Page 71 - Perfect Phrases ESL Everyday Business

Using the Telephone

I won’t take up too much of your time, I just need to ask you
about . . .
I appreciate your time. I hope that this will only take five
minutes.
I just wanted to touch base with you for five minutes
about . . .
Is this an area you handle?
Could you tell me the person I should speak with instead?

Phrases to Get Clarifi cation

Please speak a little slower because I want to take notes.
Let me repeat what you said to be sure I have it correctly.

Pardon me for interrupting, but did you say . . . ?
Did you mean . . . ?

Are you saying that . . . ?
Would you mind repeating that?
I didn’t [get that, understand that]. Please [spell, repeat] that.

To be sure I understand . . . (repeat what you have heard).
I see, so . . . (repeat what you have heard)

Bear with me, I just want to write that down.
Could you clarify what you just said?

Excuse me, I don’t [follow, get, understand] what you are
saying.

Please say that [again, more slowly, louder].

54