An important appointment
Businesses lunch or simple appointment at possible clients, give following a first initial contact…
Fix the date of an appointment
The telephone rings…
Secretary: [picking up the telephone] Mark Battles’ office, how can I help you?
John Price: Hello, I’d like to make an appointment to see Mark Battles, please.
Secretary: Can I ask what it’s regarding?
John Price: Yes, my name is John Price, managing director of a company called Rest Assured. I met Mark at the New Technologies Fair last January. He was interested in our data protection software, and gave me his business card so that I could arrange an appointment to see him.
Secretary: Okay. Can you hold please, I’ll check his diary. [a few seconds later] Ah, I’m afraid that Mr Battles is busy all this week. And next week he’s in NewYork. The earliest date I could offer you would be the week beginning the 18th. He is fairly free on the 21st, would that be suitable?
John Price: No, I’m sorry, I can’t make that. I’m away on business.
Secretary: No problem, and Mr Battles is tied up on the 22nd… How about the 23rd? I can put you down for a lunch meeting, say 12.30?
John Price: Yes, the 23rd is perfect.
Secretary: OK, it’s in his diary. If you’d like to give me your email, I’ll send you the confirmation of the meeting and give you directions to the office. And if I could take your mobile phone number, too…
John Price: Of course. My email is johnprice, all one word, at ras dot co dot uk, and my mobile is 0607 625 47908.
Secretary: Great. That’s 12.30 on the 23rd then. Goodbye, Mr Price.
[Two days later… telephone rings]
John Price: [picks up phone] John Price speaking.
Secretary: Hello, it’s Mr Battles’ assistant here. I’m terribly sorry, Mr Price, but I’m going to have to cancel your appointment with Mr Battles on the 23rd - something urgent has come up. Would it be possible to change your appointment to March the 6th?
John Price: I’ll have a look [checks his diary]… Yes, yes, that should be fine.
Secretary: OK - let’s rearrange for the 6th at the same time, 12.30. We look forward to seeing you then.
Conversation
Vocabulary and idioms
make an appointment = prendre rendez-vous
Can I ask what it’s regarding? = C’est à quel sujet?
managing director = directeur général
company = entreprise
data protection software = progiciel pour la sécurité des informations
business card = carte de visite
arrange = fixer
further = davantage
earliest = premier
Can you hold please, I’ll check his diary. = Ne quittez pas s’il vous plaît, je vais consulter son agenda.
He is free on ... would that be suitable? = Il est libre le... Est-ce que cela vous convient?
away on business (be...) = être en déplacement pour affaires
It’s in his diary. = C’est noté dans son agenda.
speaking = lui-même
It’s Mr ... here. = M. ... à l’appareil.
cancel = annuler
Something has come up. = Il a eu un empêchement.
Let’s rearrange for the 6th. = Allons changer la date pour le 6.
We look forward to seeing you then. = Nous vous verrons donc à cette date.
Some sentences to suit an appointment
When would be a suitable time to come and see you? = Quand cela conviendrait-il que je vienne vous voir?
Can we put off our meeting until next month? = Pouvons-nous remettre notre rendez-vous au mois prochain?
That would suit me fine. = Cela m’irait tout à fait.
Do you know where I could contact him? = Est-ce que vous savez où je pourrais le joindre?
Where do you suggest we meet? = Où proposez-vous que nous nous rencontrions?
Would Mr Brown be free on the 10th of March instead of the 12th? = M. Brown, serait-il libre le 10 mars au lieu du 12 ?
It would be easier for me if... = Ce serait plus facile pour moi si...
I’m afraid Monday will not be possible after all. = Je regrette, mais finalement je ne vais pas pouvoir lundi.
I look forward to meeting you on the 5th. = Je vous verrai donc le 5.
I’m calling to confirm my appoint with Mr Jones. = Je vous appelle pour vous confirmer mon rendez-vous avec M. Jones.
I’m sorry but I won’t be able to keep our appointment. = Je suis désolé mais je ne pourrai pas me rendre à notre rendez-vous.