“It's on the shared drive, but I think you need access. Let me check.”
B1 · Intermediate9 minPhrases
When you need this
Most office files don't live on your laptop. They sit on a shared drive or in a shared folder, where a whole team can open them, and access is controlled by permissions. That's why the most common file problem at work isn't a lost file. It's "I can't open it," which usually means you don't have access yet.
The words to learn are about where a file lives and who can use it. Give the path in plain words: "the shared drive, then Sales, then the 2026 folder". Say what kind of access you need, because "read-only" and "edit" are different requests. And keep the rule most offices have: work files go on the shared drive, not on your desktop, so they're backed up and your team can find them when you're on vacation.
Phrases
storage on the company network that a team can use
one folder that several people can open
permission to open or use something
the settings that control who can open or change a file
you can open and read it, but not change it
permission to make changes
asks who controls the folder's permissions
give someone permission
keep a file where the team can reach it
says which folder holds the file
the system won't let you in
Say it out loud
Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.
Practice · 3 min
Say the line that fits. Situation on the left, one natural line on the right.
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Say it today
Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.