Everyday Situations
On the Phone — Hello, may I speak to Priya?
Talking on the phone in English can be scary at first — you can’t see the other person! These 5 dialogues teach you how to call, answer, take messages, and end calls politely.
Phone manners are important! Learn to say ‘May I speak to…’ not just ‘Give phone to…’!
💬 Dialogue 1: Aarav calls Priya’s house to invite her to his birthday party
📍 Aarav calls Priya’s house to invite her to his birthday party.
👦 Aarav:Hello! This is Aarav speaking. May I speak to Priya?
हेलो! मैं आरव बोल रहा हूँ। क्या मैं प्रिया से बात कर सकता हूँ?
👧 Priya:Hi, Aarav! This is Priya. How are you?
हाय, आरव! मैं प्रिया बोल रही हूँ। कैसे हो?
👦 Aarav:I am good! I am calling to invite you to my birthday party.
मैं अच्छा हूँ! मैं तुम्हें अपनी जन्मदिन पार्टी में बुलाने के लिए फ़ोन कर रहा हूँ।
👧 Priya:How exciting! When is it?
कितना मज़ेदार! कब है?
👦 Aarav:This Saturday at 4 o’clock. At my house.
इस शनिवार को 4 बजे। मेरे घर पर।
👧 Priya:I would love to come! Thank you for inviting me!
मैं ज़रूर आऊँगी! बुलाने के लिए धन्यवाद!
👦 Aarav:Great! See you on Saturday then. Bye, Priya!
बढ़िया! फिर शनिवार को मिलते हैं। बाय, प्रिया!
👧 Priya:Bye, Aarav! I can’t wait!
बाय, आरव! मैं इंतज़ार नहीं कर सकती!
✏️ Your Turn — Fill in the Blanks
This is Aarav .
May I to Priya?
See you on !
💬 Dialogue 2: Meera calls her friend Sneha but Sneha’s mother answers
📍 Meera calls her friend Sneha but Sneha’s mother answers.
👧 Meera:Hello! May I speak to Sneha, please?
हेलो! क्या मैं स्नेहा से बात कर सकती हूँ?
👩 Aunty:Hello! Sneha is not at home right now. Who is calling?
हेलो! स्नेहा अभी घर पर नहीं है। कौन बोल रहा है?
👧 Meera:This is Meera, Sneha’s classmate. When will she be back?
मैं मीरा, स्नेहा की क्लासमेट। वो कब वापस आएगी?
👩 Aunty:She will be back in one hour. Can I take a message?
वो एक घंटे में आएगी। क्या मैं कोई संदेश ले लूँ?
👧 Meera:Yes, please. Can you tell her to call me back? It’s about our homework.
जी, प्लीज़। क्या आप उसे बोल सकती हैं कि वो मुझे वापस फ़ोन करे? होमवर्क के बारे में है।
👩 Aunty:Sure! I will tell her. Goodbye, Meera!
ज़रूर! मैं बता दूँगी। अलविदा, मीरा!
👧 Meera:Thank you, Aunty! Goodbye!
धन्यवाद, आंटी! अलविदा!
✏️ Your Turn — Fill in the Blanks
Sneha is not at right now.
Can I take a ?
Tell her to me back.
💬 Dialogue 3: Papa calls Arjun from office to check on him after school
📍 Papa calls Arjun from office to check on him after school.
👨 Papa:Hello, Arjun! How was school today?
हेलो, अर्जुन! आज स्कूल कैसा रहा?
👦 Arjun:Hi, Papa! It was great! We had a science experiment today.
हाय, पापा! बहुत अच्छा रहा! आज हमने विज्ञान का प्रयोग किया।
👨 Papa:That sounds fun! Have you had your lunch?
मज़ेदार लगता है! क्या तुमने खाना खा लिया?
👦 Arjun:Yes, Papa. Mummy made rajma chawal. It was yummy!
हाँ, पापा। मम्मी ने राजमा चावल बनाया। बहुत स्वादिष्ट था!
👨 Papa:Good! Now do your homework first, then you can play.
अच्छा! अब पहले होमवर्क करो, फिर खेल सकते हो।
👦 Arjun:Okay, Papa. When will you come home?
ठीक है, पापा। आप कब आएँगे?
👨 Papa:I’ll be home by 7. Be good! Love you, beta.
मैं 7 बजे तक आ जाऊँगा। अच्छे रहो! लव यू, बेटा।
👦 Arjun:Love you too, Papa! See you in the evening. Bye!
लव यू टू, पापा! शाम को मिलते हैं। बाय!
💬 Dialogue 4: Priya calls the doctor’s clinic to book an appointment
📍 Priya calls the doctor’s clinic to book an appointment.
👧 Priya:Hello! I am calling to book an appointment with Dr. Sharma.
हेलो! मैं डॉक्टर शर्मा से अपॉइंटमेंट लेने के लिए फ़ोन कर रही हूँ।
👩 Receptionist:Sure! What is the patient’s name?
ज़रूर! मरीज़ का नाम क्या है?
👧 Priya:My name is Priya. I have a bad cold.
मेरा नाम प्रिया है। मुझे बहुत ज़ुकाम है।
👩 Receptionist:Can you come tomorrow at 10 in the morning?
क्या आप कल सुबह 10 बजे आ सकती हैं?
👧 Priya:Yes, 10 o’clock is fine. Thank you!
हाँ, 10 बजे ठीक है। धन्यवाद!
👩 Receptionist:Your appointment is confirmed. Please bring your previous reports.
आपकी अपॉइंटमेंट पक्की हो गई। कृपया अपनी पुरानी रिपोर्ट लेकर आइए।
👧 Priya:Okay, I will. Thank you! Goodbye!
ठीक है, ले आऊँगी। धन्यवाद! अलविदा!
💬 Dialogue 5: Rahul dials a wrong number by mistake
📍 Rahul dials a wrong number by mistake.
👦 Rahul:Hello! Is this Vikram’s house?
हेलो! क्या ये विक्रम का घर है?
📞 Wrong Number:No, sorry. I think you have the wrong number.
नहीं, माफ़ कीजिए। लगता है आपका नंबर गलत लग गया।
👦 Rahul:Oh! I am so sorry. Is this 9876-543210?
अरे! मुझे बहुत खेद है। क्या ये 9876-543210 है?
📞 Wrong Number:No, this is a different number. Please check and try again.
नहीं, ये अलग नंबर है। कृपया चेक करके फिर से कोशिश करें।
👦 Rahul:I am very sorry for the trouble. Thank you!
परेशान करने के लिए बहुत माफ़ी चाहता हूँ। धन्यवाद!
📞 Wrong Number:No problem! It happens. Goodbye!
कोई बात नहीं! होता है। अलविदा!
👦 Rahul:Goodbye! Sorry again!
अलविदा! फिर से माफ़ी!
📖 Key Vocabulary
Speaking
बोल रहा/रही हूँ — Identifying yourself on phone
Message
संदेश — Information left for someone
Call back
वापस फ़ोन करना — Return a phone call
Appointment
अपॉइंटमेंट — Scheduled meeting time
Wrong number
गलत नंबर — Dialled incorrect number
Busy
व्यस्त — Currently occupied
Hold on
रुकिए — Wait a moment (on phone)
Hang up
फ़ोन रखना — End the call
Dial
नंबर लगाना — Enter phone number
Receptionist
रिसेप्शनिस्ट — Person who answers office calls
🗣️ Key Phrases to Remember
- “This is ___ speaking.” — Identify yourself on the phone मैं ___ बोल रहा/रही हूँ।
- “May I speak to ___?” — Ask for someone क्या मैं ___ से बात कर सकता/सकती हूँ?
- “Can I take a message?” — Offer to note a message क्या मैं संदेश ले लूँ?
- “Sorry, wrong number.” — When you dial wrong माफ़ कीजिए, गलत नंबर।
- “I’ll call back later.” — Promise to call again मैं बाद में फ़ोन करूँगा/करूँगी।
📐 Grammar Spotlight: Phone Phrases: "This is ___ speaking"
Identify yourself when calling: ‘This is [name] speaking’
On the phone, don’t say ‘I am Aarav.’ Say ‘This is Aarav speaking.’ Use ‘May I speak to ___?’ to ask for someone. Say ‘Speaking!’ if the call is for you.
✅ This is Aarav speaking. (not ‘I am Aarav’)
✅ May I speak to Priya? (not ‘Give phone to Priya’)
✅ Who is calling, please? (asking who’s on the line)
✅ Hold on, please. (asking to wait)
✅ Sorry, she’s not available. Can I take a message?
✅ May I speak to Priya? (not ‘Give phone to Priya’)
✅ Who is calling, please? (asking who’s on the line)
✅ Hold on, please. (asking to wait)
✅ Sorry, she’s not available. Can I take a message?
❌ Hello, I am Aarav. Give the phone to Priya. ❌ (Say: ‘This is Aarav. May I speak to Priya?’)
🎭 Phone Call Role Play!
- Use two phones (or pretend!) — one caller, one receiver.
- Caller: ‘Hello! This is ___. May I speak to ___?’
- Receiver: ‘Sorry, they’re not home. Can I take a message?’
- Caller leaves a message. Receiver writes it down.
- Try: calling a doctor, calling a wrong number, inviting a friend.
- Switch roles and practise both calling and answering!
❓ Quiz — Test Yourself!
1. How to identify yourself on the phone?
2. How to ask for someone on the phone?
3. If someone is not home, say:
4. ‘Can I take a message?’ means:
5. What to say for wrong number?
6. How to end a phone call?
7. ‘Hold on’ means:
8. ‘___ is Meera speaking.’
❓ FAQ
How to answer a phone call?
Say ‘Hello!’ and then identify yourself: ‘This is [name] speaking.’ If calling someone’s home, you might hear ‘Hello, who is calling?’
How to ask for someone on the phone?
Say: ‘May I speak to ___?’ or ‘Is ___ available?’ or ‘Can I talk to ___?’ Always say please!
What if they’re not available?
The person might say: ‘Sorry, they’re not home.’ You can say: ‘Can I leave a message?’ or ‘I’ll call back later.’
How to handle a wrong number?
Say: ‘I am sorry, I think I have the wrong number.’ Be polite — it’s a simple mistake. The other person will say ‘No problem!’
Phone manners for kids?
Always say hello, identify yourself, speak clearly, don’t shout, say please and thank you, and say goodbye before hanging up. Never play pranks on the phone!