Following Up on My Last Message
Practice brief, professional follow-ups that refer to an unanswered request, ask for updates, and make next steps clear.
Preview
Questions with solutions-
1. 正しい答えを選んでください。
What is the sender asking the recipient to do?
Just following up on the file I requested yesterday. Could you send it when you have a moment?
- Send the previously requested file.
- Confirm that the sender's file arrived.
- Review the contents of a file.
Notice who requested the file and who needs to send it.
Show solution
- Send the previously requested file.
Mentioning “the file I requested yesterday” connects the reminder to the earlier request without repeating the full message.
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2. 空欄を埋めてください。
Your earlier message about the meeting time has not received a reply.
I'm following up ___ my message about the meeting time.
- at
- on
- for
The earlier message is the subject of your follow-up.
Show solution
I'm following up on my message about the meeting time.
Use “follow up on” to refer back to an earlier message, request, or discussion.
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3. 空欄を埋めてください。
You are asking about work on a draft that has not received a response.
Has there been ___ progress on the draft I sent?
- many
- a
- any
“Progress” is not something we count as individual items.
Show solution
Has there been any progress on the draft I sent?
“Progress” is uncountable. “Any progress” asks whether the work has moved forward at all.
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4. 正しい答えを選んでください。
Which follow-up makes clear that a response is not needed today?
- Following up on my request. Could you reply before you leave today?
- Following up on my request. No rush—an update next week would be fine.
- Following up on my request. Please reply as soon as you see this.
Look for a time frame that gives the recipient more time.
Show solution
- Following up on my request. No rush—an update next week would be fine.
Pairing “No rush” with a later time frame reduces pressure while still inviting a response.
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5. 単語を順番に並べてください。
You want to check that your unanswered request arrived, not whether it has been completed.
- my earlier request?
- Could you
- confirm whether
- you received
After “whether,” use statement word order.
Show solution
Could you confirm whether you received my earlier request?
“Whether you received” is an indirect question, so it does not use “did you receive.”
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6. 正しい答えを選んでください。
What does “got buried” mean here?
I'm bringing this back to your attention in case my earlier request got buried.
- The request may have been overlooked among other messages.
- The sender may have deleted the request.
- The recipient may have already completed the request.
Imagine a busy inbox with many newer messages.
Show solution
- The request may have been overlooked among other messages.
“Got buried” suggests that a message was missed. It avoids assuming that the recipient deliberately ignored it.
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7. 空欄を埋めてください。
Your proposal has not received a reply. You want a polite, less direct opening.
I was ___ if you had any feedback on the proposal I sent.
- wondered
- wonder
- wondering
The verb after “was” needs the form used for an ongoing action.
Show solution
I was wondering if you had any feedback on the proposal I sent.
“I was wondering if” softens a question. It can introduce a current request even though it uses a past form.
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8. 正しい答えを選んでください。
The figures are not ready. Which reply answers the follow-up request?
Following up on the figures I requested. If they're not ready, could you share an estimated completion date?
- I haven't finished them yet.
- I expect to have them ready by Thursday.
- I received your request yesterday.
The sender offers an alternative to receiving the finished figures.
Show solution
- I expect to have them ready by Thursday.
An estimated completion date gives useful information even when the original request cannot be completed yet.
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9. 単語を順番に並べてください。
You have not received a reply and may have contacted the wrong person.
- in the right direction?
- handles this,
- If someone else
- could you point me
The possible situation comes first, followed by the polite request.
Show solution
If someone else handles this, could you point me in the right direction?
In a work chat, “point me in the right direction” can mean helping you find the appropriate person to contact.
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10. 正しい答えを選んでください。
What does this follow-up communicate?
Following up on the quote I requested: we can't place the order until we receive it.
- The quote is needed before the order can be placed.
- The quote is needed to cancel an order already placed.
- The quote is needed to confirm that the order has arrived.
“Can't … until” connects the missing item to the next step.
Show solution
- The quote is needed before the order can be placed.
Explaining what depends on the reply gives a practical reason for following up without blaming the recipient.
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11. 正しい答えを選んでください。
What does the sender offer in the second part of the message?
Just checking whether my access request is still under review or if you need anything else from me.
- To withdraw the request if the review takes longer.
- To carry out the review instead of the recipient.
- To provide something needed to move the request forward.
Consider why the recipient might need something from the sender.
Show solution
- To provide something needed to move the request forward.
Asking whether more information is needed turns a reminder into an offer to help resolve a delay.
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12. 正しい答えを選んでください。
What should the recipient understand about replying?
Following up on the room booking. If I don't hear back by noon, I'll release the hold.
- The room will be released at noon even if they reply.
- They need to reply by noon to keep the room reserved.
- They do not need to reply because the booking is final.
The next action depends on whether a reply arrives before the deadline.
Show solution
- They need to reply by noon to keep the room reserved.
Stating what will happen without a reply makes the consequence of silence clear without repeating the booking details.