Telephone conversations E.S.L.

Telephone conversations will vary depending on who you are speaking to.  However, there are some basic telephone vocabulary and expressions that one should use when having a personal telephone conversation in English.

Phrases/Vocabulary:

Opening of a Phone Conversation/Call:

"Hello?"
"How are you?"
"My name is..."
"What's your name?"
"Who's calling/this?"
"May I ask who's calling/or whom I'm speaking with?"
"Is this (name)?"
"Yes. This is her/him."
"Yes. This is (name) speaking."

Body of a Phone Conversation:

"Who would you like to speak to?"
"Can I help you?"
"I didn't get your name."
"Can I take a message?"
"I'll give him/her to message."
"I can't hear you (clearly).  Could you please speak up?"
"Could you please speak slowly?"

Ending A phone Conversation:

"Thank you (for your  help)."
"Could you please call back (in 10/15/20... minutes)?"
"I will call back. Thank you."
"Please call back in (time)."
"It was/been nice speaking with you."
"Thank for calling."
"Talk to you later."
"Bye for now."
"Goodbye."

Dialog:

Mark is making a personal telephone call to Jon.  The phone rings and Jon's mom answers...

Jon's mom: Hello?

Mark: Hello?  May I speak to Jon please?

Jon's mom: Sure.  May I ask who's calling?

Mark: Yes, it's Mark.

Jon's mom: Okay Mark. Could you please hold for one moment please?

Mark: Sure.  No problem.

Jon's mom: Thank you.

(Jon's mom leaves to get Jon).

Jon: Hello?

Mark:  Hi Jon.  I wanted to know what time you wanted to meet tomorrow to complete the sociology report.

Jon:  Well, I am busy in the morning so the afternoon is a good time for me.

Mark:  I cleared my whole day for this, because I really want to get this done.  It is due in a few days and we still have a lot to do.

Jon: Okay, 1:00pm is as early as I can get there.

Mark:  Okay.  I will see you then. Please call me if there are any changes in your schedule.

Jon: Sure. No problem. I will see you then. Bye.

Mark: Goodbye.

Now Your Turn!

Practice with a partner using the phrases above to create your own dialog.
Phone rings...

You:  Hello? Is ________ (name) there?

Your friend: __________________ (use the expressions above).

You: ______________ (respond according).

Your friend: _____________ (continue the dialog using the expressions above).