English Vocabulary in Use Pre-intermediate and Intermediate » Unit 53: Phoning and texting

Word List
  • abbreviation
  • answerphone
  • call [phone]
  • Could I speak to …?
  • dial
  • dialling code
  • emergency
  • engaged [busy]
  • get through [make contact]
  • give sb a ring
  • Is that (Joe, Emma, etc …?)
  • landline
  • leave a message
  • mainly
  • mobile number
  • mostly
  • on the phone
  • out [not there]
  • phone sb back
  • put sb through
  • ring v
  • speaking [on the phone]
  • text v
  • texting
  • Who’s calling?
  • wrong number
Exercises

53.1 ‣ Complete the phone conversations.

A: Hello?
B: Good morning. Could I 1 Luke James?
A: Who’s 2_____, please?
B: 3_____ Liam Matthews.
A: One moment, please. I’m 4_____ you through.
C: Hello?
B: 5_____ Mr James?
C: 6_____.

A: Good morning. Boulding Limited. Can I help you?
B: Yes. I’m trying to contact Oliver Fallow. He left a 7_____ on my 8_____.
A: I see. Well, I’m afraid Mr Fallow’s 9_____ at the moment. Can I ask him to 10_____ you later?

A: Hello.
B: Hi. 11_____ Carlos?
A: Yeah, speaking.
B: Hi Carlos. 12_____ Serena.
A: Oh hello. I was expecting you to ring last night.
B: I did, but I couldn’t get 13_____; the line was 14_____.
A: Oh yes, I’m sorry about that. I was 15_____ the phone to my brother for about English Vocabulary in Use Pre-intermediate and Intermediate an hour.

53.2 ‣ What do these text abbreviations mean?

  1. GRT =
  2. X = _____
  3. CU = _____
  4. IMO = _____
  5. ASAP = _____
  6. FYI = _____
  7. LOL = _____
  8. THX = _____
  9. BF = _____
  10. U = _____

53.3 ‣

Over to you

Answer the questions. If possible, compare your answers with someone else.

  1. How often do you use a mobile phone? What do you use it for? How often do you text people? Who do you text?
    _____
  2. In your country, what is the emergency number for the police, fire brigade or ambulance?
    _____
  3. From your country, what’s the international dialling code for the United Kingdom?
    _____
  4. How do you feel about people who use their mobile phone on a train?
    _____
Answer Key
A ‣ Starting a phone conversation

The call on the left is between two friends: Joe and Lily. When British people answer the phone at home, they usually just say ‘hello’. The call on the right is a more formal business call.

JOE: Hello?
LILY: Is that Joe?
JOE: Yeah.
LILY: Hi.It’s Lily.

RECEPTIONIST: Good morning. Chalfont Electronics.
PAUL SHARP: Oh, could I speak to Jane Gordon, please?
RECEPTIONIST: Yes. Who’s calling, please?
PAUL SHARP: My name is Paul Sharp from Bexel Plastics.
RECEPTIONIST: Right, Mr Sharp. I’m putting you through [I’m connecting you] … (pause) …
JANE GORDON: Hello?
PAUL SHARP: Mrs Gordon?
JANE GORDON: Speaking. [Yes, this is Mrs Gordon.]

Common mistakes

We say: Is that Joe? (NOT Are you Joe? or Is it Joe?)

And we say: It’s Lily. (NOT I am Lily or Here is Lily.)

B ‣ Problems on the phone

I tried to ring you this morning [phone you] but I think you were on the phone to your mother [using the phone].

I think I dialled [made a phone call to a particular number] the wrong number (e.g. 451 and not 351) this morning – I got a very angry person on the phone!

I gave her a ring this morning [phoned her], but I couldn’t get through [make contact / speak to her]; the line was engaged [being used, someone was on the phone].

I left a message (e.g. Please ring me) on Dan’s answerphone as he was out [not there; syn not in], but he never phoned me back [returned my phone call], so I don’t know if he got my message.
C ‣ Phone numbers

Q: What’s your home phone number? (also landline)
A: 603 884

Q: What’s your mobile number?
A: 07723 259369

Q: What’s the emergency number for the police, fire or ambulance?
A: 999

Q: What’s the dialling code for the UK when you are phoning from Hungary?
A: 0044

D ‣ Mobile phones and texting

Many people use their mobile mostly/mainly [most of the time] for texting [sending short written messages from one phone to another]. Do you text your friends and family all the time?

These are common text abbreviations [letters which represent words].
ASAP = as soon as possible
CU = see you
BF = boyfriend (GF = girlfriend)
IMO = in my opinion [this is what I think]
B4 = before
FYI = for your information
2DAY = today
U = you
2MORO = tomorrow
THX = thanks
Y = why?
LOL = laughing out loud
PLS = please
X = kiss

Favorite Books
English Vocabulary in Use Elementary

The words you need to communicate with confidence. Vocabulary explanations and practice for elementary level (A2) learners of English. Perfect for both self-study and classroom activities. Quickly expand your vocabulary with 60 units of easy to understand explanations and practice exercises.

Read more
English Vocabulary in Use Upper-intermediate

The words you need to communicate with confidence. Vocabulary explanations and practice for Upper-intermediate level (B2) learners of English. Perfect for both self-study and classroom activities. Quickly expand your vocabulary with over 100 units of easy to understand explanations and practice exercises.

Read more
English Vocabulary in Use Advanced

The words you need to communicate with confidence. Vocabulary explanations and practice for advanced level (C1 to C2) learners of English. Perfect for both self-study and classroom activities. Quickly expand your vocabulary with over 100 units of easy to understand explanations and practice exercises.

Read more
Table of Contents