Telephoning- Determiners and Prepositions Pairwork

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Student A
A
 Did you have a good weekend?
 Anyway, have you got a minute to talk?
 So, is this a good time?
 I got a message that I should call you.
 I only have a minute but I thought you should know…
 Just a quick call to say…
 Can I leave a message?
 Would you like to leave a message?
 Just a mo’. I’m looking for the file.
 Just a moment while I get a pen and some paper. Okay, go ahead, please.
 Could you say that again a little more slowly?
 Can you call again a little later?
 Have a good evening.

About
 Are you the right person to speak to about the delivery of…?
 That seems to have about covered it, thanks.
 What about you?
 How about you?
 I’m phoning about the meeting next week.
 About the email which you sent yesterday,…

Any
 Please call again if you have any other problems/ questions.
 Do I need any punctuation (in that email address)?
 Right. I won’t keep you any longer.
 Is there anyone else I can speak to about this?

At
 Anyway, have I phoned at a bad time?
 I’m looking at your new catalogue and…
 Alex Case (all one word) at yahoo dot co dot jp.
 Sorry for phoning at lunchtime.
 If you look at the second paragraph on the third page,…

Back
 I’ll get back to you by Friday.
 I’ll check and call you right back.
 Could you possibly find out and call me back?
 Can I read that back?
 Do you want to check that back?
 I’m sure that you need to get back to work, so…
 Thanks for getting back to me so quickly.

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 Sorry it took me so long to get back to you.
 Can you ask him to call me back?
 Shall I ask her to call you back?
 If I can take your name and number, I’ll ask him to call you back.
 Do you know when she will be back?

Down
 You might want to write this down.
 Let me write that down.
 Just a minute. I’m writing it down.

For
 Could you spell your family name for me, please?
 No, that’s all for now, thanks.
 Thanks for calling me back.
 Apologies for phoning so late in the evening.
 Anyway, what can I do for you today?
 Shall I spell that for you?
 That’s almost right, but with V, not B. That’s V for violin.
 Just a second while I find the information for you.
 Bye for now.
 Thanks for calling.

From
 I hope to hear from you soon.
 I look forward to hearing from you.
 This is Francis Cripps (again), calling from JUPG PLC.
 It’s Francis Cripps (here) from Finance.
 It’s great to hear from you.
 Someone phoned me from this number.

Her
 I’m sorry but she is away from her desk.
 I’m afraid she’s not answering her phone.
 I’m afraid she’s on her way to New York.
 Could you give me her mobile number so I can phone her while she’s here?
 I’ll stick a Post-it on her monitor, so I’m sure she’ll see it when she gets back.

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Student B
In
 I have a meeting in a few minutes, so…
 Someone has just come in, so…
 Can I call you back in a minute?
 I’m calling in order to check whether…
 I’m afraid she’s in a meeting.
 Sorry, she’s not in today.
 Can I speak to Kim Smith in the Sales Department, please?

My
 I’m sorry. My next client has just arrived. Can I call you again later?
 I’m not going into the office today, so it’s best to send an SMS to my cell phone.
 My name is Francis Cripps. I work for JUPG PLC.

Of
 Good morning. ABC Ltd. Hardware Division. Al Kay speaking. How may I be of

assistance?

 I’ll just make a note of that.
 Sorry but he’s out of the office.

On
 I have a call on another line, so…
 Are you on the internet now?
 Okay. I’ll let you get on then.
 I’m afraid she’s on another line.
 Actually, he’s on a business trip.
 It says on your website that…
 I have someone on another line, so…

The
 Can you repeat the first part?
 How’s the weather there now?
 I need to speak to someone in the shipping department.
 I’m afraid I couldn’t catch the last word.
 I’m not sure if I’ve got the right number, but…
 Is that the HR department?
 Is this the right number for the Customer Service Department?
 Please hold the line.
 Thanks for the information.
 The reason why I’m phoning is…
 Unfortunately, he’s out of the country.

To
 Anyway, I’d love to chat more, but…

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 Can you put me through to Kim Smith, please?
 Can you text me when you get to the entrance?
 Do you have access to the internet?
 I can send you a link to that information online, if that’s okay.
 I think that’s all that I needed to ask, thanks.
 I’ll pass your message onto him.
 I’m sure you need to get back to work, so…
 If you turn to page four,…
 It was great speaking to you.
 Okay then, is there anything else that we need to discuss?
 So, do you have time to talk?
 Sorry I didn’t have more time to speak earlier.
 Sorry to phone again so soon.
 Sorry, who am I speaking to, please?
 Speak to you then.

Up
 It’s a terrible line. Shall we hang up and try again?
 Just a sec. I’ll get your account up on my screen.
 I understood up to the bit where you said…

With
 Is that spelt with a C or a K?
 I’m calling in connection with your ad in yesterday’s newspaper.
 So, is there anything else that I can help you with today?

Your
 How do you spell your surname?
 How’s your week going?
 I just got your message.
 I look forward to your call.
 I was given your number by my boss. He asked me to phone you about…
 I’ll make sure he gets your message as soon as I can.
 I’m returning your call.
 Sorry, I didn’t catch your name.
 Thanks for all your help.
 Thanks for your call.

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Prepositions and determiners grammar presentation

Without looking above for now, try to think of prepositions or determiners which match the
definitions given. Some prepositions or determiners go in more than one place below.

Determiners
One (of many) = “________________________________________________ thing”

The listen knows which one you are talking about = “______________________ thing”

There is only one (in the world etc) = “__________________________________ thing”

Free choice of thing = “_____________________________________thing at all (is okay)”

Prepositions
The opposite of “ago” = “____________________________________” + time from now

“_________________________________________________________” + the topic

“__________________________________________________” + the purpose/ reason

“________________________________________________________” + a point in time

“______________________________________________________” + a point in space

“__________________________________________________” = the opposite of “to”

More or less/ Approximately/ Around = “______________________________________”

Return/ In the opposite direction = “_______________________________________”

Look at the previous worksheets to help finish and check the definitions of determiners and
prepositions task above.

Check your answers below.

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Suggested answers

Determiners
One (of many) = “_____________________a/an___________________________ thing”

The listen knows which one you are talking about = “____________the__________ thing”

There is only one (in the world etc) = “__________________the________________ thing”

Free choice of thing = “________________any ________________thing at all (is okay)”

Prepositions
The opposite of “ago” = “______________in_____________________” + time from now

“__________________________about_______________________________” + the
topic

“__________________________for________________________” + the purpose/
reason

“__________________________at______________________________” + a point in
time

“__________________________at____________________________” + a point in
space

“__________________________from________________________” = the opposite of
“to”

More or less/ Approximately/ Around = “______________about____________________”

Return/ In the opposite direction = “_________________back______________________”

Brainstorming stage
Without looking at the previous worksheets for now, try to think of at least one useful
telephoning phrase for each of the prepositions and determiners below. Many phrases not
above are also possible.

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about

any

back

down

for

from

her/ his

the

with

your

Look at the grammar presentation to help. Then compare your phrases with those on the
first worksheets. Many more answers are possible, so please check if you wrote
something different.

Tick off the words above on an uncompleted version of this worksheet as you take part in
telephoning roleplays, using different coloured pens to each other. The person with the
most ticks when the teacher stops the game wins.

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