TELEPHONING IN ENGLISH

SAMPLE CONVERSATION

Hello, Brothers Incorporated. This is Mary Johnson speaking. How can I

help you/be of help?

Good morning, this is Mr. Smith calling. May I speak to Mrs. Storm,
please?

Im afraid she is out of the office at the moment. Would you like to leave
a message for her/would you like me to take a message?

As a matter of fact I would. Could you please ask her to call me

back as soon as possible? Its on a rather urgent matter. My
number is 44 629 02 62 58, thats a direct number.

Ok, Mr. Smith, I will give her the message as soon as she returns. Is
there anything else I can do for you?

No, thank you very much. Bye-bye.

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 WHAT YOU SAY WHAT YOU HEAR

Identifying yourself or your company/institution Taking the call/asking your identity

This is Phil Collins/Mr. Collins here (US) Good morning/good afternoon/good evening / Hello
Phil Collins speaking Crown Prosecution Service
Its Mr. Green of CPS here. May/can I help you?
This is Mr. Jackson of/from the UKs Crown Prosecution Service May I ask whos calling?
Who is calling him?
Whos calling please? Whos speaking please?
Can I have your name please?
Can you give me your name and company/institution?

Trying to get through Being put through/ not being put through

Hello/Good morning, can I speak to (BrE)/with (AmE) Mr. Green? One moment please
Hello/Good morning, may I/can I/could I speak to Mr. Green, please? Hold on, Ill connect you
Id like to/could I/may I speak to (BrE)/with (AmE) Mr. Green? Just a moment
Is Mr. Green in? / Is Mr. Green there, please? Hold the line, please
Would it be possible to speak to Mr. Green? Hold on (a moment) please
Is Mr. Green available/at the office? Ill put you through / Putting you through
Could I have Mr. Green in the Criminal Department? Sorry, the line is engaged
Could you give me Mr. Green, please? Please don't hang up
Could you connect me with the UKCA, please?
Could you please put me through to Mr. Green from the MLA
department?

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Giving information about the purpose of your call Giving information about the purpose of your call

I have an important/urgent matter on international cooperation to discuss May I ask what you are calling him for?
with him
May I ask who's calling?
I have something important/urgent to discuss with him
What is this in connection with?
How can I help you?/What can I do for you?

Leaving/Not leaving a message Problems to get through / Being asked to leave a message

Could you say/tell him I called? Im afraid the lines busy / engaged
Could you ask her to call me back? Im sorry, hes not in at the moment
Could you tell her that Ill call her back/later? Im afraid hes out of the office
Could you tell him that Mr. Green called? Im afraid Mr. Green is not available (until...)
Ill call back later Im afraid there is no reply from that extension
Ill call him on his mobile Would you like to/Do you want to leave a message?
I'll be in my office all afternoon Can I take a message?
Could you ask him to call me as soon as possible? Does Mr. Smith have your number?
He can reach me on 664 44 921 Could you spell your name, please?
I'll get back to you on this

Apologizing Asking what number the caller wanted

I'm sorry, I think I've dialled the wrong number What number were you calling?
I'm sorry, I wanted 662 44 921 What number did you want?
Oh, excuse me, I must have the wrong number What number did you dial?
I'm afraid you have the wrong extension

3
Checking on something

Let me check (on) that for you

I'll see what I can find out
I'll look into that for you

Agreeing/not agreeing to a request

By all means
Go ahead
Please do
Yes, of course
I'm sorry to say...
I'm afraid...

Help!

Could you speak a little slower?

Could you speak a bit more slowly, please?
Excuse me? I didn't catch that
Sorry, could you repeat that?
Could you explain that to me again, please?
Can you speak up a bit?
There is a lot of interference on this line
I'm afraid I can't hear you very well
It's very noisy here, I can hardly hear you
I'm afraid you are speaking a bit too fast for me
I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean
I'm afraid I don't follow you
What exactly do you mean by that?
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Thank you/You are welcome

Thank you very much for...

I'm very grateful for...
It's good of you to...
That's very kind of you
I'd be very grateful for...
I'd really appreciate it if...
That would be fine/great/lovely, thanks
I'd like that, thank you
That's all right / OK
It's a pleasure
Not at all
My pleasure
You're welcome