Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
to send off quickly; to dismiss; to conclude with speed and efficiency; to eliminate
dispatch
appear
advise
number
full quiz correct answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   Album   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

How to say if someone was not available at a certain time?



 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
difference between "elderly" and "old" | Expression: "The blow fainted him."
listening exercisestell a friend
Message
Author
How to say if someone was not available at a certain time? #1 (permalink) Tue Jun 24, 2008 20:28 pm   How to say if someone was not available at a certain time?
 

Assume I speak with a person and want to tell him that I tried to
call him yesterday without success. What would be the best (or
the opposite what would be wrong):

"yesterday I tried to call you by phone but...
....I didn't catch you"
....I didn't get you"
....I didn't reach you"

?

Peter
Pstein
I'm new here and I like it ;-)


Joined: 29 Jul 2007
Posts: 22

How to say if someone was not available at a certain time? #2 (permalink) Tue Jun 24, 2008 22:03 pm   How to say if someone was not available at a certain time?
 

Those are fine, IMO. On the last one, you might say "...I couldn't reach you" (instead of using "didn't"), but that's really a fairly minor point.

You might also say something like "...you weren't there" or "...you didn't answer" -- though both of those might make it seem as if you're trying to make the person feel guilty.
_________________
Billie Jean is not my lover. Hee.
Prezbucky
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2621
Location: Nashville, TN (USA)

What do you know about the progressive forms?English grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!Learn how to explore English words! Subscribe to free email English course
How to say if someone was not available at a certain time? #3 (permalink) Tue Jun 24, 2008 22:08 pm   How to say if someone was not available at a certain time?
 

Quote:
Those are fine, IMO. On the last one, you might say "...I couldn't reach you" (instead of using "didn't"), but that's really a fairly minor point.


"I didn't" sounds odd to me. Isn't it obvious to the listener that the caller didn't reach him? "I couldn't reach you" has a feeling of "Can you tell me why? or "it was impossible to reach you".
Molly
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 12 Feb 2008
Posts: 4017

Display posts from previous:   
difference between "elderly" and "old" | Expression: "The blow fainted him."
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on ESL EFL Forums
Why do you use the past tense to describe the subjunctive mood?get something done vs have done somethingthat's whatis what it istoo much value added?Pull the plugdifference between choose and selectmeaning of "In terms"who take part in his teachingsConcord: there's/there are + plural nounShould it be in or at the year, on or in a chair?Sentence: Do you have a budget for this solution...I can't reach you...

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail