- General functions
- Before the call
- Answering a call
- Tests
General Functions
The phone is ringing !
When you answer the phone, you pick up the phone
When you finish, you put down the phone or hang the phone up
(video call)
start the meeting / start the call
leave the meeting / end the call
Join the call / leave the call
re-join the call
Please send me an invitation/invite!
Can you invite Sam?
Can you add Jane (to this call)?
John was kicked from the call
John, I think you’re on mute!
Jane would you like to share your screen?
call up your friend at the garage, let’s arrange an appointment
To begin a call, you start the call
When you finish, you end the call
When you want to make a call, you dial or call a number
We can call or dial numbers but we can’t dial people
You are the caller, you make the call. The person you call is the receiver.
I’m calling him now
I’ll ring him (up) now
Can you call Johnny please, he’s expecting your call.
When you call, you do not speak first. The receiver must answer first.
Before the phone call / Emails
Can I call you sometime?
Can we schedule a call to discuss this?
I’ll call / ring/ phone you tomorrow
I’ll give you a phone/ring/call tomorrow
Answering a call
If the telephone is ringing, you need to pick up/ answer the call!
- informal
- formal
Answering: Informal
*Telephone is ringing*
Receiver can say:
Hello?
Yes?
(Telephone number)
Smith residence
— (phone rings, answers) Hello?
— hey it’s me!
Answering: Formal
In a meeting
*Phone starts ringing*
“Excuse me, I need to take this (call).”
(Receiver) Greeting + Company Name + Personal Name + Offer to help
(Caller) Greeting + Personal Name + from Company + ask about health / reason for call
(Receiver) Good morning, Nests Pharmacy, this is John Smith speaking, how can I help you today?
(Caller) Good morning/ hello, this is John Smith calling from XX Company, how are you today / can I speak to / I’m calling about…
This is John
My name is John
I’m John from xxx
Note – from / AT:
Caller: This is John from Metropolitan
Receiver: Microsoft, this is John speaking
The caller is FROM. The receiver is AT the company, so they cannot say FROM.
Note that it’s usually: John from a department, irrelevant of where everyone is.
Hello, this is John from Marketing.
Tests
The phone is ringing / phoning / circling (which is correct?)
[ call / pick / hang ] +up [ put ] +down
When you answer the phone, you _______ ______ the phone
When you finish, you ______ _____ the phone or _____ the phone _____
________ ____ your friend at the garage, let’s arrange an appointment
[ start / make/ end / call ]
To begin a call, you ______ the call
When you finish, you ______ the call
To ____ a call, you ____ a number or a person
verbs [ make / ring / end / answer / get / dial / call / ringing / phone / insert / slide / leave / take ]
Want to win big? _______ this number now!
Well, can we speak later? It’s 3pm, I need to ______ a call
To change the SIM card, insert a pin into the hole, pop out the tray then ______ it out
The phone is ______ (making a sound)
Can you _____ the phone please, it’s been ______ for ages
____ me tomorrow, I’m busy right now