Telephone Conversations: 45 Essential Phrases To Speak On The Phone in English

Summary

In this lesson, Emma from mmmEnglish! teaches key telephone skills to improve confidence during phone calls in English. She covers essential phrases for polite interruptions, asking someone to wait, expressing appreciation, and wrapping up a call effectively. Emma also highlights casual and formal expressions for different situations, such as asking for time to think, showing gratitude, and ending conversations gracefully. The lesson includes practical phrases for both professional and casual calls, aiming to help learners sound more natural and fluent while speaking on the phone. Emma also encourages viewers to download a free worksheet for additional practice.

Takeaways

• 😀 Be confident when making phone calls in English, using specific phrases and expressions to improve your communication.
• 😀 Learn how to interrupt someone politely using phrases like 'Sorry to interrupt' and 'May I add something?'
• 😀 Use expressions such as 'Just bear with me a moment' or 'Hang on a second' to ask someone to wait during a phone call.
• 😀 Show appreciation to the person you're speaking with by saying 'Thanks so much for your help!' or 'I really appreciate your help.'
• 😀 Use casual phrases like 'Thanks a million' or 'Cheers, I appreciate it' to express gratitude in informal settings.
• 😀 Formal expressions like 'I’m grateful for your understanding' are useful for professional or more serious contexts.
• 😀 When wrapping up a call, say 'I really appreciate the call, thank you' or 'Thanks for your call, I hope you have a nice day.'
• 😀 To end a conversation with someone you know well, you can say 'Okay, I'd better let you go' or 'I’ve gotta run.'
• 😀 Use natural contractions in phrases like 'I’ve gotta go' to sound more fluent and conversational.
• 😀 The lesson encourages downloading a PDF worksheet with all the phrases for easy reference during phone calls to build confidence over time.

Q & A

What is the main goal of this lesson?

The main goal of this lesson is to help learners speak confidently on the phone in English by teaching them essential phrases for interruptions, asking someone to wait, showing appreciation, and ending a phone call.

Why is it important to know how to interrupt someone politely during a phone call?

Knowing how to interrupt someone politely is crucial in both professional and casual settings to ensure clear communication without causing frustration or offense.

What are some phrases suggested to interrupt someone politely?

Some phrases to interrupt politely include: 'Sorry to interrupt,' 'I'm so sorry for interrupting, but I really want to make sure I understood you correctly,' 'Sorry, can I jump in here?' and 'May I add something?'

How can you ask someone to wait on a phone call?

You can ask someone to wait by saying phrases like 'Just bear with me a moment,' 'Hang on a second,' or 'Just give me a moment, please.'

What is the difference between casual and formal ways of asking someone to wait?

Casual ways of asking someone to wait include phrases like 'Hang on a second,' while more formal phrases include 'Just give me a moment, please.'

What should you say when you return to the call after asking someone to wait?

You should say 'Sorry to keep you waiting' to show appreciation for the other person's patience and respect for their time.

What phrases are commonly used when you're put on hold during a phone call?

Common phrases you might hear when being put on hold include: 'Can I put you on hold?' and 'Do you mind holding?'

What are some ways to show appreciation to the person you're speaking with on the phone?

Ways to show appreciation include saying 'Thanks so much for your help!' or 'I really appreciate your help.' Other options include 'Thanks a million' or 'Cheers, I appreciate it.'

How can the word 'grateful' be used in a phone conversation?

You can use 'grateful' to emphasize thankfulness in a more meaningful way, such as saying 'I'm grateful for your understanding' or 'I'm grateful that we've been able to sort this out.'

What are some ways to end a phone call politely?

To end a phone call politely, you can say 'Thank you for calling,' 'Thanks for your call, I hope you have a nice day,' or 'Okay, I'd better let you go.' In casual settings, you could also say 'I've gotta run,' or 'Well, it was great chatting. I'll talk to you again soon.'