Quick Checklist of Useful Questions and Expressions from

Quick Work Pre-Intermediate

At the end of each unit or at the end of the course you may like to use this list to do a
quick check of how many of these expressions students have remembered. You can do
this by simply choosing any of the situations and asking for example:
What things might you say when you are responding to an invitation from someone?
Elicit as many possibilities as you can.

UNIT 1

Exchanging personal information

What do you do?
Where do you come from?
Where do you live?
What do you like doing in your free time?
Are you married?
Do you have any children?
Is this your first visit?

Exchanging information about jobs

What do you do?
Who do you work for?
What are you responsible for?
Which department/division are you in?
What are you working on at the moment?
What are you going to do?

Exchanging information about your company

What does it do?
Who is/are your main clients?
Where’s your head office based?
When was it founded?
How many employees does your company have?

UNIT 2

Exchanging information about your country

What’s the population?
What’s the currency?
What’s the official language?
Do many people speak English?
Who should I tip? (e.g. taxi drivers / in restaurants / hotel porters)
How much should I tip?
What is the weather like in … ?
What time are the shops open?
Is it OK to drink the water?

Exchanging information about a journey

Did you have a good flight?
How did you get there?
How long did it/the journey take?
Did you have any problems en route?

© Oxford University Press

Inviting someone to do something
Would you like to go to … on …?
Do you want to … ?

Responding to an invitation
I’m afraid I won’t have time.
I’m sorry but I have to …
Thanks a lot.
That’s very kind of you.
That sounds nice.
Yes, please. I’d like that.
That’d be very nice.

UNIT 3

Making suggestions
We could …
Why don’t we …?
Couldn’t we …?
How about (doing) …?
What about (doing) …?
I think we should …

Responding positively to suggestions

Good idea.
It’s worth investigating.
That’s a great idea!
OK, let’s check it out.
I think we should look into it.

Responding negatively to suggestions

It’s too complicated.
It’ll take to long.
It’ll cost too much.
It isn’t worth it.

Expressing opinions
I think …
I feel …

Agreeing with someone’s opinions

I agree.
You’re right.
Exactly!

Disagreeing with someone’s opinions

I’m not sure if you’re right.
I think you might be wrong.
I’m afraid I don’t agree.
Yes, but (+ your reservation) …

© Oxford University Press

UNIT 4

Describing objects
It’s made of …
You use it to …

Checking information
Sorry?
Could you say that again, please?
I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that.
So you mean …?

Answering a telephone call

Speaking.
Could I ask who’s calling?
Who’s calling, please?
I’m afraid the line’s busy.
I’m afraid he/she isn’t in today / is in a meeting.
Will you hold?
I’ll put you through.
One moment please.
Do you want to leave a message?

Making a telephone call

This is …
Could I speak to …?
Can I leave a message?
Could you tell him/her I called, please?
I’ll call back later.

UNIT 5

Making guesses about present situations

can’t be …
must be …
could be …
might be …

Making guesses about present situations

can’t have been …
must have been …
could have been …
might have been …

Talking about schedules and timing

We’re on schedule.
We’re behind schedule.
We’re ahead of schedule.
When can you do it for/by?
I’ll do it for …
I’ll do it by …
How long will it take?
How far have you got?

© Oxford University Press