Phone Calls in English: Useful Phrases
Do more with this exercise
Practise opening a call, asking for someone, leaving a message and ending politely. Listen to the short dialogue before trying the exercises.
Leaving a message
Receptionist
Good morning, Green Travel.
Leo
Hi, this is Leo.
Leo
Can I speak to Ana, please?
Receptionist
She’s not here right now.
Receptionist
Can I take a message?
Leo
Could she call me back?
Receptionist
What’s your number?
Leo
It’s 555-0123.
Receptionist
Thanks for calling.
Opening a call
Good morning, Green Travel.Answer a call with the name of your workplace.
“Good morning, Green Travel.” “Hello.”
Hi, this is Leo.Introduce yourself on the phone.
“Hi, this is Leo.” “Hello, Leo.”
Can I speak to Ana, please?Ask to speak to a person.
“Can I speak to Ana, please?” “One moment.”
Who’s calling, please?Ask for the caller’s name.
“Who’s calling, please?” “It’s Leo.”
One moment, please.Ask the caller to wait briefly.
“One moment, please.” “Of course.”
Hold on, please.Ask someone to wait on the line.
“Hold on, please.” “Okay.”
Speaking.Say this when you are the person requested.
“Can I speak to Ana?” “Speaking.”
Messages and problems
She’s not here right now.Say a person is unavailable.
“She’s not here right now.” “Okay.”
Can I take a message?Offer to write down a message.
“Can I take a message?” “Yes, please.”
Can I leave a message?Ask to give a message for someone.
“Can I leave a message?” “Of course.”
I’ll call back later.Say you will phone again.
“I’ll call back later.” “Okay.”
Could she call me back?Ask a person to return your call.
“Could she call me back?” “Yes.”
What’s your number?Ask for a telephone number.
“What’s your number?” “It’s 555-0123.”
Could you repeat that, please?Ask someone to say it again.
“Could you repeat that, please?” “Sure.”
Ending a call
I can’t hear you well.Say the sound is unclear.
“I can’t hear you well.” “I’ll call again.”
The connection is bad.Describe a poor phone signal.
“The connection is bad.” “I know.”
I’ll call you again.Say you will phone once more.
“I’ll call you again.” “Okay.”
Thanks for calling.Thank the caller.
“Thanks for calling.” “No problem.”
Talk to you later.End a friendly call.
“Talk to you later.” “Bye.”
Bye for now.Say goodbye at the end of a call.
“Bye for now.” “Bye.”
Sorry, you have the wrong number.Tell a caller they reached someone else.
“Sorry, you have the wrong number.” “Oh, sorry.”
Audio uses a synthetic voice.
Practice exercises
Match the phrase and meaning
Match each English item with its meaning.
Choose a word on the left, then its match on the right.
Choose the right English
Choose the English phrase or word for each meaning.
7.You answer a call at work. What could you say?
8.You want to speak to Ana. What do you ask?
9.The caller needs to wait on the line. What do you say?
10.Ana is away and you offer to write a message. What do you say?
11.You plan to phone again later. What do you say?
12.The caller sounds too quiet. What do you say?
Complete the English
Type the missing word.
Understand the dialogue
Choose the answer from the conversation.
19.What does Leo want Ana to do?
Practise phone calls in english: useful phrases
On the phone, introduce yourself before you ask for someone. “Hi, this is Leo” tells the other person who is calling. “Can I speak to Ana, please?” asks to be connected to Ana. If the person is unavailable, you can leave a message or ask for a call back.
In the dialogue, Leo leaves his number so Ana can call him back. Listen to how the receptionist keeps the exchange polite and clear. Practise the message phrases and the useful ways to end a call.
Frequently asked questions
How do I ask for someone on the phone?
Say “Can I speak to Ana, please?” Replace Ana with the name of the person you want.
What can I say if the person is not there?
You can ask “Can I leave a message?” or “Could she call me back?”
Answer key
1. Good morning, Green Travel.
Answer: Answer a call with the name of your workplace.
Good morning, Green Travel. — Answer a call with the name of your workplace.
2. Can I speak to Ana, please?
Answer: Ask to speak to a person.
Can I speak to Ana, please? — Ask to speak to a person.
3. One moment, please.
Answer: Ask the caller to wait briefly.
One moment, please. — Ask the caller to wait briefly.
4. She’s not here right now.
Answer: Say a person is unavailable.
She’s not here right now. — Say a person is unavailable.
5. I’ll call back later.
Answer: Say you will phone again.
I’ll call back later. — Say you will phone again.
6. I can’t hear you well.
Answer: Say the sound is unclear.
I can’t hear you well. — Say the sound is unclear.
7. You answer a call at work. What could you say?
Answer: Good morning, Green Travel.
Good morning, Green Travel. fits this situation.
8. You want to speak to Ana. What do you ask?
Answer: Can I speak to Ana, please?
Can I speak to Ana, please? fits this situation.
9. The caller needs to wait on the line. What do you say?
Answer: Hold on, please.
Hold on, please. fits this situation.
10. Ana is away and you offer to write a message. What do you say?
Answer: Can I take a message?
Can I take a message? fits this situation.
11. You plan to phone again later. What do you say?
Answer: I’ll call back later.
I’ll call back later. fits this situation.
12. The caller sounds too quiet. What do you say?
Answer: I can’t hear you well.
I can’t hear you well. fits this situation.
13. Can I ___ to Ana, please?
Answer: speak
Speak and talk both work here; the dialogue uses speak.
14. Who's ___, please?
Answer: calling
Calling and speaking both ask who is on the phone.
15. Hold ___, please.
Answer: on
The phrase is “Hold on, please.”
16. Ana is away. Can I take a ___?
Answer: message
You take a message for a person who is unavailable.
17. I'll call ___ later when Ana is here.
Answer: back
“Call back” means phone again. “Call you later” also fits.
18. The connection is ___. I can't hear you well.
Answer: bad
Bad, poor and weak can all describe this connection.
19. What does Leo want Ana to do?
Answer: Call him back
Leo asks, “Could she call me back?”