Phone English: “Hello, this is Sara”, not “I am Sara”

The rule

On the phone, give your name with This is…: Hello, this is Sara. Ask for someone with Can I speak to…?, ask the caller to wait with Hold on, please, and if the person is out, offer Can I take a message?

Arabic says أنا سارة on the phone, so learners say I am Sara. English uses this is on the phone, close to French c'est Sara. I'm Sara is for meeting someone face to face.

Examples

In a conversation

A: Hello, this is Sara. Can I speak to Omar, please?

B: Hold on, please… Sorry, he's in a meeting. Can I take a message?

A: Yes, please. Can you ask him to call me back?

B: Of course. I'll tell him.

Practice

Choose the best answer. The answers are at the end of the lesson.

1. Hello, ___ Karim from the language school.
   • a) I am
   • b) here is
   • c) this is
2. ___ speak to Lina, please?
   • a) Can I
   • b) I can
   • c) I want
3. Sorry, he's out. ___
   • a) Can I leave a message?
   • b) Can I take a message?
   • c) Wait me, please.

Tip

With friends, Hi, it's Sara is fine. To ask who is calling, say Who's calling, please?, not Who are you?

Answers

1. c) this is. On the phone, give your name with this is.
2. a) Can I. The request is a question, so it starts with Can I.
3. b) Can I take a message? You take a message; the caller leaves one.

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