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)
Warning:
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 Jennyand 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 pleaseand I’ll get her for you?
A:
Can I speak to Mr Peterson, please?
B:
Absolutely. Can you just hold a secondand 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.
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