Simmonds Language Services
Business English Podcast · Emails & Follow-up · Episode 03

Discussing How to Ask for a Missing Attachment

"Please find attached" — but no attachment. How to ask for the file in English without embarrassing the sender.

B1 · Dialogue · 3 Min. · free

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Editorially reviewed by James Simmonds – English teacher since 2004Published

Asking for a Missing Attachment

SceneLisa has received a client email: "Please find attached the signed contract" — but the attachment is missing. She asks her colleague Paul how to follow up politely without embarrassing the client.
0:00 / 3 Min.

Tip: listen to the episode twice before you start the test. · Worksheet (PDF)

✓ To the comprehension test
Paul — Experienced colleague, inside salesLisa — New colleague, inside sales

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Transcript

The full transcript opens after the comprehension test — so you train real listening instead of reading along.

Key phrases

attachment
a file sent with an email
The attachment is missing from your last email.
please find attached
standard formal phrase introducing an attached file
Please find attached the updated price list.
to come through
to arrive successfully (a file or message)
Your email came through, but the photos didn't.
to resend
to send something again
Could you resend the invoice as a PDF?
deadline
the latest time by which something must be done
The deadline for the offer is Friday at noon.
by Friday
"by" + time marks a deadline for a single action
Please send us the signed contract by Friday.
to soften
to make a request or statement sound gentler
She softened the reminder with a friendly first sentence.
Thank you in advance
polite closing line when you expect help
Thank you in advance for sending the missing file.

Language notes

In this episode an experienced colleague coaches a new team member: how do you email about a missing attachment without embarrassing the sender? You learn the phrase "the attachment didn't come through", how to soften requests — and why German "bis Freitag" is "by Friday", not "until Friday" (level B1).

Blame the technology, never the person

Paul's core rule is a foundational principle of English business communication: saving face. "You forgot the attachment" is factually correct but points a finger at the sender. The English solution shifts the blame to a neutral third party — the technology: "I'm afraid the attachment didn't come through." Nobody failed; the file simply "got lost on the way". The same strategy works in many delicate situations: "I think your email went to my spam folder" instead of "You never answered me."

"Bis" ≠ "until": deadlines need "by"

Lisa's sentence "We need the contract until Friday" is probably the most common German preposition error in emails. "Until" describes a continuing state up to a point in time: "I'm in the office until five" (and not after). For a single action with a deadline, use "by": "Please resend it by Friday" — Friday at the latest. Memory aid: state → until, due date → by. "The offer is valid until Friday", but "Please reply by Friday".

Softening requests: reason + thanks in advance

A polite English request has three building blocks, all on display in this episode: the softened statement ("I'm afraid …"), the question instead of an instruction ("Could you resend it?") and the reason ("so that we can start the project on Monday as planned"). The reason turns a demand into a shared goal. A warm closing line completes it: "Thank you in advance" or "Many thanks for your help" — short, warm, professional.

Keep practising: Learn business English online — with real teachers from Simmonds, since 2004.

Frequently asked questions

What language level is this episode for?

Level B1 (CEFR). The coaching dialogue uses clear everyday business English; the vocabulary list explains all eight key phrases bilingually.

How do I ask about a missing attachment in English?

With the technology formula: "I'm afraid the attachment didn't come through. Could you resend it?" Add a deadline with "by" ("by Friday") if needed, a reason, and "Thank you in advance" to close.

What is the difference between "by" and "until"?

"By" marks a due date for a single action ("Please reply by Friday" = Friday at the latest). "Until" describes a state lasting up to that time ("The offer is valid until Friday"). German "bis" can mean both — hence the frequent mistake.

Where can I practise email English live?

In the online business English courses from Simmonds Language Services (englisch-lehrer.com/online): live lessons with real teachers on Zoom, for companies and individuals across Germany — starting with a free consultation.

Are the voices real?

Episodes are produced with high-quality AI voices (Hume) and editorially reviewed by our trainer team — the same method as our interactive lessons.

Want to practise these phrases in a real conversation?

The podcast trains your ear — in our online lessons you practise the conversation yourself, with real teachers. For companies across Germany since 2004.

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