How about……..?
by Guy Perring

We looked last week at some basic telephone language. One of the most common uses of the telephone is to make an appointment. Even with the wonders of emails, video conferencing and the old fashioned phone, many professionals still prefer the face-to-face meeting to solve issues and maintain good relationships with clients.

Here are some opening phrases you can use to make an appointment:-

1. I was wondering if we could fix a time to meet?
2. I was hoping we could meet up sometime this week?
3. Could we arrange a time to meet in the next few days?
4. Would it be possible to meet in the next few days?

It is then a question of negotiating a suitable time to meet.

1. What time would suit you?
2. When would be convenient?
3. When are you free?

No real difference in meaning here, although convenient is more formal.

For more general requests or if you have a time in mind you can use the following.

1. How about Tuesday lunchtime?
2. What about Monday morning?
3. Is Wednesday morning good for you?
4. Are you free on Friday morning?
5. Is Tuesday morning possible for you?
6. Shall we say Monday afternoon?

Again no real difference in meaning here. It is useful to have a number of different phrases to use as you try and find a good time for both of you and you don’t want to keep saying How about…? How about….? Etc.

You need to specify the days and times when you are or aren’t available.

1. I’m free on Monday morning and Tuesday afternoon.
2. I’m out of the office all day Wednesday.
3. I’m in meetings most of Friday.
4. I’m not available on Thursday afternoon.
5. I’m flying to Brunei on Wednesday.

Note in the last example we use the present continuous tense. This is the most common form to use when we are referring to fixed arrangements in the future. So anything in a diary or schedule that you are discussing would be in the present continuous.

Take a look at the diary below:-

Thursday 24th May	Presentation to board of results
Friday 25th May	Meet with Marketing Office
Saturday 26th May	Annual British Ball
Monday 28th May	Fly to KK

Try and change these arrangements into sentences with the present continuous. Some suggested answers below my name!

Finally, in the modern world you often will need to change appointments at the last moment. Here are some phrases for that situation:-

1. I’m very sorry, but I need to cancel our appointment on _________. Could we arrange another time?
2. We have had a bit of a crisis here, so I need to re-schedule our meeting.
3. I’m afraid I can’t manage our meeting on Friday. Can we meet next week instead?

Guy Perring is Director, Professional Development Unit (PDU), at the British Council Malaysia. The PDU offers a wide range of learning opportunities from management and communication skills training to developing English skills. Visit our website at www.britishcouncil.org.my or email me at guy.perring@britishcouncil.org.my.

Answers

1. I’m giving a presentation to the board on Thursday.
2. I’m meeting the Marketing Team on Friday.
3. I’m attending the Annual British Ball on Saturday.
4. I’m flying to KK on Monday.