Daily Standup Updates: Natural & Professional Phrases
5 exercises on standup update phrases. Choose the most natural and professional option.
0 / 10 completed
1 / 10
You worked on a database migration script yesterday. Which opening sounds most natural in a standup?
PAST CONTINUOUS FOR STANDUP CONTEXT: "I was working on X" is the most natural standup phrase because it implies ongoing effort and sets up what's next — whether you finished or are continuing. Native speakers overwhelmingly use this pattern: "I was working on the login flow", "I was working on the API refactor", "I was working on fixing that flaky test." Option A ("I did") sounds abrupt and childlike. Option C ("I have worked") is grammatically fine but overly formal for a casual standup. Option D ("spent time with") is vague and a bit odd for technical tasks. Stick with "Yesterday I was working on..."
2 / 10
You can't continue your task because you're waiting for a teammate's PR to merge. Which standup phrase is most professional?
"I'M BLOCKED WAITING ON... BEFORE I CAN PROCEED": This phrase is clear, non-blaming, and action-oriented. It identifies the blocker, names the dependency, and implies you're ready to move once it resolves. Real examples: "I'm blocked waiting on the design sign-off before I can proceed", "I'm blocked waiting on infrastructure access before I can proceed", "I'm blocked waiting on legal approval before I can proceed." Option A is blunt and slightly aggressive ("I can't do anything"). Option C sounds accusatory toward Sam personally. Option D is vague and indirect — it hides that you're actually blocked right now.
3 / 10
You're midway through a feature that's going smoothly. Which phrase best communicates progress in a standup?
"MAKING GOOD PROGRESS ON X — SHOULD HAVE Y BY Z": Option A is the gold standard because it pairs a progress signal with a concrete next deliverable and a time anchor. This gives your team actionable information. Real uses: "Making good progress on the auth refactor — should have it reviewed by EOD", "Making good progress on the pipeline — should have results by tomorrow morning." Option B is wordy and "plan to make a PR" is vague. Option C's "coming along nicely" is informal but lacks the time anchor. Option D's "I think" undermines confidence unnecessarily.
4 / 10
You genuinely have nothing new to report at standup today. What's the most professional way to say this?
"NO UPDATES — STILL ON TRACK WITH X, NO BLOCKERS": Even when there's nothing new, the best standup update confirms continuity and explicitly rules out blockers. This takes 5 seconds and gives your team confidence. Real examples: "No updates — still on track with the migration, no blockers", "No updates — still on track with code review, no blockers", "No updates — still on track with testing, no blockers." Option A is too terse and sounds disengaged. Option C ("at this time") is stiff corporate language. Option D ("same as yesterday") doesn't confirm you're still on track or blocker-free.
5 / 10
You want to end your standup turn quickly without seeming dismissive. Which closing phrase works best?
"I'LL HAND BACK TO YOU THERE": This phrase is the most polished and team-oriented way to close your standup turn. It signals you're done and passes the floor cleanly to the facilitator. It's widely used in UK and international tech standups. Real examples after wrapping up: "...no blockers, I'll hand back to you there." Option A ("that's it from me") is acceptable but slightly abrupt. Option B ("that's me done") is very informal British English — fine in casual teams, awkward in formal ones. Option D ("I'm done, thank you") sounds slightly odd — you don't need to thank people for listening to your update.
6 / 10
Sarah, a backend engineer, is responding to a code review comment regarding performance optimization on the user authentication service. The reviewer suggested adding caching. Which of the following responses would be most professional and helpful in acknowledging the feedback?
Option B is the most professional because it directly acknowledges and accepts the reviewer's suggestion. It demonstrates proactive engagement with feedback. Options A and C are dismissive or non-committal, while option D contradicts a potential solution.
7 / 10
Mark, a front-end developer, is sending an update to the team Slack channel regarding a bug fix. The bug caused a layout issue on mobile devices. Which of the following messages best conveys this information concisely and professionally?
Option B provides a clear and concise description of the issue and resolution. It avoids overly dramatic language (like option A or D) while still being informative. Option C is slightly more detailed but still professional, whereas option A is too vague.
8 / 10
During a daily standup, David explains he's blocked on receiving API responses from the external payment gateway. The API calls are intermittently failing. Which of these phrases would be most appropriate for him to use?
Option A clearly states the blockage and David's inability to proceed. It focuses on the immediate problem without assigning blame (as in option D). Options B and C are slightly less direct, while option D is unprofessional and unproductive.
9 / 10
Emily is creating a pull request for a new feature – a user profile update functionality. She needs to provide a clear description of her changes. Which of the following sentences would be most effective as the first line of her PR description?
Option B provides a concise and informative summary of the PR's purpose. It immediately tells reviewers what they are looking at. Options A is too generic, option C is overly enthusiastic and unprofessional, and option D is an instruction rather than a description.
10 / 10
John is wrapping up his standup update. He has completed the tasks assigned to him for the day and doesn't have any further updates to share. Which of these closing statements would be most professional?
Option A is the most polished and professional closing statement. It politely acknowledges the end of the update without sounding abrupt or dismissive. Options B and C are acceptable but slightly less formal, while option D is overly casual.
What will I practise in "Daily Standup Updates: Natural & Professional Phrases"?
This module focuses on Phrasebook — real workplace phrasing you'll use on the job. It contains 10 scenario-based multiple-choice questions with instant feedback.
Is this exercise free to use?
Yes. Every exercise on CoderSlingo, including this one, is free to use with no account or sign-up required.
How many questions does this exercise have?
This module includes 10 questions. Each one gives an immediate right/wrong result plus a full explanation of the correct phrasing.
What happens if I answer a question incorrectly?
You'll see the correct answer highlighted straight away, along with a plain-English explanation of why it's right and why the other options don't fit — mistakes are part of the learning here.
Can I retry the exercise if I want a better score?
Yes — use the 'Try again' button on the results screen to reset your score and go through the questions again. There's no limit on attempts.
Who is this Phrasebook exercise for?
It's aimed at IT professionals with working English who want to sound more natural and precise around phrasebook — useful whether you're preparing for real conversations at work or just building confidence with the vocabulary.
Do I need an account to track my progress?
No account is needed. Your progress through the exercise is tracked locally in your browser for the current session, and you can replay the module at any time.
How is this different from reading a blog article?
This exercise is an interactive drill that tests and reinforces specific phrasing through multiple-choice questions with instant feedback, while blog articles explain concepts and vocabulary in prose. The two work well together.
Where can I find more Phrasebook exercises?
See the Phrasebook hub for more modules like this one, or browse the full Exercises page for other IT-English topics.
Can I complete this exercise on my phone?
Yes — every exercise on CoderSlingo is fully responsive and works on phones and tablets, so you can practise anywhere.