Modern Spanish Grammar: A Practical Guide

(lily) #1
Con él/ella (habla).
Speaking.

Buenas tardes, Departamento de Ventas, González al habla.
Good afternoon, Sales Department, González speaking.

 22.1 (p. 103)


29.8.5 Asking callers if they wish to leave a message


The expression most often heard when speaking to someone formally, for example a
stranger, is:

¿Quiere dejar(le) algún recado?
Would you like to leave a message (for him/her)?

 21.4 (p. 101)
In parts of Latin America you will hear:

¿Quiere dejar algún mensaje? or¿Quiere dejar algo dicho?
Would you like to leave a message?

If the caller is someone you know and you are using the familiar form, say:

¿Quieres dejar(le) algún recado/mensaje? (L. Am.)
Do you want to leave a message?

29.8.6 Leaving a message


To leave a message for someone, use:

¿Podría darle un recado/mensaje? (L. Am.)
Could you give him/her a message?

¿Podría decirle que...?
Could you tell him/her that...?

 21.1 (p. 99); 17.7 (p. 77)
Or very formally:

¿Sería tan amable de darle un recado/mensaje? (L. Am.)
Could you possibly, or would you be so kind as to, give him/her a
message?

In an informal situation, use:

¿Podrías decirle que...? Could you tell him/her that...?
Por favor, ¿le dices que...? Will you please tell him/her that
...?
Por favor, dile que... Please tell him/her that...

Note here the different ways of making requests:¿podría+ infinitive?,¿sería tan
amable de+ infinitive?, present (¿le dices que... ?), imperative (dile que.. .).

 68.1 (p. 381); 21.1 (p. 99); 17.1.4 (p. 73); 17.7 (p. 77); 17.13 (p. 81)


Using the phone 29.8

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