Edward Thomas
Nahoru1. ON THE PHONE
Look at the phrases below which involve making enquiries on the phone. Can you match them with the responses?
A) Hello, is that Charles?
B) Hello, can I speak to Simon Jones please?
C) Hello, this is Mr Anderson, can you put me through to William?
D) Hi John, this is Tom.
E) Hello, I am calling about an advert in the classified section...
F) Hello, I'd like to register a complaint.
1. Of course. Can you give me your name and address please?
2. Wow, man! How are you?
3. Yes, which section are you interested in?
4. Yes, but I think he's just popped out at the moment? Can you hold the line a moment?
5. No, this is David, but I can take a message.
6. Of course. Just a moment.
Correct answers are here
Nahoru2. MAKING ARRANGEMENTS - AN INVOLVED CONVERSATION
Look at the conversation below between Jim and Ed. Don't worry about the highlighted words at the moment but answer Qs 1-8 following it.
E/ a) „Hi Jim, this is b) Ed here.”
J/ „Oh, hello”
E/ c) „I was wondering whether we could find a time for meeting this week?”
J/ d) „Right. e) I guess so. f) Just a second while I get my diary”
„Got it. g) How about Wednesday?”
E/ h) „Can't do Wednesday, i) sorry. j) Are you free Tuesday?”
J/ „Well, Tuesday I only have an hour free.”
E/ „Which one?”
J/ „Between one and two...”
E/ k) „No good, sorry. How about Friday then?”
J/ l) „Friday, well, let me see... mmm, m) looks ok. Afternoon?”
E/ „Afternoon's ok. n) What time suits you?”
J/ „For me, o) the later the better. p) Is 5pm ok?”
E/ „Ok, after work then, more or less. q) Whereabouts shall we meet?”
J/ r) „What about the pub on the corner of main street?”
E/ „The Hanged Socialist s) you mean?”
J/ t) „Yes, that's the one!”
E/ u) „Great, v) that's fixed then. Friday at 5 at the Hanged Socialist?”
J/ „Yes, w) see you then. Cheers”
E/ x) „Cheers”
Questions:
1. How does Jim ask Ed to wait for a moment?
2. Is Jim positive, negative, or neutral about the idea of meeting?
3. Does Jim have any time on Tuesday?
4. How does Jim slow the conversation while he looks in his diary?
5. How does Ed ask what time is best for Jim?
6. How does Jim say later is better?
7. How does Ed say that they have agreed a time together?
8. How do they say goodbye to each other (British English)?
Correct answers are here
Nahoru3. SUGGESTING, AGREEING, DISAGREEING AND SOCIAL LANGUAGE ON THE PHONE
Look at the table below. Take the highlighted sections from exercise Making Agreements and fit them into the four categories given. If you don't know, put „social” as it is the most general. The first on is done for you.
Correct answers are here
Now try to fill the gaps in these mini-dialogues:
A) „How about 7pm?”
B) „Let ………………………. ……………………….. Yes, looks ok.”
Correct answers are here
A) „Can we meet tomorrow?”
B) „Just ………………………. ………………………. ………………………. ………………………. I get my diary.
Correct answers are here
A) How ………………………. going for a drink tonight.
B) What time?
A) What ………………………. 7pm?
B) ………………………., too early.
A) Well, what time then?
B) The later, ………………………. ………………………..
A) ………………………. about 10pm?
B) Sounds ………………………..
A) Great, that's ………………………. ………………………..
Correct answers are here
Nahoru4. FORMAL TO INFORMAL
Can you match the formal phrases on the left of the following chart to the informal ones on the right:
Correct answers are here
Can you put the language from the exercise above into the four categories below? Sometimes something which looks like a request can actually be a kind of delaying or „playing for time” (trying to make the other person wait while you become organised).
Correct answers are here
Nahoru5. THE CONFERENCE…
