On the phone

Lesson 10

Can I speak to ……….please?

This is …… calling

Can I leave a message with you?

Hang on a minute

Can I take a message?

I’ll put you through

Please hold the line

I can’t get through toI think we got cut off

Should I ask him to call you back? It must be the wrong number

TELEPHONE LANGUAGE

Glossary

• Hang on = wait

• Hang up = stop the call

• pass on the message = give to someone

• Call me/you back = return the call

• I can’t get through = connect

• We got cut off = we got disconnected

Formality

• You can use “Hang on” and “Bye” in work conversations

• Would you take a message?

• Could you take a message?

• Can you take a message?

• Can I call later?

• May I call later?

Re-asking

• The line is bad

• Could you say that again?

• I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that!

• Could you speak a little more slowly, please?

• Would you mind/Could you spell that for me, please?

Listen. How formal are these conversations? • 1

• 2

Homework quiz

1. When you telephone a company the person answering the phone can ask you a question. Which is the correct question?

•A Who’s calling please?

•B Who calls?

•C Who it is?

•D Who called?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/business/talkingbusiness/unit1telephone/1connecting.shtml

Homework quiz

2. Which phrase means the same as ‘hang on a moment?’

•A Just a second

•B I’ll put you on

•C Go ahead

•D I’m ready

Homework quiz

3. Choose the correct word: “Please ……. and I’ll put you through.”

•A stop

•B stay

•C talk

•D hold

Homework Quiz

4. What do you say when you want to connect two people on the telephone?

•A I’m sending you through

•B I’m putting you through

•C I’m calling you through

•D I’m talking you through

Homework Quiz Correct Answers

• 1 A

• 2 A

• 3 D

• 4 B

Look for more on BBC Learning English!

Today we have learned:

• Some typical phrases we use on the phone

• Some phrasal verbs

• About formality on the phone

• How to re-ask on the phone