Present Simple and Continuous in business communication
A LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS
Present tenses in business emailing and telephoning practice
Lesson Plan Content:
Present Simple and Continuous in business communication
Fill the gaps below with Present Simple or Present Continuous. Usually only one tense is correct, but sometimes more than one is okay.
Emailing
Email opening lines
- _________________________________(I write) to you about the meeting next week.
Email closing lines
- _______________________________________ (I look forward to) hearing from you.
- ________________________________________ (I look forward to) seeing you then.
- __________________________ (I hope) we have the opportunity to meet again soon.
- If ___________ (you have) any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Telephoning
Starting phone calls
- Good morning. My name is Alex Case. _________________ (I call) from ABC Limited.
- Hi John. ______________________________________________ (I return) your call.
- Hi Steve. _______________________ (I phone) about our meeting next week.
- So, the reason why ____________________________________________ (I call) is…
- Anyway, _______________ (I phone) in order to make an appointment for next week.
- Anyway, __________________________________________ (you have) time to talk?
Asking for the other person’s name
- Of course. Can I ask __________________________________________ (who call)?
- Who ________________________________________________ (I speak) to, please?
Negative answers to requests to speak to someone
- I’m sorry, __________________________________________________________ (she meet) a client at the moment. Shall I ask her to call you back?
- I’m afraid ___________________________________________________________ (she not work) on Mondays. She’ll be in on Tuesday.
Taking messages/ Taking dictation
- I’ll ask her to call you back. __________________________ (she have) your number?
- Just a moment. ______________________________ (I look for) a pencil and paper.
- How ___________________________________ (you spell) your family name?
Email or telephone
Friendly opening lines/ Social opening lines
- How ___________________________________________________________(it go)?
- How ________________________________ (you do)? Hope everything’s going okay.
Enquiries/ Asking for information
- Secondly, ____________________ (I have) a question about your after sales service.
Negative replies/ Giving bad news/ Explaining delays/ Asking them to wait
- I’m sorry but ______________ (we presently wait) for the next delivery of that product.
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Brainstorming stage
Brainstorm phrases for each function below, look above, then brainstorm more.
Email opening lines
Email closing lines
Starting phone calls
Asking for the other person’s name
Negative answers to requests to speak to someone
Taking messages/ Taking dictation
Friendly opening lines/ Social opening lines
Enquiries/ Asking for information
Negative replies/ Giving bad news/ Explaining delays/ Asking them to wait
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Suggested answers
Emailing
Email opening lines
- I’m writing
Email closing lines
- I look forward to/ I’m looking forward to
- I look forward to/ I’m looking forward to
- I hope
- you have
Telephoning
Starting phone calls
- I’m calling
- I’m returning
- I’m phoning
- I’m calling
- I’m phoning
- do you have
Asking for the other person’s name
- who is calling
- am I speaking
Negative answers to requests to speak to someone
- she’s meeting
- she doesn’t work
Taking messages/ Taking dictation
- Does she have
- I’m looking for
- do you spell
Email or telephone
Friendly opening lines/ Social opening lines
- is it going?
- are you doing?
Enquiries/ Asking for information
- I have
Negative replies/ Giving bad news/ Explaining delays/ Asking them to wait
- we are presently waiting
Flip a coin to decide:
- if you should communicate face to face (heads) or not (tails)
- if you should communicate by email (heads) or by phone (tails) (if you aren’t communicating face to face)
- if you should choose a Present Simple sentence above (heads) or a Present Continuous sentence (tails) to use in your communication
Your teacher will tell you if you can look at the whole sentences above, can only look at the verbs in the answer key, or must make suitable sentences with no help.
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