On the phone you cannot point, smile or read a face — the words have to do all the work. These are the short, ordinary calls everyone makes in a normal week.
1. Calling a Friend
Dana: Hi, it's Dana. Is now a good time?
Ruby: Perfect timing. I just sat down.
Dana: Are you still free on Friday?
Ruby: As far as I know, yes.
Dana: Good. I'll send you the address.
Ruby: Sounds good.
2. A Wrong Number
Man: Hello?
Ola: Hi, is Kemal there?
Man: Sorry, there's no Kemal here.
Ola: Oh. Is this 555 3120?
Man: No, you've got the wrong number.
Ola: Sorry to bother you.
3. Leaving a Message
Ana: Hello. Can I speak to Luis?
Rosa: He's out at the moment.
Ana: Could you take a message?
Rosa: Of course. Go ahead.
Ana: Just ask him to call Ana back.
Rosa: I'll pass it on.
4. A Bad Connection
Ivan: Hello? You're breaking up.
Mei: Can you hear me now?
Ivan: A little better. Where are you?
Mei: On the train. The signal is bad.
Ivan: Call me when you get off.
Mei: Will do.
5. Calling a Shop
Clerk: Green Street Bakery, good morning.
Sam: Hi. Are you open on Sunday?
Clerk: We are, until two.
Sam: Do you take orders by phone?
Clerk: We do. What would you like?
Sam: I'll call back this afternoon.
6. Changing an Appointment
Receptionist: Bright Dental, how can I help?
Nadia: I have an appointment at four. I need to change it.
Receptionist: No problem. What suits you?
Nadia: Any time on Thursday.
Receptionist: Thursday at ten?
Nadia: That works. Thank you.
7. Returning a Missed Call
Pete: Hi Lena. I had a missed call from you.
Lena: Yes, sorry. It was nothing urgent.
Pete: No worries. What's up?
Lena: I wanted to borrow your ladder.
Pete: Come by whenever.
Lena: You're a star.
8. Ending a Call
Joe: Anyway, I should let you go.
Amy: Same here. It was good to talk.
Joe: Let's speak again next week.
Amy: I'll call you Tuesday.
Joe: Perfect. Bye for now.
Amy: Bye.
Words to know
| a good time | a moment when someone is free to talk Is now a good time? |
| wrong number | a number you did not mean to call You've got the wrong number. |
| take a message | to write down what a caller wants to say Could you take a message? |
| pass it on | to give a message to the person it is for I'll pass it on. |
| break up | to become unclear, said of a phone signal You're breaking up. |
| missed call | a call you did not answer I had a missed call from you. |
| suit | to be convenient for someone What suits you? |
| let someone go | to end a call politely I should let you go. |
Quick practice
Complete each sentence with an expression from the lessons.
1. A: Hi, it's Dana. Is now a good ________?
B: Perfect timing. I just sat down.
2. A: Is this 555 3120?
B: No, you've got the ________ number.
3. A: Could you ________ a message?
B: Of course. Go ahead.
4. A: Hello? You're ________ up.
B: Can you hear me now?
5. A: I have an appointment at four. I need to ________ it.
B: No problem. What suits you?
6. A: Anyway, I should ________ you go.
B: Same here. It was good to talk.
Show the answers
1. time 2. wrong 3. take 4. breaking 5. change 6. let
Common mistakes
Not: Hello, I am Dana.
Say: Hello, it's Dana.
On the phone, English says it's or this is, never I am.
Not: Can you tell to him that I called?
Say: Can you tell him that I called?
Tell takes the person straight after it, with no to.
Not: Who are you?
Say: Sorry, who's calling?
Who are you? sounds rude to a caller. Ask who is calling instead.
Your turn
Imagine your phone rings while you are cooking dinner. Say these five things aloud, one after another.
- Answer the phone, say who you are, and ask the caller to wait a moment.
- Tell the caller you cannot hear them well and ask them to call back.
- Take a message for someone who is not at home.
- Call a shop and ask what time it closes today.
- End the call politely and say when you will speak again.
Quick review
Record yourself leaving a short voicemail, no longer than twenty seconds: who you are, why you called, and the best time to reach you. Play it back and listen for anything you had to repeat. A message someone can act on without calling you twice is the whole skill.