Unit 14 Talking on the phone

Expressions Dialogues

Different expressions used when answering the phone at home and at work.

Answering the Phone At Home

• Hello?
• Hello, Jones residence.
• Hello, Michelle Jones speaking.
• Yeah! (informal)

Answering the Phone in the Office

• OMG Corporation. May I help you?
• Ken Bill speaking. May I help you?
• Accounting Department. How may I help you?

Asking a Caller Who He/She Wants to Talk to

• Who do you want to talk to?
• Who would you like to talk to?
• Who do you wish to speak to?

Asking a Caller to identify Him/Herself

• May I ask who's calling, please?
• Who shall I say is calling?
• Who's calling, please?
• Who's calling? (informal)
• Who is it? (informal)

Putting a Caller on Hold

• Hold the line, please.
• Just a moment, please.
• Just a second, please.
• Please hold on.
• Please hold on a second.
• Please hang on a second.
• Hold on. (informal)
• Hold on a sec. (informal) (sec = short for second)
• Hang on a sec. (informal)

Dialogue 1

(Jenny is calling her friend, Melinda)

Melinda : Hello?
Jenny : Hello, is Melinda there?

Melinda : Speaking. Who's it?
Jenny : Melinda, this is Jan.
Melinda : Oh, hi, Jan. How are you?

Dialogue 2

(Jan is calling her friend, Joe. Joe's wife answers the phone)

Wife : Brown residence.
Jan : Hello, may I speak with Joe, please?

Wife : May I ask who's calling?
Jan : It's Jan Kato calling.

Wife : Hold on a second.

Dialogue 3

(Jake is calling her client at his office)

Receptionist : IMB Corporation. May I help you?
Jake : Hello, may I speak with Mr. Tim Horton please?

Receptionist : May I ask who's calling, please?
Jake : Jan Kato, from Global Inc.

Receptionist : Just a moment, please.