Situation: During her business telephone call to Fosters Ltd., Karen decides to leave a message with someone else in Barry’s department, leaving her name and number so that he can call her back. Style: Professional and quite formal
- Hello, Graphics. - Hi, I was trying to get …… ………………….. with Barry Craven but I understand he’s on the phone. Could I …………… him a message please? - Sure, go ahead. - Could you please tell him that Karen from Smiths and Sons …………………………. called, and ask him to call me back on 02...3 7.. .. 4..2.. ? - Of course. Could I ask what the call is about? - I’m sure it’s nothing that Barry won’t be able to ……………………… out. It’s just that he ………………………….. me some files and I haven’t been able to open them on any of our office computers. - Oh. I see. Well, Barry’s the …………………….. . I’ll get him to call you ……………………. .
Functions: 1. Giving permission: Sure, go ahead. (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.) 2. Leaving a telephone message: Could you please tell him that Karen from DailyStep .called, and ask him to call me back on 0203 778 4922? 3. Making polite enquiries: Could I ask what the call is about? 4. Giving an explanation: It’s just that he emailed me some files and I haven’t been able to open them... (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.) 5. Saying that you have understood: Oh. I see. (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.) 6. Saying that you will ask someone to return a call: Well, Barry’s the expert I’ll get him to call you back. Notes: 1. I was trying to get in touch with (idiom)… = I wanted to contact… (but I now realise that this is not possible at the moment) 2. he’s on the phone = he is speaking to someone on the telephone 3. Could I leave him a message please? = Can I leave him a message? (more direct) / Would it be possible for me to leave him a message, please? (more formal) 4. Sure, go ahead = Please, begin (much more formal – we never say it like this.) 5. Could you please tell him that...? = Can you tell him that...? (more direct) / Would you mind telling him that...? (more formal) 6. call me back (phrasal verb) = return my call (more formal) 7. to figure out (phrasal verb) = to investigate and resolve / to understand 8. It’s just that = The thing is that (more emphatic) / the issue is that (more formal) 9. he emailed me some files = he sent some files by email 10. Barry’s the expert = Barry knows everything about this subject 11. I’ll get him to = I’ll ask him to 12. to call you back (phrasal verb) = to return your phone call (more formal)