Foscari - Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Informatica e Statistica

RM Is this a convenient time to call?
PS a I'm rather tied up at the moment. Could you call back?
b I'll have to get back to you on that.
c One of our clients has just arrived in the office.
RM: Of course! No problem I’ll ring you back this afternoon.
PS: Thanks. I’ll speak to you later then. Bye.
Situation 6
ET: This is Emily Tennant of Greiger & Co. I'd like to speak to your Sales Manager
please.
Switchboard: Oh, that would be Mr Granger, but
a I'm sorry, I’ll have to go. I've got someone on the other line.
b I'll have to get back to you on that.
c I'm afraid he's off sick at the moment.
ET: Oh dear, nothing serious I hope?
Switchboard: No, he should be back next week.
Telephone Language
It is useful to learn set expressions to help you handle telephone calls efficiently.
Look at the set expressions in A. Match them to the sentences in B.
A
1. Is this a convenient time to call?
2. I’ll have to get back to you on that.
3. I'm sorry, I’ll have to go. I've got someone on
the other line.
4. I'm afraid he's off sick at the moment.
5. I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name.
6. I'm rather tied up at the moment. Could you
call back?
B
a) I'm not sure, I’ll phone you back when I can
give you an answer.
b) You can't speak to him: he's away ill.
c) Am I disturbing you?
d) I didn't hear your name clearly.
e) I’ll have to stop speaking to you now; I have
to answer another call.
f) I can't speak now; I’m too busy. Would you
mind phoning me again at another time?
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