Why avoid lists of isolated words?
A list may help you recognize “invoice” without helping you understand that a copy must be attached. In an email, the action and its object matter: “issue an invoice,” “attach a receipt,” “request a refund.” Learn the phrase with a sentence and the need it addresses.
The situations below are an Upsilar learning selection. They are neither an official inventory nor a frequency ranking. The TOEIC format supports practice in everyday and workplace contexts; the collocations and examples are meant to build understanding.
Which phrases should you reuse in your reading?
Read the English sentence, restate its meaning, then cover the meaning column. Check that you can distinguish similar terms. For a purchase, a receipt usually confirms payment; an invoice lists goods or services and their price. The two documents serve different purposes.
| Situation | Phrase and example | Meaning in the message |
|---|---|---|
| Ordering | place an order — We placed an order for ten chairs. | Place an order |
| Delivery | track a shipment — You can track the shipment online. | Track a shipment |
| Availability | out of stock — The blue model is out of stock. | Item out of stock |
| Payment | issue an invoice — We will issue the invoice tomorrow. | Issue an invoice |
| Returns | request a refund — She requested a refund for the damaged item. | Request a refund |
| Meeting | reschedule a meeting — The meeting has been rescheduled for Friday. | Reschedule |
| Documents | attach a file — Please attach the signed form. | Attach the file |
| Deadline | meet a deadline — The team met the submission deadline. | Meet the deadline |
| Travel | boarding pass — Keep your boarding pass ready. | Boarding pass |
| Employment | apply for a position — He applied for the assistant position. | Submit an application |
| Maintenance | out of order — The lift is out of order. | Equipment out of service |
| Home | sign in — Visitors must sign in at reception. | Check in on arrival |
How do the words fit together?
Fictional Upsilar message: “Your order has been dispatched. The tracking link is attached. If an item arrives damaged, keep the packaging and contact us before requesting a return label.”
Which statement matches the email?
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
B — The order has been sent, and a return procedure applies if an item is damaged.
The method in action
- “Dispatched” means sent. “If” introduces a possibility, not confirmed damage. “Keep” rules out throwing away the packaging; no cancellation is announced.
The pitfall
Choosing a false friend without checking the context
“Eventually” means the French “finalement,” not “éventuellement” (“possibly”). “Attend a meeting” means “assister à une réunion,” not “attendre la réunion” (“wait for the meeting”). In your notes, write a contrasting sentence rather than an abstract warning: “I attended the meeting; I waited for the meeting to begin.”
A word can also change meaning with context. “Charge” can refer to a cost or to charging a battery. Let the phrase and topic of the message guide your reading.
How can you build a short study session?
Choose three phrases connected to real mistakes. For each one, keep the source sentence from your exercise, write a paraphrase, and create a new sentence. Check the preposition and the type of complement. This short production task goes beyond visual recognition.
In your next session, read a new message about a similar situation. Note which words you recognize without translation and which still take effort. Do not inflate your list with terms you never need to use in a sentence.
Key takeaways
- A phrase retains its usage.
- A condition does not mean that a problem has occurred.
- Paraphrases are as useful as translations.