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Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Vocabulary

Please help

Hi,

Why's always asked "Who's this?" when the phone's answered.... why not "Who's that?"... cuz as far as i know this is used when the object is close n that is used when object is at distance.

Also, if i make a call to someone for the first time, what would be the proper way of confirming that i'm talking to the intended person?

Thanks!Emotion: smile
  

Top answer

I, not i. because, not cuz. and, not n.

— CalifJim

  • I, not i.
  • because, not cuz.
  • and, not n.
  • This is an English Forum, so these abbreviations and shortcuts are out of place here.
  • this is used because the person has just arrived in your field of perception; the person has, in effect, just come into your home or into your presence (by means of a telephone), so the person is regarded as near (here), not far (there).
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6 Answers
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I, not i.
because, not cuz.
and, not n.

This is an English Forum, so these abbreviations and shortcuts are out of place here.

this is used because the person has just arrived in your field of perception; the person has, in effect, just come into your home or into your presence (by means of a telephone), so the person is regarded as near (here), not far (t
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what would be the proper way of confirming that i'm talking to the intended person?

Hello, this is James Bond. Am I speaking with Miss Moneypenny? (If you think it IS Miss Moneypenny, otherwise: Hello, this is James Bond. May I speak with Miss Moneypenny, please?)
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It's become more confusing now. Please tell me why do we say "This is Ms. X" when we introduce ourselves to someone.

And I'd pay more attention to follow the rules of EnglishForum.

Thanks.
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Hi,

I'd one more query. Can i ask "Is that Mr.X?" if I'm sure that it's Mr.X on the other side of the phone?

Thanks.
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this means the one here.

If you are introducing yourself (on the phone, I assume), you introduce the one here -- the person here -- not the person somewhere else! You are introducing this person who is here on the phone call. On a phone call, you are both "here", so both of you can be referred to as this.

-- Hello, who is this?
-- Jim, and wh
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Anonymous - yes you can say that if you are sure it's the correct person.
Also, if you have a username (also known as an 'alias') then it would be better.

Go to this link to create a username/alias:

http://www.EnglishForward.com/user/CreateUser.aspx?ReturnUrl=/Default
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