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Lesson 200 of 240

New here? This is lesson 200 of a free 240-lesson English course.

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Making the deadline in English

Ana is downtown at the studio. Marcus needs the new plan for the small library. He wants it by Friday.

Ana looks at the drawings. Time is tight. She asks if they can push the due date back a day.

Marcus is kind, but the day cannot move. You'll learn how to ask when work is due, and how to say if you can make it.

By the end of this lesson

Say when something is due and whether you can make it.

  • When is this due?What day does this need to be finished?
  • I can make that deadline.I can finish it on time.
  • I can't make the deadline.I will not finish in time.
  • Time is a little tight.There is not much time left.
  • I'll have it in by Friday.I'll turn the work in no later than Friday.
  • Can we push it back a day?Can the due date move to the next day?

Scene — the studio clock

Same weekday downtown. Ana sits at a long desk with rolled drawings and a blank whiteboard behind her.

Marcus walks over with a rolled set of drawings under one arm. He needs the new library plan by Friday.

The city is quiet outside. The snow day is over. Work is back, and the clock is not kind.

Ana works at the long desk as Marcus approaches with rolled drawings under one arm.

Learn — due dates at work

Six lines help you ask when work is due and say if you can finish it.

You will also ask to move a due date by one day.

  1. Ana looks up from her desk as Marcus holds out the new roll of drawings.

    When is this due?

    What day does this need to be finished?

    When to use it: Ask this when you need the finish day for a piece of work.

    Due means the day the work must be finished.

    Say it: Due sounds like the word do.

  2. Ana considers the deadline with a steady, thoughtful look.

    I can make that deadline.

    I can finish it on time.

    When to use it: Say this when you can finish the work on time.

    Make a deadline means you finish the work on time.

    Say it: The stress is on dead.

  3. Ana looks over the unrolled plans and recognizes how little time remains.

    I can't make the deadline.

    I will not finish in time.

    When to use it: Say this when you will not finish the work in time.

    This line is about time, not about canceling plans.

    Say it: Can't has a clear n sound, and can is weaker.

  4. Marcus considers the work beside Ana’s desk while she remains among the plans.

    Time is a little tight.

    There is not much time left.

    When to use it: Say this when there is not much time left for the work.

    People say tight with time when a due date is close.

  5. Ana gathers the loose sheets into a neat stack and begins rolling them together.

    I'll have it in by Friday.

    I'll turn the work in no later than Friday.

    When to use it: Say this to promise the work will be in no later than Friday.

    Have it in means you turn the work in.

    Say it: In "have it," the words link: it sounds like "hav-it."

  6. Ana lifts one palm toward Marcus in a small request about the due date.

    Can we push it back a day?

    Can the due date move to the next day?

    When to use it: Ask this when you want the due date to move one day later.

    Push it back means move the due date to a later day.

Story — friday stays friday

Watch Ana and Marcus talk about Friday. The library plan is due, and time is tight.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Marcus stops at Ana's desk. Rolled drawings sit under his arm.
  2. MarcusThe floor plan is finished.The drawing of the rooms is complete.
  3. AnaWhen is this due?What day does this need to be finished?
  4. MarcusFriday. I need the revised plan by then.He wants the new plan this Friday.
  5. AnaTime is a little tight.There is not much time left.
  6. MarcusWell, the client is waiting.The client still needs the work soon.
  7. AnaCan we push it back a day?Can the due date move to the next day?
  8. MarcusI wish we could. I'm sorry. Friday has to stay.He is kind, but the due day cannot move.
  9. Ana looks at the drawings. She does not look happy.
  10. AnaI can't make the deadline.I will not finish in time.
  11. MarcusKeep the notes short. You can do it.He wants fewer notes, and he trusts she can finish.
  12. AnaOkay. I can make that deadline.She agrees, and she says she can finish on time.
  13. MarcusGood. Three sentences is enough.He wants a short, plain plan.
  14. AnaI'll have it in by Friday.I'll turn the work in no later than Friday.
  15. MarcusI'll send a short update on Friday.On Friday I will tell you how it is going.
  16. AnaOkay. Thanks.She accepts and thanks him.

Practice — can you make it

Eleven short exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay small, so the round moves fast.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    When is this due?Drop the Simple English here
    I can make that deadline.Drop the Simple English here
    Time is a little tight.Drop the Simple English here
    Can we push it back a day?Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

    Drag a Simple English line onto its English, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    Friday is too soon for you. You want the due date to move one day later.

  4. What does it mean?

    I can't make the deadline.

  5. Fill the gap

    I'll turn the work in no later than Friday.

    I'll have it in by ____.

  6. Build the line

    There is not much time left.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Pick the reply

    Marcus says:

    The notes can stay short. Can you finish by Friday?

    He asks if you can finish the work by Friday.

    And you reply with:

  8. Swap the word

    You can finish on time. Tell Marcus, using the line about a deadline.

    I can make that ____.

  9. True or false?

    This line means the drawing of the rooms is complete.

  10. Which one doesn’t belong?

  11. Pick the reply

    Marcus says:

    How will I know when it's in?

    He wants to know how he will hear that the work is finished.

    And you reply with:

Say it — say it to marcus

Now you're Ana at the studio. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. MarcusThe floor plan is finished.The drawing of the rooms is complete.
  2. Ana (you)Ask him what day the work must be finished.

    When is this due?

    What day does this need to be finished?

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
When is this due?What day does this need to be finished?
I can make that deadline.I can finish it on time.
I can't make the deadline.I will not finish in time.
Time is a little tight.There is not much time left.
I'll have it in by Friday.I'll turn the work in no later than Friday.
Can we push it back a day?Can the due date move to the next day?
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