Telephone queries!!

   Share on Facebook  
NaOH  #181987  Thu, 12 Jan 06 09:42 AM
i have always been doubtful regarding many things about conversing over telephone.
(this sentence sounds odd, right?? please correct it.)

like, what do we say when somebody suddenly stops talking to us;
as in: i was going to ask him to do me the favour but he hang up on me.
so is it 'hang up on'?

another one, what do we say when we ask the other person to wait till we call the person he wants to talk to.
is it 'hold on. i'll call him in a minute.'??

any other tips would also be greatly appreciated.
  
Not Ranked
Joined on Fri, Dec 23 2005
New Member (21)
Waïti  #182031  Thu, 12 Jan 06 11:59 AM

Your proposals do sound ok to my (non native) ear, but you may want to consider another alternative for the second one : something like "Please let me call him first".
Also, the preterit of 'hang' is 'hung' so your first one would be : "I was going... but he hUng up on me".

Waïti.

  
Top 150 Contributor
Joined on Thu, Aug 25 2005
Regular Member (568)
Proficient Speaker
davkett  #182042  Thu, 12 Jan 06 12:31 PM

'Hung up' and 'Hold on' are normal remarks for the situations you describe.

'He hung up.'
'He hung up on me.'
'Hold on.'
'Hold on, please.'
'Hold on, I'll get him/her.'

  
Top 50 Contributor
Joined on Tue, Jun 7 2005
Pennsylvania, USA
Senior Member (2,788)
Proficient Speaker
"The rose stays fresh in its name..." -Bernard of Morlay
NaOH  #182143  Thu, 12 Jan 06 04:41 PM
thanks guys!
  
AddThis Feed Button RSS Feed: ESL General English Grammar Questions
© 2008 MediaCET Ltd.
Terms and Conditions & Terms of Service