Phone Talk – B1 English Vocabulary

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  • Exercises: 1 2 3 4

    Phone Talk

    Exercise 3

    Complete each gap using a word from the box. You can use each option ONLY ONCE.

    cut off – dial – landline – mobile phone – put through – ring – ringtone – signal – smartphone – voicemail

    As a child, growing up in the 1950s, my family didn't own a telephone, and if we wanted to make a call, we had to use the public phone box in our village. This was not uncommon back then. In fact, I knew very few people who actually had one in their home.

    When I was 12 years old, my parents finally decided that it was time to get a phone. Of course, it was a 1 , connected to the wall by a large wire, and it had a very large receiver that you had to hold to your ear. Phones were very different back then, and if you wanted to 2 someone, you had to put your finger into a circle with 10 holes in it and 3 the number yourself. Having a phone at home made life easier for the whole family, as it meant we were able to talk to relatives who lived far away. However, things were still very basic, and to make a call overseas, you had to be 4 by an operator. The sound was not always clear, and you often got 5 in the middle of a call.

    When I was 50 years old, I bought my first 6 . Having a portable phone made my life easier because suddenly people could contact me anywhere. Ten years later, my son convinced me to get a 7 , and though I didn't feel the need for a phone with the functions of a computer, I soon started to appreciate all the amazing things it could do.

    I now have my favourite song as my 8 , which makes me smile every time somebody calls me, and I am able to listen to messages on 9 whenever I miss a call.

    Like many people nowadays, I'm probably too dependent on my phone. I check my messages at least 20 times a day, and panic if I go anywhere remote where there is no 10 . In fact, I've become so accustomed to carrying it around that I'm not sure I could live without it.


     

    Exercises: 1 2 3 4

  • Phone Talk

    In this Intermediate Vocabulary Lesson about Phones, you will learn phone types, calling actions, and common phone features. The pictures, descriptions, and examples below will help you understand and remember the terms.

    Phone vocabulary chart with 20 common terms and pictures, including landline, smartphone, voicemail, signal, and phone call actions like dialing and hanging up.

    1 A landline is a phone that stays in one place and is connected by a cable.

    • You can call me on my landline in the evenings.

    2 A mobile phone (UK) or cell phone (US) is a phone you can carry with you and use anywhere.

    • I usually carry my mobile in my back pocket.

    3 A smartphone is a mobile phone that can connect to the internet and run apps.

    • I was able to check my emails on my smartphone.

    4 Voicemail is a system that records messages when you miss a call.

    • Jim didn’t answer the call, so I left a message on his voicemail.

    5 Signal is the strength of the phone connection.

    • You’ll get a stronger signal if you go out into the garden.

    6 A ringtone is the sound your phone makes when someone calls.

    • That’s my phone ringing. I recognise the ringtone.

    7 A SIM card is a small card in your phone that stores your phone number and information.

    • All your personal data is stored on the SIM card inside your phone.

    8 A charger is a cable used to power your phone’s battery.

    • I was unable to charge my phone because I had left my charger at home.

    9 When a phone is busy, the person you call is already talking to someone else.

    • Joe’s line is busy; I’ll try calling him later.

    10 When you’re on hold, you are waiting to speak to someone who is on another call.

    • When I finally got through to the bank, they put me on hold for ages.

    11 When you dial a number, press numbers on a phone to make a call.

    • I picked up the phone and started to dial his number.

    12 To ring someone means to call them.

    • I’ll ring you as soon as I get home.

    13 When you ring back or call back, you return a call to someone who called you before.

    • Sam called while you were out. I told him you’d ring him back this evening.

    14 A missed call is a call that you did not answer.

    • I saw a missed call from my friend, so I called her back.

    15 When you hold the line, you wait on the phone to speak to someone after your call has been answered.

    • Please hold the line while we try to connect you to one of our sales assistants.

    16 When you hang up, you end a phone call.

    • I said goodbye and hung up the phone.

    17 When you pick up the phone, you answer a call.

    • Tom’s phone was ringing, so he picked it up and said “Hello.”

    18 When you hold on, you wait on a call for a short time.

    • Of course, you can speak to Tony. Hold on, and I’ll go get him.

    19 When someone puts you through, they connect your call to another person.

    • The helpful receptionist put me through to the manager.

    20 If you are cut off, your phone is disconnected in the middle of a call.

    • We were unable to finish our conversation because we were cut off in the middle of our call.

    After completing the exercises in this lesson on Phones, you can use the unit’s Vocabulary Flashcards to revise and help you memorize the terms.

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