Question about time of delivery

Status
Not open for further replies.

Pierce111

Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2012
Member Type
Other
Native Language
Polish
Home Country
Poland
Current Location
Poland
Is it correct question to a customer:
"What term do you want to receive those goods?"
 

Rover_KE

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
On what terms do you want to receive those goods?

It could be a question about terms and conditions of delivery/receipt.
 

Rover_KE

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
Pierce, are you asking about time or terms of delivery?
 

Pierce111

Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2012
Member Type
Other
Native Language
Polish
Home Country
Poland
Current Location
Poland
Thanks for correcting my mistake with "a quesion" but I still don't grasp why ther must be "a". At the moment when I write my post I know what question I want to submmit for checking. So this is defined "question". Is there any rule that would explain why I should use "a" in this case?
 

Pierce111

Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2012
Member Type
Other
Native Language
Polish
Home Country
Poland
Current Location
Poland
Pierce, are you asking about time or terms of delivery?

I am asking about time but not about the hour but date. For example the client will answer that he wants those goods to be delivered on 4 of September after noon. Question "What time ..... " looks like asking about hour. In my language we ask about "term" which means date and as I checked in dictionary one of the meanings of "term" in English is also date.
 
Last edited:

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
I am asking about time but not about the our but date. For example the client will answer that he wants those goods to be delivered on 4 of September after noon. Question "What time ..... " looks like asking about hour. In my language we ask about "term" which means date and as I checked in dictionary one of the meanings of "term" in English is also date.
In British English 'term' does not normally mean 'date'. You need to ask, "What date do you want us to deliver those goods?" If you use the word 'term' your British customer will not understand.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top