24

LESSON 2 4

Lesson Talking on the telephone

Number review
The numbers in these sentences are pronounced in the normal way.
There are 11 phone books in my desk.
11=eleven
Ted has 16 phone cards!
16=sixteen
When you give read a telephone number, each number is read individually and not as a whole.
Numbers over nine shouldn’t be used.
Paul’s number is 667-4127.
Paul’s number is six...six...seven.......four...one...two...seven.
You do not say Paul’s number is six hundred and sixty seven-four thousand one hundred and twen-
ty seven.
Taylor’s work number is 212-5479.
Taylor’s work number is two...one...two.......five...four...seven...nine.
You do not say Taylor’s work number is one hundred and twelve five thousand four hundred and
seventy-nine.
Two of the same number can be read as double......
Kyle’s number is 234-8865.
Kyle’s number is two...three...four.....double eight...six....five.
Lana’s home number is 224-9766.
Lana’s home number is double two...four… nine...seven...double six.
However, it is better to say them one by one.
Lana’s home number is two… two... four… nine...seven... six... six.

Say and tell

If there is an indirect object or a listener, we use tell.
Ellen told Steve to call you.
Ellen talked to Steve. Steve was the listener.
Patty told her mother to call back at 4:00.
Patty talked to her mother. Her mother was the listener.
We also use tell in negative sentences when there is a listener.
Ellen didn’t tell Steve to call you.
Patty didn’t tell her mother to call back at 4:00.
If there is no indirect object or listener, we use say.

240
 Talking on the t elephone
Ellen said that Steve should call her.
Patty said that her mother should call her at 4:00.
In these two sentences, there are no listeners. If there are, we don’t know who they are.
We can also use say in negative sentences.
Ellen didn’t say that Stever should call her.
Patty didn’t say that her mother should call her at 4:00.
Using say or tell is easy if you remember two simple rules:
1).If there is an indirect object or listener, use tell.
2). If there is no indirect object or listener, use say.
Fred told you to call me. (not Fred said me).
Mother always says be quiet to the children. (not mother always tells).
You can say something to somebody.
Larry said good-bye to his girlfriend and left the phone booth.
What did she say on the phone to the police?
In these two sentences, girlfriend and phone are objects of prepositions. They are not indirect
objects. In these cases, say must be used.
Here are some question forms using say and tell.
Didn’t you say anything to Mother about her answering machine?
Don’t we always tell Father how much the phone bill is?

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with say or tell.

Example: My mother __told___ me to call my grandparents.

Ann ________________ good-bye to me and hung up.

__________________ us about your phone call from Marc!

Where is Sue? Her message ___________________ she would be here at 5:00.

Fred __________________ me that he needed a new phone book.

The operator __________________ that there was no number for Sue Thompson.

Don’t ______________ anyone what I ______________! The man in the phone booth was her
father!

My mother couldn’t help me. She _________________ me to call the operator.

The operator __________________ me to hold.

He ____________________ that he would help me.

My mother couldn’t help me. She ______________________ to ask Kate.

241
LESSON 2 4
Ask
We use ask for orders and requests.
Please ask Jim to speak slowly on the phone.
The speaker wants John to speak more slowly.
Ann asked for a new cell phone.
Ann requested a new cell phone.
Ask the man in the phone booth if he is almost finished.
The speaker wants the man to finish.
Paul didn’t ask his brother for the money for the phone bill.
Paul didn’t request the money from his brother.

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with ask, say, or tell.

Example: The woman __told__ her boss to call back later.

I _______________ my brother to hang up the phone.

My brother __________ me why he had to hang up the phone.

I __________ told him that I was expecting a call from a friend.

My brother _________ he understood.

He _____________ me he would take a message when my friend called.

I always ___________ my friends to leave a message when they call.

I always _________ "leave a message" to my friends.

The telephone was ringing and my brother ___________ me to pick up the phone.

My friend ___________ for me.

I ____________ my friend to speak louder on the phone.

Leaving messages on the phone

Many times, the person the caller wants to talk to is not there. If
you answer the phone, you should take a message. It is important
to get information from the caller.
You should learn her number and when the person she wanted to
talk to can call back.
You should also get the caller’s name. The caller may also want
to know where he is at that moment.
Let’s look at this conversation.
Caller: Hi, Petra. Is your mother there?
Petra: No, she’s not here. She went to the market. Can I take a message?

242
 T alking on t he t elephone
Caller: Yes, you can.
Petra: This is Ellen, isn’t it?
Caller: Yes, this is Ellen.
Petra: Okay. What is your number and when should she call you back?
Caller: I’m at work. She can call me at six...four…six……five…three…five…three.
Tell her to call me back in one hour.
Petra: I will. Thanks for calling.
Caller: Bye.
We can see that Petra took the caller’s name, telephone number and a good time for her mother to
call her back. It is not always important to find out where the caller is.
Exercise 3: Fill in the gaps. You can use verb tenses, modals, pronouns or prepositions.

M: Hello?

D; Hello, Maria. This __is__ (be) Dan. What ________you _________(do)?

M: I am studying _______the test tomorrow. You _____________study, too.

D: I am studying. Is Anna there?

M: No, she ____________ (go) to the store. She will be back ______30 minutes.

D: That’s bad news. I need to speak with her now.

M: I ___________ take a message.

D: Okay.

M: What is _____________telephone number and when can she call you back?

D: __________number is four…three…one……..seven…two…double three.

She can call me back in one hour.

M: Okay. I ____________ tell her. Good-bye Dan.

D: Thanks, Maria. Good-bye.

Later:

M: Welcome back.

A: I _____________(find) a great black pen. ________you ____________(study)?

M: Yes, I did. Dan called. He wants you to call __________back.

A: When?

M: In one hour.

A: Did you take __________number?

M: Of course. Here it is.

Hello, Anna. This is Dr. Brown. Is your mother there?

243
LESSON 2 4
A: No, she’s not. Can I take a message?

T: Yes, you can.

A: Okay. What’s your number and when can she call you back?

T: My number is 664-6633. She can call me ______ the hospital. I will be there in one hour.

A: Okay. She will call you at 664-6633. She will call you in one hour.

That ____________be 4:00. Thank you, Dr. Brown.

Hello, Dan. Is your brother there?

D: No, he’s not. He’s ______football practice.

T: When will he be back?

D: He will be here in 3 hours. Can I take your number? I will have him call________.

T: Okay. It’s 474-0010. ________him to call me at 6:00.

D: Sure. Thank you.

Hello, Maria. This is the cleaning woman. Can you tell your mom that I am sick?

M: Oh, I’m sorry. I will tell her. When _________you come?

T: I’m not sure. Maybe tomorrow.

M: Okay. If you __________ come tomorrow, please call my mom at 8:00.

T: I will do that.

M: Thank you. Get well soon.

Reading

J
Read the story and answer the questions.

ohn met a new girl at the pizza parlor last night. He liked her and asked for
her phone
number. She gave it to him reluctantly. Now, he is in the process of calling her.
John: Hello. Is Val there?
Brother: No, she’s not. She’s at the park.
John: May I ask when she will be home?
Brother: Maybe this afternnon. I’m not sure.
John: Will you tell her that her new friend
called?
Brother: Can I ask for your name?
John: No. I will call her back tonight.
Brother: Okay. Take care and I will tell her a
friend called.
John: Thanks.

244
 T alking on t he t elephone

(Later that night)

John: Hello. Is this Val?
Val: Yes. To whom am I speaking?
John: This is John. I’m the guy you met last night at the pizza parlor. Do you
remember me?
Val: Yes, I do. You were the one drinking a milkshake.
John: That was me. A strawberry milkshake.
Val: Sorry, I didn’t notice the flavor. So, what can I do for you?
John: I think I am bothering you. I was going to ask if you would like to see a film
with me.
Val: Geez. I just met you. I know nothing about you.
John: Going on a date would be the perfect way to get to know one another.
Val: You don’t waste time, do you? Maybe I have a boyfriend.
John: I asked. You don’t.
Val: Sounds like someone really wants to go out with me. Well, I suppose a film
would be okay. But I want to come home right after it.
John: No problem. You will see that I am a good person.
Val: Yes, I will see. When shall we go?
John: How about in one hour?
Val: You are something. I’ll brush my hair and meet you in front of the cinema in
one hour.
John: Great. See you there.

1). Where did John meet a new girl?

2). What did John ask her for?

3). Was she excited about giving her telephone number to him?

4). Where was Val the first time John called?

5). Did John give his name to her brother?

6). What was John drinking at the pizza parlor?

7). What does John want Val to do with him?

8). What does John think would be the perfect way to get to know each other?

9). Does Val want to go out for a drink after the film?

10). What does Val need to do before she goes to the cinema?

245
LESSON 2 4
ANSWER KEY Lesson 24

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with say or tell.

Ann said good-bye to me and hung up.

Tell us about your phone call from Marc!
Her message said she would be here at 5:00.
Fred told me that he needed a new phone book.
The operator said that there was no number for Sue Thompson.
Don’t tell anyone what I said.
She told me to call the operator.
The operator told me to hold.
He said that he would help me.
She said to ask Kate.

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with ask, say, or tell.

I asked my brother to hang up the phone.

My brother asked me why he had to hang up the phone.
I told him that I was expecting a call from a friend.
My brother said he understood.
He told me he would take a message when my friend called.
I always ask my friends to leave a message when they call.
I always say "leave a message" to my friends.
The telephone was ringing and my brother asked me to pick up the phone.
My friend asked for me.
I told my friend to speak louder on the phone.

Exercise 3: Fill in the gaps. You can use verb tenses, modals, pronouns or prepositions.

M: Hello?
D; Hello, Maria. This is (be) Dan. What are you doing (do)?
M: I am studying for the test tomorrow. You should study, too.
D: I am studying. Is Anna there?
M: No, she went to the store. She will be back in 30 minutes.
D: That’s bad news. I need to speak with her now.
M: I can take a message.
D: Okay.
M: What is your telephone number and when can she call you back?
D: My number is four…three…one……..seven…two…double three.
She can call me back in one hour.
M: Okay. I will tell her. Good-bye Dan.
D: Thanks, Maria. Good-bye.

Later:

M: Welcome back.
A: I found (find) a great black pen. Did you study (study)?
M: Yes, I did. Dan called. He wants you to call him back.

246
 T alking on t he t elephone
A: When?
M: In one hour.
A: Did you take his number?
M: Of course. Here it is.
Hello, Anna. This is Dr. Brown. Is your mother there?
A: No, she’s not. Can I take a message?
T: Yes, you can.
A: Okay. What’s your number and when can she call you back?
T: My number is 664-6633. She can call me at the hospital. I will be there in one hour.
A: Okay. She will call you at 664-6633. She will call you in one hour.
That will be 4:00. Thank you, Dr. Brown.
Hello, Dan. Is your brother there?
D: No, he’s not. He’s at football practice.
T: When will he be back?
D: He will be here in 3 hours. Can I take your number? I will have him call you.
T: Okay. It’s 474-0010. Tell him to call me at 6:00.
D: Sure. Thank you.
Hello, Maria. This is the cleaning woman. Can you tell your mom that I am sick?
M: Oh, I’m sorry. I will tell her. When can you come?
T: I’m not sure. Maybe tomorrow.
M: Okay. If you can’t come tomorrow, please call my mom at 8:00.
T: I will do that.
M: Thank you. Get well soon.

247
LESSON 2 4

Reading
1). Where did John meet a new girl?
He met her at a pizza parlor.

2). What did John ask her for?

He asked her for her telephone number.

3). Was she excited about giving her telephone number to him?
No. She gave it to him reluctantly.

4). Where was Val the first time John called?

Val was at the park.

5). Did John give his name to her brother?

No, he didn’t.

6). What was John drinking at the pizza parlor?

He was drinking a strawberry milkshake.

7). What does John want Val to do with him?

He wanted her to go to a film with him.

8). What does John think would be the perfect way to get to know each other?
He thinks they would get to know each other by going on a date.

9). Does Val want to go out for a drink after the film?
No, she wants to go home.

10). What does Val need to do before she goes to the cinema?
She needs to brush her hair.

248
 T alking on t he t elephone

vocabulary list
NOUNS VERBS ADJECTIVES ADVERBS PREPOSITIONS
advertisement borrow cellular always about
cord buy cordless carefully by
dial change local clearly for
digit dial first from
receiver push individually in
receive properly in front of
request slowly into
shout sometimes with
then
today
tomorrow
usually

249