Unit 1 phones and numbers
A Telephones and Beyond
public telephone / payphone: phone in a public place operated with money, a credit card or a phone card.
mobile phone, mobile (Br.E) / cell phone, cellular phone, cellular (Am.E): a phone you can take with you and use anywhere.
WAP phone: a mobile phone with access to the Internet (WAP = wireless application protocol).
extension: one of a number of phones on the same line, in a home or office.
cordless phone, cordless: an extension not connected by a wire, so you can use it around the house or in the garden.
pager: allows you to receive written messages
webcam: a camera attached to a computer and phone line, so two people talking on the phone can see each other.
videophone: a special phone with a screen so you can see the other person.
Webcams and videophones enable videoconferencing: holding a meeting with people in different locations.
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Phone box |
Public telephone |
B Phone, Call and Ring
to phone someone telephone
to give someone a call |
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Br.E: to ring someone, to ring up someone, to ring someone up, to give someone a ring
Informal Br.E: to give someone a bell, to give someone a buzz
Am.E: to call someone, to call up someone, to call someone up |
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call
C Numbers
When saying numbers, use rising intonation for each group, except for the last group, when you should use a falling tone. This shows you have reached the end of the number.
access code
00 Double oh(BrE) Zero zero(AmE) |
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country code
44 double four
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area code
176 one seven four
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number
845 921 eight four five nine two one
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Tips
When you say a seven digit number, separate the number into two blocks of three and four, pausing after each block.
Each digit is spoken separately, unless it's a double or triple. If the second part of the number was '5555', you'll probably find it easier to say 'double five - double five'.
AmE: each number is said separately.
For example the phone number is 0171 222 3344.
Br.E: Oh-one-seven-one, triple two, double three, double four. OR
Am.E: Zero-one-seven-one, two-two-two, three-three-four-four.
D Doing Things Over the Phone
Phone numbers where you can get information or advice, buy things, make reservations, etc. may be called: