Enquiries

Enquiries (Br)

Inquiries (Am)

Where can you practise the ways we ask questions in emails?

Subject questions

These questions are about the subject of a sentence:

• Who takes you to school?

• Where is your favourite place?

• What annoys you the most?

• When is convenient?

• Do not add the auxiliary verb 'do' ('do', 'does', 'did'): Who takes you ...? not Who does take you ...?

Yes/no questions -

These questions usually only need a short answer like 'yes'/'yes, of course' or 'no'/ 'no, I'm sorry'.

• Are you ready?

• Is that convenient?

• Do you remember me?

• Can you send me the report, please?

• Use the auxiliary verb before the subject: Do you remember ...? not You do remember ...?

Object questions

These questions are about the object of a sentence:

• Where do you want to meet?

• Who did you invite to the meeting?

• Why couldn't you go?

• How much is this going to cost?

• Remember to use an auxiliary verb ('do', 'did', 'have', 'can', etc.): Where do you want to meet? not Where you want to meet?

When you ask about something in an email, you can use this phrase. It shows that you want to get an answer.

• Are you coming to the party on Saturday? Could you let me know? Thanks…

• I would like to attend the training next Tuesday. Please can you let me know the start time?

Asking people to let you know

Complete the emails with the appropriate questions.

Multiple Choice

Dear Mr Roberts,

I will come and collect you from London Heathrow Airport next Tuesday. _________. I look forward to meeting you next week.

Regards, Sheila Fiston

• Could you let me know the address?

• Could you let me know your arrival time?

• Could you let me know your availability?

• Could you let me know the price?

Multiple Choice

Hello again Atoshi, I would like to post the documents to your office, but I do not have your work address. ________ . As soon as I have it, I will send them to you. With thanks, Jose Gutiérrez

• Could you let me know the address?

• Could you let me know your arrival time?

• Could you let me know your availability?

• Could you let me know the price?

Multiple Choice

Dear Mrs Haniss,

We would like to offer you some part time work next term. _______ . Are you free on Thursday mornings? I look forward to hearing from you. Yours truly, Ruth Gaddon (Head Teacher)

• Could you let me know the address?

• Could you let me know your arrival time?

• Could you let me know your availability?

• Could you let me know the price?

Multiple Choice

Dear Sir or Madam,

I would like to book a meeting room for 25 people (including 2-course lunch) on January 4 next year. ________ . Can you offer us a discount? With thanks in advance, Lin Mo Marketing Executive, Star Properties

• Could you let me know the address?

• Could you let me know your arrival time?

• Could you let me know your availability?

• Could you let me know the price?

Getting questions right

Indicate whether the questions are correctly formed or not. (Hint: four are correct and five are not.)

Multiple Choice

What time the meeting starts tomorrow?

• correct

• incorrect

Multiple Choice

How many people work in your office?

• correct

• incorrect

Multiple Choice

What you doing after work tomorrow?

• correct

• incorrect

Multiple Choice

Where do you work?

• correct

• incorrect

Multiple Choice

Could you let me to know the date of the conference?

• correct

• incorrect

Multiple Choice

What terminal my flight goes from?

• correct

• incorrect

Multiple Choice

What terminal my flight goes from?

• correct

• incorrect

Multiple Choice

Could you please let me know the web address?

• correct

• incorrect

Multiple Choice

What time will being convenient for you?

• correct

• incorrect