THE FLATMATES
Language point:
Telephone language
BBC Learning English The Flatmates
The Flatmates Telephone language
You can see this language point online at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/flatmates/episode135/languagepoint.shtml
Beginning phone conversations
A: Hello, can I speak to Amanda please?
B: Speaking (= This is Amanda speaking here).
A: Hi, is Andy there?
B: Hang on and I'll get him for you.
A: Good morning, can you put me through to your sales team please?
B: Certainly. Just hold the line please. / I'll just put you on hold for a moment.
A: Is that John?
B: Who's calling please?
A: It's Fiona.
A: Hello Grace here. How can I help you?
When someone is not available
A: Hello, can I speak to Gina?
B: I'm sorry she's not in. Can I take a message?
A: Yes please. Can you tell her that I'll meet her at 7.30 not 8 at the cinema?
A: Can I speak to Andy please?
A: I'm sorry he's not at his desk. Would you like to leave a message?
B: No that's OK, bye then.
Talking to a receptionist or operator
A: Can you put me through to Mark's office?
B: I'm sorry the line's busy. Do you want to hold?
A: No, I'll try again later.
A: Can I have extension 397 please?
B: I'll put you through. It's ringing for you now.
Ending a call
A: I'm sorry he's not here right now.
B: OK, I'll call back later. Bye
A: Bye
A: Well thanks for that. Bye then.
B: Bye
The Flatmates BBC Learning English
Page 2 of 3
http://www.bbclearningenglish.com/
BBC Learning English The Flatmates
Phone verbs
ring / phone / call
Will you ring me tomorrow?
Did anyone phone while I was out?
She called you last night.
make a call
Do you mind if I use your phone to make a call please?
call back
phone someone after they have phoned you
A: I'm sorry, he's not here just now.
B: OK. I'll call back later.
hang up
end a phone call
And then she didn't even say 'goodbye', she just hung up.
hang on
wait on the phone for a short time
A: Martin's busy right now. Do you want to hang on or call back later?
B: I'll wait, thanks.
Vocabulary:
a mystery
something that's not clear
home wrecker
someone who has an affair (with a person who is married) and who breaks up a
marriage because of it (makes the married person leave his/her partner)
husband stealer
someone who has an affair with a married man and makes him leave his wife
Would you like to try an online quiz about this language point? Go to:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/flatmates/episode135/quiz.shtml
Or you can download the quiz from:
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/flatmates/episode135/fm_quiz_080304.pdf
For more information about this language point go to:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/business/talkingbusiness/unit1telephone/1connecting.shtml
The Flatmates BBC Learning English
Page 3 of 3
http://www.bbclearningenglish.com/
