Answers and an explanation for each question appear once you add this activity to your own library.

📞 A2 English Grammar

Phone Calls and Messages

Learn essential phone phrases and how to pass along requests clearly.

A receptionist smiling warmly while speaking on a landline phone handset in a modern office, bold colorful vector art st

💡 How to use this lesson

👩‍🏫 For the Teacher

Guide students through the 4 simple rules, spend about 12 minutes, and check answers together at the end. Use the pattern examples to explain without grammar terms.

🎓 For the Learner

Read the 4 rule cards and look at the underlined words first. Then complete the 12 practice activities below step by step.

📋

Grammar Rules & Patterns

💡 Pattern example: "Hold on, please, I will get my mother."

Rule 1 This is ... speaking / Speaking

To say who you are on the phone, use This is + name + speaking. Do not say "I am" or "My name is". When the caller asks for you, just answer Speaking.

• "Good morning, this is Kim speaking."

• "A: Can I speak to Alex? B: Speaking."

Rule 2 Asking for someone

To ask for a person, say Can I speak to + name, please? To ask who is on the line, say Who is calling, please? Never ask "Who are you?".

• "Hello, can I speak to your brother, please?"

• "Hold on, who is calling, please?"

Rule 3 Passing a message (ask / tell)

Use ask or tell + person + to + verb to pass a message. For a "no", put not before to. Never leave out the word "to".

• "My teacher told us to switch off the speakerphone."

• "Please tell Mrs Lopez to phone the clinic."

• "Ask him not to call after hearing the beep."

Rule 4 Calling back

You can put a person in the middle or say call back later. Never put "you" or "him" at the very end after "back".

• "I'm busy now, so I'll call him back after lunch."

• "She left a voicemail, so I will call back later."

⚡ Quick Check: Do vs Avoid

✅ Say this (Correct)

• This is Kim speaking.
• Who is calling, please?
• He told me to call him.
• I will call you back.

⚠️ Avoid this (Common Mistakes)

• I am Kim / My name is Kim.
• Who are you?
• He told me call him.
• I will call back you.

📝 Practice Exercises (12 Items)

Work through these activities from easy to hard. Pay attention to the hints in brackets.

Part 1: Choose the Correct Sentence

Question 1 (word)

Choose the correct sentence to answer the hotel phone as a staff member.

____ a. Hello, I am the receptionist. ____ b. Hello, this is the receptionist speaking. ____ c. Hello, my name is receptionist speaking. ____ d. Hello, I speak as receptionist.

Question 2 (person)

Choose the correct sentence to ask to connect with a staff member.

____ a. Can I speak to the operator, please? ____ b. Who are you operator? ____ c. Can I speak operator? ____ d. I want talk operator please.

Question 3 (word)

Choose the sentence that uses "call back" correctly.

____ a. The line was busy, so I will redial and call back you. ____ b. The line was busy, so I will redial and call back him. ____ c. The line was busy, so I will redial and call you back. ____ d. The line was busy, so I will redial and call back to you.

Part 2: Rewrite the sentence (ask / tell + person + to + verb)

Question 4 (person)

Rewrite the sentence. Use told.

Mr Green said to Tom, "Pick up the handset."

____ (Type your complete sentence here...)

Question 5 (not)

Rewrite the sentence. Use asked.

Anna said to Ben, "Do not turn on the speakerphone."

____ (Type your complete sentence here...)

Question 6 (to)

Rewrite the sentence. Use told.

The teacher said to David, "Unplug the charger."

____ (Type your complete sentence here...)

Part 3: Fill in the Gaps

Question 7 (word)

Fill in the missing words to complete the dialogue.

A: Is that Paul?

B: Good morning, this ____ Paul ____.

Question 8 (phone)

Complete the sentences with the correct unit words.

I left a message on your ____.

Can I ____ to Sarah, please?

Question 9 (word)

Fill in the missing word.

I missed your call, so I will call you ____ in ten minutes.

Part 4: Correct the Error in the Phone Message

Question 10 (speaking)

Find the error in this phone text message and write the full correct sentence below.

💬 Text Message from Friend 10:14 AM

❌ "Hi Sam, I am the caller from yesterday."

____ (Write the correct full sentence here...)

Question 11 (missing)

Find the error in this phone text message and write the full correct sentence below.

💬 Text Message from Friend 02:30 PM

❌ "Hello, can I speak the receptionist, please?"

____ (Write the correct full sentence here...)

Question 12 (person)

Find the error in this phone text message and write the full correct sentence below.

💬 Text Message from Friend 06:45 PM

❌ "I heard your ringtone, so I will call back you tonight."

____ (Write the correct full sentence here...)

🎉

Lesson Complete!

Great job practicing phone calls and messages! Remember: This is... speaking, Can I speak to...?, ask/tell someone to do something, and call someone back!

Phone Calls and Messages

Phone Calls and Messages

💡 How to use this lesson

Grammar Rules & Patterns

⚡ Quick Check: Do vs Avoid

📝 Practice Exercises (12 Items)

Part 1: Choose the Correct Sentence

Part 2: Rewrite the sentence (ask / tell + person + to + verb)

Part 3: Fill in the Gaps

Part 4: Correct the Error in the Phone Message

Lesson Complete!

Related lessons

Reading: The First Telephone Call

IELTS Speaking: Phone Calls and Messages

Vocabulary: Phone Calls and Messages

Writing: Phone Calls and Leaving Messages

Past Simple: Regular and Irregular Verbs

Must, Mustn't and Have To