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Telephoning

Making and answering a telephone call​

Here is the start of an informal telephone call between friends:

  • [B calls A]
  • A: Hello.
  • B: Hi, Kathryn. (ways of saying hello)
  • A: How are you?
  • B: Great, and you? (ways of asking how are you?)
  • A: Good, thanks.
  • B: I was wondering if you’d be interested in going to the cinema with me tonight? (explaining why you called)

When you call someone you don’t know:

  • [B calls A]
  • A: Hello.
  • B: Hello, my name is Chloe Anderson, and I’m calling about the job you have advertised in the Evening Herald. (caller identifies who they are and why they are calling)
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When we want to tell someone who we are, we say my name is …, this is … or it’s …:

  • [B calls A]
  • A: Hello.
  • B: Hi. My name is Jenny and your friend Cathy gave me your number.
  • A: Oh yes, hello Jenny. Cathy has mentioned you.
  • Hello. My name is John Pierce. I am calling about your advertisement in the local paper this week.
  • [B calls A]
  • A: Hello.
  • B: Hello. Is that Ellie?
  • A: No, this is Carmel.
  • Not: No, I’m Carmel
  • [B calls A]
  • A: Hello.
  • B: Hi. Can I speak to Lesley?
  • A: Who’s calling?
  • B: It’s Ian. I work with her.

In many languages you answer the phone by giving your name. In English we don’t unless we represent a company or an institution:

  • [B calls a beauty salon]
  • A: Tranquillity Beauty Salon. Maria speaking, how can I help you?
  • B: I wonder if I could have an appointment for a facial tomorrow afternoon?
  • [B calls an electrical company]
  • A: All Electrics. How can I help you?
  • B: Could I speak to the manager, please?
  • A: Certainly. I’ll put you through to her office.

Ending a phone call​

We often use discourse markers such as right and okay when we want to end a call:

  • A: That was nice that you invited your mum around for her birthday. I bet she was so happy.
  • B: Yeah. It was really nice.
  • A: Right, well I’d better be going.
  • B: Okay, thanks for calling, Liz.
  • A: Okay, bye, Mel.
  • B: Bye.

Asking for someone​

If we want to ask for someone, we say can I speak to X please? or is X there please? (more informal):

  • A: Hello. Can I speak to Jackie, please?
  • B: Speaking. (This means that Jackie is the person who answered the phone.)
  • A: Hi. Is Emma there, please?
  • B: I’ll get her for you now.

Asking someone to wait​

If we want to ask someone to wait, we usually say can you hold (on) (a minute) please?:

  • A: Is Carol there, please?
  • B: Sure. Can you hold on a minute please and I’ll get her for you?
  • A: Can I speak to Mr Peterson, please?
  • B: Absolutely. Can you just hold a second and I’ll put you through to his office?

When someone is not available​

When someone phones and asks to speak to someone who is not available, we say X is not available or X is not here or X is not in his/her office and we usually offer to take a message:

  • A: Can I speak to Laura Watts, please?
  • B: I’m afraid Laura is not available at the moment. Can I take a message?
  • A: Can you tell her that Esther called and that I’ll call her back later.
  • A: Can I speak to Mr Richard Nicks, please?
  • B: I’m afraid Mr Nicks is not in his office right now. Can I take a message?
  • A: No, that’s fine. I’ll call back later.