Beginning Japanese Phrases 134: が marks a preface to a request to soften the request

もしもし、田中(たなか)ですが、佐藤(さとう)さんはいらっしゃいますか？

hello | Tanaka | is | however | Satou | Mr. | as for | available | (question marker)

Hello, this is Tanaka, is Mr. Sato there?

 

View this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/jphrases-ep-134

View all episodes here: https://thejapanesepage.com/beginning-japanese-phrases-podcast-and-videos/

 --

Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with complete vocabulary and grammar breakdowns as well as sound files of just the Japanese to download.  
www.MakotoPlus.com