Making a phone call (formal & informal)

1. Real-Life Conversations

Formal Phone Call

Situation: Sarah is calling a company to inquire about a job opening.

Sarah: Hello, this is Sarah Thompson. May I speak to Mr. Williams, please?

Receptionist: Good morning, Ms. Thompson. May I know what this is regarding?

Sarah: I am calling to inquire about the marketing assistant position I saw on your website.

Receptionist: Certainly. Please hold the line while I transfer your call.

Mr. Williams: Hello, this is Mr. Williams speaking.

Sarah: Good morning, Mr. Williams. My name is Sarah Thompson, and I am very interested in the marketing assistant position at your company.

Mr. Williams: Nice to hear from you, Ms. Thompson. How can I help you?

Sarah: I would like to ask about the required qualifications and application process.

Mr. Williams: Of course. Let me explain…

Informal Phone Call

Situation: Jake is calling his friend, Mike, to plan a weekend trip.

Jake: Hey Mike, what’s up?

Mike: Hey Jake! Not much, just relaxing. What about you?

Jake: I was thinking—how about a road trip this weekend?

Mike: That sounds awesome! Where do you wanna go?

Jake: Maybe the beach? It’s been a while since we went.

Mike: Great idea! Let’s do it. What time should we leave?

Jake: How about Saturday morning?

Mike: Perfect. Let’s plan the details later.

Jake: Cool, I’ll call you again tomorrow.

Mike: Alright, talk soon!

2. Key Phrases and Expressions

Formal Phone Calls

• "May I speak to [name], please?" (Polite way to ask for someone)

• "I am calling regarding…" (To state your reason for calling)

• "Please hold the line." (Used when transferring a call)

• "Let me explain…" (Polite way to start explaining something)

• "Thank you for your time." (A courteous way to end a formal call)

Informal Phone Calls

• "Hey, what’s up?" (Casual greeting)

• "How about [idea]?" (Used to make a suggestion)

• "That sounds awesome!" (Enthusiastic agreement)

• "Let’s do it!" (Agreeing to a plan)

• "Talk soon!" (Casual way to end a call)

3. Practice Exercises

A. Fill in the blanks with the correct phrase

1. ___, this is Lisa calling. May I speak with Mr. Johnson? (Formal)

2. ___, do you have a minute to chat? (Informal)

3. I am calling ___ the meeting schedule for next week. (Formal)

4. That sounds like a great plan! ___! (Informal)

5. Please ___ while I check the availability. (Formal)

Answers:

1. Hello

2. Hey

3. regarding

4. Let’s do it

5. hold the line

By practicing these phrases and conversations, you’ll improve your confidence in making phone calls in both formal and informal situations!