Dictionary of USEFUL PHRASES

How to get on

Here you can find some useful expressions when you are having telephone conversations.

MAKING CALLS
make a phone call	to call somebody
give someone a call	to call somebody
phone/call/ring someone
ring/phone someone up
you're on the phone	when you're talking to someone
call back	call again later

"Could you be quieter? I'm on the phone"

"I'm really busy. Can I call you back later?"

you dial a number	when you press the buttons on the phone in order
you need a code	to call a different city/country
extension	in a office, the number of particular phone or office
you ask to be put through to the right person	if you first speak to the receptionist
you hold the line	while waiting to be connected

"Could you put me through o the hotel manager?"

"Yes, please, hold the line."

PROBLEMS
you've got the wrong number	if you dial a number that's incorrect
you can't get through	if you don't succeed in making a call
the line is busy/engaged	you can't get through because somebody is talking already on the phone
you can't get through	when there is a problem with the phone line
you ask the person to speak up	if you want somebody to speak louder or the signal is weak
I didn't catch that	if you didn't understand what the other person said

"I couldn't get through to the office because the phone lines were down."

"The signal on my mobile is weak. I didn't catch that. Can you repeat it please."

SAYING WHO YOU ARE
It's Mary Smith	you can use it's and your name
This is Mary Smith from Hilton Hotel	you can use this is (name) from (name of organization)
Is that John Clark?	you say "is that" and a persons name to ask who you are speaking to

"Hello, is that Mr White? Yes, speaking."

MESSAGES
You take a message	when you take information from a caller and give it to someone else
You leave a message	when the person you want to speak to isn't there
You pass on a message	when you give a message to someone
	you can leave messages also on an answer phone or to someone's voicemail

"I left several messages on your voice mail."

"Could you pass on a message to John in catering department?"

MOBILE PHONES

People use mobile phones for other things as well as making calls. You can text someone or send them a text

message - a short written message, often in highly abbreviated English.

You have an account from a mobile network . a private company that rents phone lines/numbers to clients.

You talk about network having coverage or reception if it works in a certain area

When travelling, your phone roams between foreign networks - other companies that have an arrangement with your

phone company to provide you with coverage when abroad.

With many mobile phones you can also connect to the Internet and check email.

Here are some typical phrases that you can use in a telephone conversation.

Click on: TELEPHONE LANGUAGE

Now you can practice a phone call with your partner. Use the phrases from the given pages.