Warehouse Check: Deliver, Receive, Sort & Supply
CEFR: B1
Read/Listen first
Yesterday, I visited a small warehouse to check why two pallets had arrived late. The team has received new delivery instructions, and we have already updated the route list for each driver. However, the first truck stopped at the wrong gate, so we sorted the boxes by route again and called the customer. While I was talking to the supervisor, a courier delivered urgent parts for a repair, and the store manager asked, “What does your company do exactly?” I explained that we supply local shops, receive returns every morning, and we’re going to manufacture protective packaging next month. Before we loaded the van, we checked the labels, stacked each pallet safely, and recorded the information on a tablet. If a package is damaged, we would report it immediately and request a replacement. Finally, we planned the next pickup schedule to reduce errors, improve timing, and keep our deliveries on time.⚡ Learning goals
- Ask and answer what a logistics team does in a warehouse visit.
- Explain a delay using a clear timeline (yesterday, while, before, finally).
- Plan the next pickup and describe actions with accurate verbs.
✨ Key language
- What does your company do exactly? “We supply local shops.”
- We have already updated the route list. “It has received new instructions.”
- If a package is damaged, we would report it. “We would request a replacement.”
⚙️ Rules & Grammar — 4 Structures
1️⃣ Present perfect for recent updates
Rule: Use have/has + past participle to talk about actions completed recently with a present result.Examples: The team has received new instructions; We have already updated the route list; We have checked the labels.
Common pitfall + fix: Using past simple without a present link — use present perfect when the result matters now.
Choose the best option: The team ___ new delivery instructions.
Tip: Use present perfect for a recent change that affects now.
Fill with the best answer: We ____ the route list for each driver.
Tip: Add already to show the update is done.
2️⃣ Past continuous + past simple for background + event
Rule: Use was/were + -ing for the background action, and past simple for the shorter event that happened.Examples: While I was talking, a courier delivered urgent parts; The truck stopped at the wrong gate; We sorted again.
Common pitfall + fix: Using two past simple verbs — keep the long action in past continuous.
Choose the best option: While I ___ to the supervisor, the courier delivered urgent parts.
Tip: The longer action is “was talking”.
Fill with the best answer: A courier ____ urgent parts for a repair.
Tip: Use past simple for the event.
3️⃣ Future plan with “be going to”
Rule: Use am/is/are going to + verb for a planned action or decision.Examples: We are going to manufacture protective packaging next month; We are going to reduce errors; We are going to improve timing.
Common pitfall + fix: Forgetting “to” — say “going to manufacture”, not “going manufacture”.
Choose the best option: We ___ protective packaging next month.
Tip: Use going to for a plan decided already.
Fill with the best answer: We are ____ plan the next pickup schedule.
Tip: “are going to” introduces the plan.
4️⃣ Second conditional with “would”
Rule: Use If + present simple, then would + verb to describe a typical response to a possible situation.Examples: If a package is damaged, we would report it; If the label is unclear, we would call the customer; If the dock is blocked, we would wait.
Common pitfall + fix: Using “will” after if — use present simple in the if-clause and would in the result.
Choose the best option: If a package is damaged, we ___ it immediately.
Tip: Use would to show a standard response.
Fill with the best answer: We ____ a replacement if needed.
Tip: Keep “would” in the result clause.
✍️ Vocabulary
deliver
Meaning: take packages to customers or shops.Synonyms: transport, bring
Chunk/Idiom: deliver on time
Example: Couriers deliver urgent parts before noon.
Morphology: verb (deliver, delivered, delivering)
Self-practice: Say it aloud, then write one sentence about your route.
receive
Meaning: get goods or returns from a driver or supplier.Synonyms: accept, get
Chunk/Idiom: receive returns
Example: We receive returns every morning at the dock.
Morphology: verb (receive, received, receiving)
Self-practice: Write one question using receive and a time marker.
sort
Meaning: separate items into groups by route or priority.Synonyms: separate, classify
Chunk/Idiom: sort boxes by route
Example: We sort the boxes by route before loading.
Morphology: verb (sort, sorted, sorting)
Self-practice: Write two steps: first we sort, then we load.
supply
Meaning: provide needed goods to shops or clients.Synonyms: provide, furnish
Chunk/Idiom: supply local shops
Example: We supply local shops with spare parts.
Morphology: verb (supply, supplied, supplying)
Self-practice: Say one benefit of supplying locally in one short sentence.
warehouse
Meaning: a large building where goods are stored and prepared.Synonyms: depot, storehouse
Chunk/Idiom: warehouse dock
Example: The warehouse has a clear route list for each driver.
Morphology: noun (warehouse; plural: warehouses)
Self-practice: Describe your warehouse in one sentence using there is/are.
pallet
Meaning: a flat platform used to move boxes safely.Synonyms: platform, skid
Chunk/Idiom: stack a pallet
Example: They stacked each pallet safely near the loading bay.
Morphology: noun (pallet; plural: pallets)
Self-practice: Write one safety rule using must or should.
☁️ Examples (+ audio)
We have already updated the route list for each driver.
While I was talking to the supervisor, a courier delivered urgent parts.
We are going to manufacture protective packaging next month.
If a package is damaged, we would report it immediately.
✏️ Exercises
Grammar
Choose the best option: Before we loaded the van, we ___ the labels.
Tip: Present perfect highlights a result that matters now.
Choose the best option: We ___ the boxes by route again.
Tip: Past simple fits a completed action in the story.
Fill with the best answer:
While I ____ to the supervisor, the courier delivered urgent parts.Tip: Past continuous = background action.
Fill with the best answer:
We ____ reduce errors with a new pickup schedule.Tip: Use going to for plans.
Vocabulary & Comprehension
Which word means “a building for storing goods”?
Tip: It is the place you visited to check the delay.
Which verb means “take packages to customers”?
Tip: Couriers do this when they bring urgent parts.
Fill with the best answer:
Before loading, they stacked each ____ safely.Tip: It is a flat platform used for boxes.
Fill with the best answer:
They sorted the boxes by ____ again.Tip: It is the planned path for the driver.
✅ Guided practice
Mini-dialogue:
A: What does your company do exactly?B: We deliver urgent parts, receive returns, and supply local shops.
A: Great. What are you going to change for the next pickup?
Why this matters:
Precise verbs help partners track responsibilities and timing. They reduce delivery errors and wasted trips.Verb & Adjective Pack:
schedule pickups — “We scheduled pickups for tomorrow.”stack safely — “They stacked each pallet safely.”
on time — “We kept our deliveries on time.”
Try & compare:
Fill with the best answer: We ____ the route list for each driver.
Tip: Use present perfect + already for a finished update.
Self-correction: Fix the sentence: We delivers urgent parts for repairs.
Tip: Remove -s with we/they: We deliver.
Practice aloud: Listen, repeat, then type the sentence.
We sorted the boxes by route again.
Tip: Keep the past simple verb “sorted” for the completed action.