Choose one of the sentences below, compete to make it more and more polite, then do the same with your choice of other sentences from below.
I can’t hear you.
Hold on.
British Council. Alex speaking.
We were cut off.
We can’t give you a refund.
Say again.
The product that you sent me doesn’t work.
I got your email yesterday.
Write back soon.
Phone me back.
Say “Hi” to your family from me.
Any more questions, just ask.
I have to go.
This is going to have to be really quick.
Here’s the file.
This is about the meeting next week.
I can’t.
He’s not here.
Forward this to Mr Jones.
You okay to talk?
Work together to change all the sentences to a more suitable level of politeness.
Suggested answers
Many other polite phrases are possible, so please check if you wrote something different.
I can’t hear you. – I’m afraid I can’t hear you very well.
Hold on. – Just a moment, please.
British Council. Alex speaking. – Good morning. This is the British Council. Alex speaking. How can I help you?
We were cut off. – We seem to have been cut off.
We can’t give you a refund. – I’m afraid a refund won’t be possible at this time.
Say again. – Could you repeat that, please?
The product that you sent me doesn’t work. – Unfortunately, the product doesn’t quite work as well as I expected.
I got your email yesterday. – Thank you for your email of 17 March.
Write back soon. – I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Phone me back. – Could you phone me back (whenever you have the chance)?
Say “Hi” to your family from me. – Give my regards to your family.
Any more questions, just ask. – If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
I have to go. – I’m afraid there’s a meeting that I have to go to in a couple of minutes.
This is going to have to be really quick. – This is just a quick call/ a quick note to say…
Here’s the file. – Please find the file attached.
This is about the meeting next week. – I am writing to your concerning the meeting on 24 May.
I can’t. – I’m afraid that is not really possible at this time.
He’s not here. – I’m afraid he is out of the office.
Forward this to Mr Jones. – Could you forward this to Mr Jones?
You okay to talk? – I hope I haven’t called at a bad time.
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Related pages
22 politeness competition games (TEFLtastic Classics Part 13)
