New here? This is lesson 129 of a free 240-lesson English course.
Phone calls in English
Ana calls the Blue Plate about pie. Danny picks up the diner phone and asks who is calling.
Dee cannot come to the phone. Ana leaves a message, and Danny writes it down.
By the end, you'll ask for someone, say who you are, and leave a message.
On the phone, This is plus your name tells them who is calling.
By the end of this lesson
Ask for someone, leave a message, and say who is calling.
- Can I speak to ___?Please put this person on the phone.
- This is ___.Tell the other person your name.
- Who's calling, please?Ask for the caller's name.
- She's not available right now.She cannot come to the phone now.
- I'd like to leave a message.Please write down what I need to say.
- Can I take a message?Would you like me to write down your message?
Scene — the diner phone
Ana is in her apartment on Larch Street. She wants a slice of pie for later, so she calls the Blue Plate.
Danny answers the diner phone by the pie case. Murray sits on two stools with a coffee he has not finished. The jukebox stays quiet.
Learn — ask for someone
Six short lines cover asking for someone, saying who you are, and leaving a message.
You'll also hear She's not available, when the person cannot come to the phone.
Can I speak to ___?
Please put this person on the phone.
When to use it: Say this on the phone when you want to talk to someone.
Learn Can I speak to as one piece, then add the name.
Say it: Can is weak here, and the stress is on speak.
This is ___.
Tell the other person your name.
When to use it: Say this on the phone with your name after is.
Say This is and your name as one piece on a call.
Who's calling, please?
Ask for the caller's name.
When to use it: Ask this when you pick up and need their name.
Who's is who is, said as one piece.
Say it: Who's has a z sound at the end.
She's not available right now.
She cannot come to the phone now.
When to use it: Say this when a woman cannot come to the phone.
For a man, you will hear He's not available.
Say it: The stress in available is on the second part.
I'd like to leave a message.
Please write down what I need to say.
When to use it: Say this when you want someone to write your words down.
I'd is I would, said as one piece.
Say it: I'd and like can link.
Can I take a message?
Would you like me to write down your message?
When to use it: Ask this when you answer and the person they want is busy.
Take a message means you write their words down.
Story — under a plate
Watch Ana call the Blue Plate about pie. Danny picks up, then writes her message down.
The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.
- Ana sits in her apartment with her phone. She wants pie for later.
- The diner phone rings by the pie case. Danny picks it up.
DannyBlue Plate. Hello.a polite hello
AnaCan I speak to Dee?Please put this person on the phone.- DannyWho's calling, please?Ask for the caller's name.
- AnaThis is Ana. I'm the person calling.She says her name, then explains it too much.
- DannyGot it. She's not available right now.He keeps it short. Dee cannot come to the phone now.
- AnaI'd like to leave a message. Leave it on a chair?She asks him to write it, then thinks leave means put it down.
- DannyI'll write it down. Can I take a message?He will write her words. He offers to do that.
- AnaThe cherry pie, please. Save me a slice.She wants him to keep a piece of cherry pie for her.
- DannyGot it. I'll put the note under a plate.He will hide the note under a pie plate.
- AnaThank you. Goodbye.She thanks him, then leaves the call the polite way.
- Danny slides the note under a pie plate. The jukebox stays quiet.
Practice — who is calling
Ten quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.
They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.
0 of 10 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
English
Can I speak to ___?Drop the Simple English hereThis is ___.Drop the Simple English hereWho's calling, please?Drop the Simple English hereI'd like to leave a message.Drop the Simple English hereSimple English
What do you say?
What do you say?
You call the Blue Plate. You want to talk to Dee.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
Who's calling, please?
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
She cannot come to the phone now.
She's not ____ right now.
Build the line
Build the line
Please write down what I need to say.
.
Tap the words in order.
Pick the reply
Danny says:
Pick the reply
Who's calling, please?
Ask for the caller's name.
And you reply with:
Swap the word
Swap the word
You picked up the diner phone. Dee is busy. Offer to write the caller's words.
Can I ____ a message?
True or false?
True or false?
This line is a way to say hello on the phone.
What do you say?
What do you say?
The call is finished. You leave in a polite way.
Say it — leave a message
Now you're Ana on the phone with the diner. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.
Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.
- DannyBlue Plate. Hello.a polite hello
- Ana (you)Ask to talk to Dee.
Ask to talk to Dee.
Can I speak to ___?
Please put this person on the phone.
0 of 3 said
Recap — what you can say now
| English | Simple English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| Can I speak to ___? | Please put this person on the phone. | |
| This is ___. | Tell the other person your name. | |
| Who's calling, please? | Ask for the caller's name. | |
| She's not available right now. | She cannot come to the phone now. | |
| I'd like to leave a message. | Please write down what I need to say. | |
| Can I take a message? | Would you like me to write down your message? |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
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A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your phone lines ready.
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