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 #2 (permalink) Thu Nov 22, 2007 5:07 am How may I direct your call? vs How may I help you? |
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| Milla wrote: |  Business Idiom in English, Intermediate level
ESL/EFL Test #112 "Placing an order via phone", question 1
Receptionist 1: Thank you for calling ABC Inc., this is Mary. How may I ......... your call?
(a) send
(b) drive
(c) pass
(d) direct
Business Idiom in English, Intermediate level
ESL/EFL Test #112 "Placing an order via phone", answer 1
Receptionist 1: Thank you for calling ABC Inc., this is Mary. How may I direct your call?
Correct answer: (d) direct
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what don't you use how may I help you?
Milla |
Hi Milla, you can use how may I help you, however most of the time, the receptionist cannot really "help" the customers, she/he can only patch them through the right person whom they wish to speak to. Therefore, how may I direct your call is used by most receptionists. |
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Toefl
I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 19 Jan 2006
Posts: 41
Location: Toronto
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| #3 (permalink) Thu Nov 22, 2007 7:09 am How may I direct your call? vs How may I help you? |
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| Help is too general verb. You can direct somebody's call, you can get down a message, you can give some advice - all these actions fall under one verb - help. Apparently that receptionist can only direct calls |
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Lost_Soul
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 15 Sep 2006
Posts: 1861
Location: South Park, Colorado, USA
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| #4 (permalink) Thu Nov 22, 2007 8:35 am How may I direct your call? vs How may I help you? |
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In my experience, Milla, 'How may I help you?' or 'May I help you?' is indeed the common phrase used by receptionists. In fact, I have never heard 'How may I direct your call?' in any calls I have made.
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_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber |
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Mister Micawber
Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 6331
Location: Yokohama, Japan
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| #5 (permalink) Sun Nov 25, 2007 15:45 pm How may I direct your call? vs How may I help you? |
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| Mister Micawber wrote: | .
In my experience, Milla, 'How may I help you?' or 'May I help you?' is indeed the common phrase used by receptionists. In fact, I have never heard 'How may I direct your call?' in any calls I have made.
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Mister Micawber, you should visit Canada sometimes, here is is widely used:
"How may I direct your call". |
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Toefl
I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 19 Jan 2006
Posts: 41
Location: Toronto
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| #6 (permalink) Sun Nov 25, 2007 22:49 pm How may I direct your call? vs How may I help you? |
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| Quote: | | Therefore, how may I direct your call is used by most receptionists. |
Then you should revise your statement, toefl: '...by most receptionists in Canada'. However, I still don't think your statement is true. I was an administrator at the University of Alberta for several years, used the phone frequently, and to my recollection never heard the phrase.
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_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber |
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Mister Micawber
Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 6331
Location: Yokohama, Japan
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| Meaning of 'make do with' | expression: she would have been bitten |
