Useful English greetings and responses -- Free English Lesson
You probably already know "hello" and "how are you?"
However, English speakers don't always say "hello" and "how are you?" and answer I am fine.
They also use many other English greetings and expressions to say slightly different things.
Let's learn how to use some other simple formal and informal English greetings, as well as fun slang expressions that people around the world use to greet each other and their responses to it.
How are you? Hey how's it going?
Fine.
This is a simple, straight answer. If you don't say anything else, though, it might be a signal that you don't want to continue the conversation.
Not bad.
This is a more friendly -sounding answer than "fine".
Fine, thanks.
This answer is formal. You might answer this way if someone you don't know, like a waiter at a restaurant, asks how you are.
Very well, thanks.
Pretty good.
If you don't care as much about grammar, you can answer "Good"
or "Pretty good". It's more common and casual.
Great! How are you doing?
This is an enthusiastic, excited response. It's always s good to ask a question back to the other person if you want to continue the conversation.
I'm hanging in there.
This answer makes it sound like you're having a tough day.
I've been better.
People usually give positive answers to the question "How are you?" If you give a negative answer like this one, it usually means that you want to tell the listener your sad story. So they'll usually ask what's wrong.
What's up? What's new? What's happening?
This question means "What's happening in your life?" But you don't have to answer honestly. If you don't want to start a long conversation, you can use one of these standard replies:
1) Nothing much.
This is the most common answer. You can follow it by sharing something interesting that's happening:
"Nothing much. Just getting ready for Vanessa's graduation."
2) Oh, just the usual.
Answer this way if you do mostly the same things each day.
3) Oh gosh, all kinds of stuff !
You can answer this way if your life has been really busy and exciting lately.
What's happening?
This question means the same thing as "What's up" and can be answered in the same way.
There certain slangs that are used by many people to greet each other such as :
1) Yo!
2) Howdy!
And the response to it can be any of the above or 'Alright mate'.
