Using the telephone in English

Making and answering a call

hello!
John speaking
it's Maria here
could I speak to ..., please?
Bill
speaking!

who's calling?
could I ask who's calling?

where are you calling from?
what company are you calling from?

how do you spell that?

do you know what extension he's on?

one moment, please
hold the line, please

I'll put him on
I'll put her on

I'm sorry, he's ...
not available at the moment
in a meeting

I'm sorry, she's ...
on another call
not in at the moment

would you like to leave a message?

could you ask him to call me?
could you ask her to call me?

can I take your number?
what's your number?
could I take your name and number, please?

I'll call back later

is it convenient to talk at the moment?

can I call you back?
please call back later

thanks for calling

how do I get an outside line?

have you got a telephone directory?
can I use your phone?

If you receive an unwanted phone call, you might find the following expressions useful:

I'm sorry, I'm not interested
sorry, I'm busy at the moment

I can't get a dialling tone

the line's engaged
I can't get through at the moment
I'm only getting an answering machine

sorry, you must have the wrong number

can you hear me OK?
I can't hear you very well
it's a bad line

could you please repeat that?

I've been cut off

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Applying for a job		Phrases - main page

do you know the number for ...?
directory enquiries
international directory enquiries

could you tell me the number for ...?
the National Gallery

do you know the address?

I'm afraid that number's ex-directory

could you tell me the dialing code for ...?
Manchester

my battery's about to run out
I need to charge up my phone

I'm about to run out of credit
sorry, I ran out of credit

I can't get a signal
I've got a very weak signal

I'll send you a text
I'll text you later

could I borrow your phone, please?

I'd like a phonecard, please

Thank you for calling.
There's no-one here to take your call at the moment.
Please leave a message after the tone, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.