Greetings and Introductions

English Expressions

Expression		Response
Hello, I’m ( ... Ms. Jaines).		Hello, Ms. Jaines, I’m Susan Appleton.
My name is ( ... John Grey).		Nice to meet you Mr. Grey, I’m Mrs. Sukjoy.
I’m (... George Franks. What's your name)?		My name is Sopida, Sopida Hakam. It’s a pleasure to    meet you Mr. Franks.
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is ( ... Frank Jeffers).		I'm delighted to meet you Mr.Jeffers. My name is    Pornpan Orasa.

         

Introducing others

On occasion, you may find yourself in a situation where you have to introduce one person to another. Look at these possible expressions that are used for this.

English Expressions

Expression		Response
Sam: Peter, I would like to introduce          (... Miss Helen Cranston).     Helen: Nice to meet you too Mr. Kellogg.		Peter: Hello Miss Cranston, nice to meet you.
Bob: Min Ju, this is ( ... my friend Betty  Watson).         Betty: Same here.		Min Ju: Hi Ms. Watson, a pleasure to meet         you.
Alice: Harry, let me introduce ( ...my supervisor, Mr.           Lee). Mr. Lee: Good to meet you too. But please, call me                Sammy.		Harry: Mr. Lee, it’s good to meet you.

         

              Point to remember

              Many beginning learners use the expression “Nice to meet you” even when they interact with a

              person they have already been introduced to. This expression (Nice to meet you) is only used

              at a first meeting, not after that. Instead, if greeting a person for the second time, use “Nice to see

              you again”

Farewells

Just as there are several standard expressions for greetings, there are also expressions of farewell. The farewell itself is generally very short- one or two words. However, many times people add something to the expressions, depending on what they want to happen in the future or the situation.  

              Expressions                                         

              Goodbye                             Bye               

              So long                               Catch you later    

              I have to run                        I have to be going now     

              So long                                Later dude  

              Good day         

              Extensions to farewells

              See you again                      I hope to see you again

              See you later (soon)            Call me 

              Point to remember

              Bye Bye is an expression that very young children use when they are first beginning to learn to

              talk or  on very rare occasions by women, but almost never by most adults. 

Well Being

After the greeting are finished the conversation should be continued in some way. One of the most common ways is is ask about the other persons well being. Again, there are several expressions that can be used for this. The responses to such inquiries will, of course, depend on how one actually feels. Lets take a look at these.                                        

Expressions	Responses
	IF GOOD
How are you?	Great.
How’s it going?	Couldn’t be better.
How are things?	Fantastic.
	IF SO-SO
How are things going?	Could be worse.
How have you been?	I can’t complain.
How do you feel?	Not bad
	IF BAD
How goes it?	I’ve had better days.
How are you doing?	Not too good.
How's life treating you?	Lousy.

                        

English Dialogue

Students should work together in pairs and read the following dialogue, one student reading one part, the other student reading the other. Note the expressions used in the dialogue and the progression of the conversation. The dialogue can be used as a model to have similar conversations.

Sam: Hello, you look lost. Can I be of assistance?

Mary: Oh, thanks. You’re right, I am lost. I’m looking for the Student Union building?

Sam: You’re close; it’s just across the lawn. It’s the three story brick building over there.

Mary: I see, well thanks a lot. You’ve been a big help.

Sam: Excuse me for saying so, but you’re not from around here, are you? Are you British or what?

Mary: Actually I’m Australian. I’m a new transfer student. You’re an American, I assume?

Sam: Yes, by the way I’m Sam, Sam Jones.

Mary: I’m Mary Donald. Pleased to meet you.

Sam: So how long have you been in the States, Mary?       

Mary: I’ve been here about three weeks now. So, what’s your major Sam?

Sam: I’m a pre-med student. What’s yours?

Mary: I’m not sure yet, but I’m kind of interested in sociology.  

Sam: So, do you live in the dorm?

Mary: Actually no, I have a small apartment about five blocks from here. Well, I have to run. Thanks for your help.

          Maybe we’ll bump into each other again sometime.

Sam: Could be, it’s a pretty small campus. Nice to meet you, Mary. See you later.

Mary: So long.

After reading, close your book and tell your partner a summary of the dialogue. Then switch and have your partner tell his or her summary. Start like this: This dialogue is about two people who meet...This may seem silly, since you both already know what the dialogue is about, but the purpose is to practice using your English, not to give information or test your reading skills.