Greetings
| Expression | When to use |
|---|---|
| Hello | universal, formal and informal |
| Hi | informal, everyday |
| Hey | very informal, among friends |
| Good morning | until around midday |
| Good afternoon | midday to about 6 pm |
| Good evening | after about 6 pm |
Tip Hello is always safe. Use Hi with friends and people you know. Avoid Hey in formal situations.
Asking how someone is
| Expression | Typical reply |
|---|---|
| How are you? | Fine, thank you. / Very well, thanks. |
| How are you doing? | Good, thanks. / Not bad. |
| How's it going? | Great! / Pretty good. |
| Are you all right? (UK) | Yeah, fine thanks. |
Farewells
| Expression | Register |
|---|---|
| Goodbye | formal and informal |
| Bye / Bye-bye | informal |
| See you later / See you soon | informal |
| Take care | warm, informal |
| Have a good day! | friendly, parting |
| Good night | when parting in the evening or at bedtime |
Polite expressions
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Please | making a request polite |
| Thank you / Thanks | expressing gratitude |
| You're welcome / No problem | response to thank you |
| Excuse me | getting attention or passing by |
| I'm sorry / Sorry | apologising |
| Pardon? / Sorry? | asking someone to repeat |
Real world: meeting someone new
When you meet someone for the first time: "Hello, my name is Alex. Nice to meet you!" The reply is: "Nice to meet you too!" or "Pleased to meet you." — these phrases are used every day in schools, workplaces, and social situations.
Real world: shops and restaurants
Staff in shops typically greet you with "Hello, can I help you?" or "Hi there!" When leaving you might hear "Have a good day!" Reply with "Thanks, you too!" — short polite exchanges are part of everyday English life.
Practice Problems
How do you greet someone formally in the morning?
Show answer
Good morning.
What is an informal way to say goodbye?
Show answer
Bye / See you later / Take care.
Someone says 'Thank you.' What do you reply?
Show answer
You're welcome. / No problem.
You didn't hear what someone said. What do you say?
Show answer
Pardon? / Sorry, could you repeat that?