H
Helen Operations
Hi Sam,
Can you confirm whether all 40 chairs will arrive by Friday? The team needs them for Monday’s workshop. If there is a delay, please let me know today so we can arrange a backup.
Thanks,
Helen
🇬🇧 English for your working day
Business English emails: reading practice with an explained answer
Practise with a thread of three emails and a comprehension question with an explained answer. Lira is a language-learning app with word lookup and vocabulary review.
Practise understanding emails in EnglishReading practice: three emails and an explained answer, no account needed.
HelenOperations12:05
Re: Friday deliveryPlease confirm the delivery time.
What still needs confirming?Lira, learn a language through reading
Read three English emails about a delivery, identify the agreed decision and find the confirmation still needed. Lira is a web app for learning through reading; this exercise shows how to practise understanding messages with vocabulary support.
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Now it’s your turn to read
Business English reading exercise: follow a delivery
Email thread in English
3 messagesFriday delivery
S
Sam Supplier
Hi Helen,
We can deliver 30 chairs on Friday. The remaining 10 will not be ready until Tuesday. We could send 10 folding chairs on loan with Friday’s delivery, at no extra charge. The loan chairs are a different model, but they are suitable for a workshop.
Please confirm by 3 pm today whether you would like the loan chairs.
Best,
Sam
H
Helen Operations
Hi Sam,
Please include the 10 loan chairs on Friday. Send the final 10 on Tuesday as planned. Our reception closes at 4 pm, so Friday’s delivery needs to arrive before then. Please confirm the delivery time.
Thanks,
Helen
Keep building on your readingWhat comes next
Keep reading and building vocabulary in Lira
Lira lets you read texts, look up unfamiliar words and save vocabulary with its context. This exercise practises reading comprehension; it does not mark free-form writing or provide a complete business English course.
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How do you read an email exchange in English?
Helen requests a delivery of forty chairs. Sam offers a partial delivery and some chairs on loan. Helen accepts and adds a timing constraint. The three messages form one complete exchange to understand.
Read the messages in order and distinguish the initial request, the proposal and the confirmed decision. The question asks what information is still needed at the end. The explanation shows why the quantity and Tuesday’s delivery are no longer the points to confirm.
This activity practises understanding a fictional workplace exchange. It does not translate your private emails or mark free-form writing. B1 is the suggested reading level for this exchange; a complete business English course would need other situations and activities.
Questions about this exercise and Lira
Is this a tool for translating my business emails?
This page offers reading practice with fictional messages. It does not connect to your inbox or process your private email exchanges.
Can I see the answer without an account?
Yes. All three messages, the question and the explained answer are available here. The explanation refers to the final request and the reception closing time.
Will Lira correct a reply I write to this email?
This activity checks a multiple-choice comprehension answer. It does not mark free-form writing or provide a complete business English course.
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