Meeting and Greeting (saying Hello):
(A – person 1 B person 2)
Hello / Hi / Good morning / afternoon / evening.
A: How do you do?
B: I’m well / fine, and you?
A: How are you?
B: Fine thanks and you?
A: Fine, thank you.
A: Nice to see / meet you.
B: It’s nice to meet you too.
A: How nice / lovely (it is) to see you again
B: (it is for) Me too.
A: / B: Glad / Nice to meet you.
A: The weather is nice / terrible today.
A: Lovely / Terrible weather we’re having.
B: Yes, it’s lovely / awful, it’s usually nice here this time of year.
Good-bye / See you later / Good night / All the best
It’s been nice / lovely seeing / meeting / speaking with you.
Asking for directions:
(A – person 1 B – person 2)
A: Excuse me / Hello / Hi, Could you help me please?
Where is the…?
Where is there a…?
Where can I find…?
I’m looking for a / the…
How do I get to… (See get – General Grammar)
(The King’s Hotel / The police station / chemist / doctor / Oxford Street / Broadway / The nearest station / The natural history museum etc.)
B: The…….. is / It’s………
You can / will find the… / it’s
Over there / There.
On the other side of the road.
At the end of the road.
On the next corner.
Second on the left and straight ahead
(US: Two blocks over and one block up).
A: Thank you / Many thanks.
B: You’re welcome.
A: Goodbye, have a nice day.
At the hotel:
(A – person 1 B – person 2)
B: Hello. / Good evening / morning / afternoon Sir / Madam, can / may you help you?
Do you have a reservation Sir / Madam?
A: Yes, I / we have a reservation
A: Excuse me / sorry, I believe I / we have a reservation.
B: Yes, you are in room 7, on the third floor.
B: Take the lift to the third floor, the room is down the corridor, fourth room on the right.
A: Thank you.
B: You’re welcome.
A: May I / we have my / our key please?
A: Thank you.
B: You’re welcome
Good-bye / See you later / Good night / All the best
It’s been nice / lovely seeing / meeting / speaking with you.
When we don’t understand
A: Excuse me / Sorry, do you speak English?
A: What’s your name please?
B: My name is…
A: Pardon / what? (what may be heard but is not polite)
A: Say that again please / Pardon me.
A: Speak more slowly please, I didn’t catch / hear that.
A: I’m sorry I don’t understand.
Ok / That’s ok / Very well. Thank you / Thanks / Many thanks / That’s very kind of you, thanks / Thanks for your help.
On the Telephone – Making a call
(A – person 1 B person 2)
A: Hello / Good morning / afternoon / evening…
May I speak to…? / I would like to speak to…
I’m calling to speak to / in response to
When you have Direct line to intended contact
B: Hello / Good morning, etc. Yes, speaking!
Receptionist
B: Hello / Good morning, etc. Can / May I help you?
A: May I speak to (name)?
B: Yes / thank you, I’ll put you through.
B: What is it about / concerning?
A: It’s about…
B: I’m afraid / sorry, he / she is / they are on another call / line at the moment.
B: Would you like to / Do you want to hold the line / hang on / leave a message?
when the Intended contact not available
Receptionist
B: I’m afraid / sorry, he / she isn’t / they aren’t in the office at the moment.
is / they aren’t available at the moment.
have / has gone / left for the day
B: May I take a message. / Would you like to leave a message.
A: When will Mr. / Mrs…….. be back?
Are you expecting him / her them to return to the office?
A: No thank you, I will call back later
A: Yes,I would like to (want) leave message, please tell… / let…know…
A: Yes,Could I leave a message? Please tell… / let…know…
A: Thank you / Many thanks / That’s very kind of you, thanks / thanks for your help.
B: You’re welcome
A: Goodbye / have a nice day.