Are you closing for the day?

[tufguy]

Can we ask a representative of a company over the phone or a shop owner or a worker at a mall or others as well the following questions?

1) Are you closing for the day?

2) How long before you close for the day?

3) Are you going to call it a day for today?

4) How long will it take you to close for the day?

5) How long will it take you to call it a day for today?

 

[emsr2d2]

They all mean different things. What is the answer you're trying to get to?

 

[PeterCW]

"Call it a day" is a fairly informal expression which I wouldn't use in the circumstances that you suggest. Normally it implies that you feel that you have done enough work for the day and anything remaining will have to wait until tomorrow.

 

[tufguy]

They all mean different things. What is the answer you're trying to get to?

I want to know whether they are closing for the day and if so, then how long do they have to close down for the day?

 

[Tarheel]

You want to know how much time is left before they close shop for the day, right?

Perhaps:

When are you closing?

 

[emsr2d2]

What time are you closing?
How long until you close?

 

[tufguy]

What time are you closing?
How long until you close?

It is not only about a shop. Can it be asked to anyone like a representative of a company who I am talking to over the phone?

"What time do you close at?" Is it a correct question?

Can I also say "Are you closing for the day"?

 

[emsr2d2]

It is not only about a shop. Can it be asked to anyone, like a representative of a company who I am talking to over the phone?

"What time do you close [STRIKE]at[/STRIKE]?" Is it a correct question?

Can I also say "Are you closing for the day"?

Without "at", "What time do you close?" is the correct question. You can only ask the second question if you think the shop/company is on the verge of closing for the day.
For example, if you enter a shop at 4.59pm and notice that the shop assistant has just finished sweeping the floor, half the lights are off and someone is disappearing out to the back office with the contents of one of the tills, you might ask "Oh, are you closing?" The response is likely to be "Yes, we close in one minute. We're open till 5 Monday to Friday". You would then either grab one item, pay for it immediately and leave, or decide to leave and come back another day.


Note that we don't really refer to places that aren't open to the public as "closing". If I was talking to someone in an office, I'd ask something like "What time do you finish for the day?" or maybe "What time are your phone lines open until?"

The idea of "closing" is to do with "closing the doors to the public for the day". Shops have opening and closing times/hours. Companies/offices etc have operating/business hours.