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    Free Daily English · Level A2 (Elementary) · Topic: writing an email to a coworker

    Linda's Email to a Coworker in the Hospital Corridor

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Linda is a nurse. She works in a big hospital. She is very busy every day. Today, Linda is standing in the corridor. The corridor is long and quiet. Linda has a problem. She needs to send an email to her coworker. Her coworker's name is Tom. Tom works in a different part of the hospital. Linda takes out her cell phone. She opens her email app. She looks at the screen. She thinks about what to write. She does not want to make a mistake.

    She takes a deep breath. Linda starts to type the email. She writes, "Hi Tom, I need to talk to you about the meeting tomorrow." She stops and reads the sentence again. She thinks it is good. She keeps typing. She writes, "Can you please send me the patient report? I need it before 3 o'clock." She checks the words carefully. She does not want to write the wrong name. A doctor walks past her in the corridor. The doctor smiles at her. Linda smiles back. She looks at her phone again. She reads the whole email one more time. She is happy with it.

    She presses the send button. Linda waits for a few minutes. Then her phone makes a sound. She has a new message. It is from Tom. Tom writes, "Hi Linda, no problem! I will send the report soon." Linda smiles. She feels happy. The email was easy to write. She puts her phone in her pocket. She walks back to her patients. She thinks, "I am glad I sent that email." Another nurse sees Linda and asks, "Is everything okay?" Linda says, "Yes, everything is fine. I just sent an email to Tom." The other nurse nods and says, "Good job, Linda!" Linda feels proud. It was a good day.

    Key vocabulary

    corridor (noun)a long, narrow passage inside a building“Linda stands in the hospital corridor and types her email.”
    coworker (noun)a person you work with“Tom is Linda's coworker at the hospital.”
    report (noun)a written document with information about something“Linda needs the patient report before 3 o'clock.”
    send (verb)to make a message or email go to someone“She presses the button to send the email.”
    carefully (adverb)with a lot of attention, so you do not make a mistake“Linda reads the email carefully before she sends it.”
    press (verb)to push something with your finger“She presses the send button on her phone.”
    pocket (noun)a small bag sewn into clothing for carrying things“Linda puts her cell phone in her pocket.”
    proud (adjective)feeling happy because you did something well“Linda feels proud after she sends a good email.”

    Useful phrases

    • take a deep breath — to breathe in slowly to help yourself feel calm“Before she starts typing, Linda takes a deep breath.”
    • take out — to remove something from a bag or pocket“Linda takes out her cell phone to write the email.”
    • no problem — used to say something is easy or you are happy to help“Tom replies, "No problem! I will send the report soon."”
    • one more time — again, once more“She reads the whole email one more time before sending it.”
    • make a mistake — to do something wrong by accident“Linda checks her email carefully because she does not want to make a mistake.”
    • Good job — used to tell someone they did something well“The other nurse says, "Good job, Linda!" after she hears about the email.”
    • keep typing — to continue writing on a keyboard or phone“After she checks the first sentence, Linda keeps typing.”
    • Is everything okay? — a question used to check if someone is fine or has a problem“Another nurse sees Linda and asks, "Is everything okay?"”

    Word search

    Find all 8 key words from the story. They can read forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally.

    ABCDEFGHIJK
    1IPOCKETUVZP
    2SCCOWORKERP
    3GQHRCRTFOTT
    4SXVHAREUURV
    5GEEARODPONP
    6UXNXEDJHORF
    7XWIDFIOOERL
    8ZUTLURZSHLT
    9HPXFLRSVJVR
    10CKXELOSZBYS
    11JYPAYCFIZKE

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Where is Linda standing at the start of the story?

      • A) In the elevator
      • B) In the parking lot
      • C) In the hospital corridor
      • D) In the waiting room
    2. What does Linda want to do on her cell phone?

      • A) Send an email
      • B) Call Tom
      • C) Take a photo
      • D) Send a text message
    3. Who is Tom?

      • A) Linda's doctor
      • B) Linda's patient
      • C) Linda's coworker
      • D) Linda's manager
    4. What does Linda ask Tom to send her?

      • A) A phone number
      • B) A schedule
      • C) A patient report
      • D) A meeting invite
    5. What time does Linda need the report?

      • A) Before 3 o'clock
      • B) Before 4 o'clock
      • C) Before 2 o'clock
      • D) Before 1 o'clock
    6. The word 'corridor' means ___.

      • A) A type of hospital bed
      • B) A place where doctors work
      • C) A long, narrow passage inside a building
      • D) A large room with tables
    7. How does Linda feel after she sends the email?

      • A) Angry and confused
      • B) Sad and nervous
      • C) Tired and worried
      • D) Happy and proud
    8. What does Tom say in his reply?

      • A) "I cannot find the report."
      • B) "Please call me later."
      • C) "No problem! I will send the report soon."
      • D) "I will send it tomorrow."
    9. True or False: A doctor walks past Linda while she is writing the email.

      • A) True
      • B) Not stated
      • C) Not mentioned
      • D) False
    10. What does Linda do after she puts her phone in her pocket?

      • A) She sits down in the corridor
      • B) She walks back to her patients
      • C) She calls Tom on the phone
      • D) She goes to get coffee

    Answer key (A2 (Elementary))

    1. C 2. A 3. C 4. C 5. A 6. C 7. D 8. C 9. A 10. B

    Word search answer key (A2 (Elementary))

    Columns are lettered from the left, rows numbered from the top. The arrow shows the reading direction from the word's first letter.

    carefully: E3 ↓ · corridor: F11 ↑ · coworker: C2 → · pocket: B1 → · press: K5 ↙ · proud: K1 ↙ · report: F3 ↘ · send: A4 ↘

    Free Daily English · Level B1 (Intermediate) · Topic: writing an email to a coworker

    Linda's Urgent Email in the Hospital Corridor

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Linda, an experienced nurse, is standing in the hospital corridor between patient rounds when she realizes she has forgotten to contact her coworker Tom about the following day's meeting. The corridor is relatively quiet at this hour, so she decides it is the perfect moment to take out her cell phone and compose a professional email. She knows that Tom works in a different wing of the hospital and is unlikely to pass by anytime soon, so a quick message is the most efficient option. She opens her email app and pauses for a second, thinking carefully about the right tone to use. Linda wants to sound polite but direct, since the matter is somewhat urgent. She begins typing confidently, writing, "Hi Tom, I hope you are having a good shift.

    Could you please send me the patient report before 3 o'clock? I need it ahead of tomorrow's meeting." She re-reads the message twice, checking for any errors in spelling or phrasing, since she knows that a poorly worded email can easily cause confusion among colleagues. A doctor hurries past her in the corridor, and Linda steps slightly to one side to give him space without losing her focus. Satisfied that the email reads clearly and professionally, she presses send and slides her phone back into her pocket. Within a few minutes, her phone buzzes with a reply from Tom. He writes, "Hi Linda, of course!

    I will get that report over to you within the hour. Good luck with the meeting tomorrow." Linda smiles, feeling relieved that the communication had been so straightforward. Another nurse approaches and asks, "Is everything sorted?" Linda nods and replies, "Yes, I just fired off an email to Tom about the report we need." The other nurse gives her a thumbs up and carries on down the corridor. Linda takes a moment to appreciate how a well-written email can save a lot of time and unnecessary back-and-forth, then heads back to her patients with a clear mind.

    Key vocabulary

    compose (verb)to write something, such as an email or letter, carefully and thoughtfully“Linda decides to compose a professional email to her coworker Tom.”
    efficient (adjective)working well and producing good results without wasting time or effort“Sending an email is the most efficient way to reach Tom quickly.”
    phrasing (noun)the particular words chosen to express something“Linda checks the phrasing of her email to make sure it sounds polite.”
    colleague (noun)a person you work with, especially in a professional setting“A poorly worded email can cause confusion among colleagues.”
    straightforward (adjective)easy to understand or do; not complicated“Linda is relieved that the communication with Tom was so straightforward.”
    relieved (adjective)feeling happy because a problem or worry has gone away“Linda feels relieved when she receives Tom's quick reply.”
    back-and-forth (noun)repeated communication between two people, often to resolve something“A clear email saves a lot of unnecessary back-and-forth between coworkers.”
    urgent (adjective)needing immediate attention or action“Linda knows the matter is urgent, so she writes the email right away.”

    Useful phrases

    • fire off an email — to send an email quickly, often without much delay“Linda tells her colleague, "I just fired off an email to Tom about the report."”
    • within the hour — before sixty minutes have passed“Tom promises to send the report to Linda within the hour.”
    • ahead of — before a particular time or event“Linda needs the patient report ahead of tomorrow's meeting.”
    • re-read — to read something again, usually to check for errors“She re-reads her message twice before pressing send.”
    • get something over to someone — to send or deliver something to a person“Tom says he will get the report over to Linda within the hour.”
    • Is everything sorted? — a question asking whether a problem or task has been resolved“Another nurse asks Linda, "Is everything sorted?"”
    • lose focus — to stop paying attention to what you are doing“Linda steps to one side for the doctor without losing her focus on the email.”
    • with a clear mind — without worries or distractions, ready to concentrate“After sending the email, Linda heads back to her patients with a clear mind.”

    Word search

    Find all 8 key words from the story. They can read forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally.

    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO
    1SBMGIYTNEGRUAOK
    2BTBJVDEVEILEREY
    3GVRACLFZRTXYPGT
    4HNRACGCCYAYMWNH
    5SGXQIKROUQNPECJ
    6NNTDZGARLDNIKZW
    7RIKZOMHNOLCKAGR
    8ZSCEBTZTDIEQNVY
    9DACPUIETFFSABNB
    10TRSOFYFFSOOWGSO
    11AHMFMKEQVSRROUW
    12OPIWAPMRBPWWTPE
    13EINIRPOJPJUVAHL
    14JEMWDGESHYYPNRD
    15OQSOPZZWEGKGJOD

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Why does Linda decide to write an email instead of finding Tom in person?

      • A) She does not know where Tom is and an email is faster
      • B) Tom asked her not to visit his wing
      • C) The elevator is broken
      • D) She is not allowed to leave the corridor
    2. What does the word 'compose' mean in this story?

      • A) To write something carefully and thoughtfully
      • B) To delete a message
      • C) To search for a contact
      • D) To forward an email to a group
    3. What tone does Linda want her email to have?

      • A) Casual and friendly
      • B) Polite but direct
      • C) Formal and distant
      • D) Short and unclear
    4. What does Linda ask Tom to send her?

      • A) A shift schedule
      • B) A contact list
      • C) A meeting agenda
      • D) A patient report
    5. True or False: Linda only reads her email once before sending it.

      • A) Not stated
      • B) Not mentioned
      • C) False
      • D) True
    6. What does 'straightforward' mean as used in the story?

      • A) Complicated and stressful
      • B) Easy to understand and not complicated
      • C) Taking a long time
      • D) Done in a very formal way
    7. What does Tom promise in his reply?

      • A) To call Linda after his shift
      • B) To attend the meeting early
      • C) To reschedule the meeting
      • D) To send the report within the hour
    8. What does another nurse ask Linda in the corridor?

      • A) "Did you call Tom?"
      • B) "Can I help you with that?"
      • C) "Is everything sorted?"
      • D) "Are you going to the meeting?"
    9. True or False: Linda is on her lunch break when she writes the email.

      • A) True
      • B) False
      • C) Not stated
      • D) Not mentioned
    10. What lesson does Linda appreciate at the end of the story?

      • A) That it is better to talk to coworkers in person
      • B) That phone calls are better than emails at work
      • C) That a well-written email can save time and unnecessary back-and-forth
      • D) That Tom always replies slowly

    Answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

    1. A 2. A 3. B 4. D 5. C 6. B 7. D 8. C 9. D 10. C

    Word search answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

    Columns are lettered from the left, rows numbered from the top. The arrow shows the reading direction from the word's first letter.

    back-and-forth: C2 ↘ · colleague: G4 ↘ · compose: C9 ↘ · efficient: G11 ↗ · phrasing: B12 ↑ · relieved: M2 ← · straightforward: A1 ↘ · urgent: L1 ←

    Free Daily English · www.freedailyenglish.com/stories/lindas-email-to-a-coworker-in-the-hospital-corridor-2026-10-25