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Question to a seller over the phone 1

Could you let me know when this book will be in stock?

Answer

It will be in stock next Monday

So I will order it on Monday when it is in stock

Question to a seller over the phone 2

Could you let me know when it is in stock ? ( not sure if present is right here ?)

Answer

yes I will , in fact it won't be in stock until next Tuesday

Just would like to know if the tenses (present or future) are ok ? I wrote this dialogue In fact I am not sure of the use of present in the second example. b It means for me that the first action is "check to see if it is in stock and then let me know "so present should work.

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  • Why can't you order it now, and they ship it when it's in stock?
    – Michael Harvey
    Jul 14 at 12:11

1 Answer 1

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The first question asks for a prediction - the bookseller expects a delivery of new stock next Monday (not 'on next Monday').

The second question is a request to the bookseller to let you know when (in the future) the book has arrived - the present tense expressing the future. The answer would be "Yes, I will."

"Not yet" would be an answer to the question "Could you tell me if it is in stock?"

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  • OK But is my last sentence correct with future "It won't be be in stock until next Tuesday "
    – Yves Lefol
    Jul 14 at 9:41
  • Yes, that's fine as a sentence.
    – Kate Bunting
    Jul 14 at 9:45

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