplier?
5.
What is a polite way to confirm delivery time?
🧩 Mini Practice
Practice answering aloud.
Say: There is a problem with the order.
Say: Ten items arrived damaged.
Say: Five items are missing from the delivery.
Say: Can you please replace the damaged goods?
Ask: What do you say if some items in your order are missing?
Say: I say five items are missing from the delivery.
Ask: How do you ask the supplier about the delivery date for missing items?
Say: I ask when you can send the missing items.
💼 Workplace Action
Write a short email explaining a problem with an order, such as missing or damaged goods. Use a fictional order and simple sentences.
📝 Reflection
How do you feel when you explain a purchasing problem at work? Why?
🧭 Lesson Summary
In this lesson, you learned how to explain a purchasing problem. You practiced clear and polite sentences to report issues with orders. Now you can tell a supplier or colleague about damaged or missing goods calmly.
🔎 Answer Key
Check Your Understanding
- 50 chairs
- April 10
- Some chairs were damaged and some were missing
- To send missing and replacement chairs next week
Exercise 1 – Fill in the Blanks
- problem
- damaged
- missing
- replace
- check
- Wednesday
Exercise 2 – Matching
- order – a request to buy goods
- delivery – when goods arrive
- damaged – broken or in bad condition
- missing – not received but expected
- replace – to give a new item for a broken one
Exercise 3 – Multiple Choice
- Call the supplier to explain the problem
- There is a problem with the order
- Send a new item instead of a damaged one
- When can you send the missing items?
- Please confirm the delivery date