You’ve listened to someone calling to ask for information about an advert. Now let’s look at some of the language you can use when you make a call like this yourself.
You don’t need complicated language to make a successful enquiry. You need to be able to:
- explain why you’re calling
- ask clearly for the information you need
- understand some common questions from the person answering the phone
Complete the two short activities below to practise some useful language.
Activity 1: Why are you calling?
When someone answers the phone, they may ask why you’re calling. You can then explain what you’re interested in.
For example:
How can I help you?
I’m calling about your weekend walking trips.
Complete the sentences with the missing words. Think about which phrases are used by the person answering the phone and which are used by the caller.
Activity 2: Asking for information
Once you’ve explained why you’re calling, you can ask for the information you need.
Think about the questions from the phone call you listened to:
How much does it cost?
What time do you leave?
Where do you leave from?
How long does the trip last?
Complete the questions with the correct question words.
Don’t worry if this feels easy. The aim is to make these common question forms quick and natural to use. You’ll need them when you make your own phone call.
You’re now ready to try making an enquiry yourself.
When you look at an advert, first think about what information is missing and what you would like to know. Try to think of at least three questions before you make the call.
Remember, you can start with:
I’m calling about …
I’d like some information about …
I’d like to enquire about …
Then ask your questions and listen carefully to the answers.