Ten Ways to Say Hello & Goodbye
1- Hello
2- Hi
3- (Hey (informal
4- Hi there
5- (Howdy (informal
6- Bye
7- Bye-bye
8- (See ya later (informal
9- Take care
10- Have a good one
Ten Informal Ways to Say Yes and No
1- Yeah
2- Yup
3- ! Mm-hmm
4- ! Uh-huh
5- ! Sure
6- Nope
7- Nah
8- Mm-mm
9- Uh-uh
10- ! No way
Ten Ways to Ask How Someone Is
1- ? How are you
2- ? How’s it going
3- ? ’How ya doin
4- ? How are things
5- ? How’s life
6- ? How have you been
7- ? How’s your family
8- ? What’s up
9- ? What’s new
10- ? What have you been up to lately
Ten (10) Ways to Say How You Are
1- ? I’m fine, thanks. How about you
2- .Pretty good
3- .Not bad
4- ! Great
5- ! Couldn’t be better
6- Can’t complain
7- I’ve been busy
8- ! Same as always
9- .Not so great
10- .Could be better
”Note: The way to respond to
“What’s up?” and
“What’s new?” is typically
“Not much
Ten Ways to Say Thank You
1- .Thanks
2- .Thanks a lot
3- .Thank you so much
4- !Thanks a million
5- .Thanks for your help
6- .Thanks for helping me
7- I really appreciate it.
8- I’m really grateful.
9- That’s so kind of you.
10-
(I can’t thank you enough
(for extremely important things
11- I owe you one
(this means you want/need to do a favor for the other person in the future)
”Ten Ways to Respond to “Thank You
1- .You’re welcome
2- .No problem
3- .No worries
4- .Don’t mention it
5- .My pleasure
6- .Anytime
7- .It was the least I could do
8- .Glad to help
9- ! Sure
10- Thank you
(use this when you ALSO have something to thank the other person for)
Five Phrases for Apologizing
1-
[I’m sorry that …
[ex. I was so rude yesterday
2- (It’s my fault.
(= I am taking responsibility for the problems
3-
(Oops, sorry
(for very small problems
4-
[I should have …
[ex. called you and told you I’d be late
5.
[formal) I apologize for …
[ex. the delay)
Five Ways to Respond to an Apology
1- . That’s OK
2- . It happens
3- .No problem
4- .Don’t worry about it
5-
(I forgive you.
(for serious problems
Ten Phrases for Introductions
1- [I just wanted to introduce myself. I’m …
[your name
2- [I don’t think we’ve met before. My name’s…
[your name
3- … This is
4- … I’d like you to meet
5- ? … Have you met
6- … I’d like to introduce you to
7- .Nice to meet you
8- .It’s a pleasure to meet you
9- .Likewise
10- .And you
: Note
.
One and Two are used to introduce yourself
.
Three to Sixused to introduce someone else
Nine and Ten can be used as a response to
Seven and Eight
Six Ways to Show Interest
1- ? Really
2- .That’s interesting
3- .Uh-huh
4- .Right
5- .Gotcha
6- .Sure
You can use these phrases to show the other person that you are listening.
Five Ways to End a Conversation Politely
1- .It was nice chatting with you
2- .Well, it’s getting late
3- .Anyway, I should get going
4- …
formal) Sorry, but I’m afraid I need to
)
5-
(I’m sorry to cut you off, but I actually gotta run
(cut you off = interrupt you
Ten Phrases for Telephone Calls
1- .Hi, this is Jane
2- ?
formal) May I speak with John Smith
)
3- ?
informal) Is John there
)
4- … I’m calling about
5- .I’m returning your call
6- .
formal) One moment, please
)
7- .
informal) Hang on a sec
)
8- ? He’s not here. Would you like to leave a message
9- ? Could you ask him to call me back
10- .Thanks for calling
Ten Phrases for Asking for Information
1- ? … Can you tell me
2- ? … Could you tell me
3- ? … I'd like to know
4- ? … Do you know
5- ? … Do you have any idea
6-
(Could anyone tell me... ?
(use this phrase when asking a group of people
7- ? ...Would you happen to know
8- ? ...I don't suppose you (would) know
9- … I was wondering
10-
(I’m calling to find out …
(use this phrase on the telephone
: Note
.Use 4,5,7 and 8 when you’re not sure if the other person has the information
”Five Ways to Say “I don’t know
1- .I have no idea/clue
2- .I can’t help you there
3- .informal) Beats me)
4- .I’m not really sure
5- I’ve been wondering that, too
Ten Phrases for Asking for Someone’s Opinion & Giving Your Opinion
1- ? … What do you think about
2- ? … How do you feel about
3- ? … What's your opinion of
4- ? … What are your views on
5- … In my opinion
6- … I'd say
7- … Personally, I think/believe
8- … If you ask me
9- … The way I see it
10- … From my point of view
Five Phrases for Not Having an Opinion
1- .I’ve never given it much thought
2- .I don’t have strong feelings either way
3- .It doesn’t make any difference to me
4- .I have no opinion on the matter
5-
(Whatever
(very informal
Ten Phrases for Agreeing
1- .Exactly
2- .Absolutely
3- .That’s so true
4- .That’s for sure
5- I agree 100%
6- .I couldn’t agree with you more
7- That’s exactly what I think. / That’s exactly how I feel
8-
(Tell me about it ! / You’re telling me !
(informal
9-
(I’ll say !
(informal
10-
(I suppose so
(use this phrase for weak agreement – you agree, but reluctantly
: Note
Avoid the common error of saying “I’m agree” – the correct phrase is “I agree” or
“I’m in agreement” – the second one is more formal.
Ten Phrases for Disagreeing
1- .I don’t think so
2- .I beg to differ
3- .I’m afraid I don’t agree
4- .I’m not so sure about that
5- .That’s not how I see it
6- .Not necessarily
7- [Yes, but … [say your opinion
8- .On the contrary
9- (No Way ! (very informal
10- (I totally disagree (very strong
Five Phrases for Responding to Good News
1- ! Congratulations
2- ! That’s great
3- ! How wonderful
4- ! Awesome
5- ! I’m so happy for you
Five Phrases for Responding to Bad News
1- … Oh no
2- .That’s terrible
3- (Poor you. (Use this to respond to bad situations that are not too serious
4- .I’m so sorry to hear that
5- (I’m sorry for your loss. (Use this only if someone has died
Ten Phrases for Invitations
1. [Are you free…? [Saturday night
2. [Are you doing anything…? [Saturday night
3- .Let me check my calendar
4. [informal) Do you wanna…? [see a movie)
5. [formal) Would you like to…? [join me for dinner)
6- ! I’d love to
7_ ! Sounds great
8- .I’d love to, but I have another commitment
9- .I don’t think I can
10- .Maybe another time
Five Ways to Make & Respond to an Offer
1- ? more formal) Would you like a drink)
2- ? informal) Do you want some water)
3- Can I get you something to eat
4- (That’d be great, thanks. (=Yes
5- (No, thanks. I’m OK. (=No
Six Phrases for Talking About Future Plans
1- I’m going to
2- … I’m planning to
3- … I hope to
4- … I’d like to
5- … I might … / I may
Click here for the difference between may and might
6- … I’m thinking about
”Click here for the different prepositions to use after “think
Ten Ways to Talk about Likes & Dislikes
1- .[I love… [soccer
2- [I’m really into… [soccer
3- .[I live for… [soccer
4- .[soccer] is my thing]
5- [I’m crazy about… [soccer
6- [I’m not a huge fan of… [modern art
7- .Modern art] isn’t my cup of tea]
8- .[I don’t really care for… [modern art
9- [I’m not into… [modern art
10- (I can’t stand… [modern art]
(this phrase expresses strong dislike
Five Ways to Make a Suggestion
1. ? [How about… [ex. trying something new
2. ? [Why don’t you… [ex. talk to your boss
3- .[Maybe we should…? [ex. do more research
4- .[I’d recommend…? [ex. going to the doctor
5- ? [Have you thought about… [ex. buying a new computer
Ten Phrases for Asking/Talking about Jobs
1- ? Where do you work
2- ? What do you do? / What do you do for a living
3- [I work at… [Microsoft
4- [I’m a/an… [accountant
5- .I’m unemployed. / I’m between jobs at the moment
6- .I’m looking for work
7- I’m a stay-at-home mom/dad
8- I run my own business
9- [I’m a freelance… [writer/designer/etc
10- .I’m retired
Ten Phrases for Describing Relationships
1- .I’m single
2- .I have a boyfriend/girlfriend
3-
(We’re engaged.
(=gonig to get married
4- .We’re getting married in June
5- .I’m married.
6- .[I’ve been married for … [10 years
7- .I’m divorced
8- (I’m widowed
(=my husband/wife has died
9- .I’m not looking for anything serious
10- I’m not quite over my ex
(I still have feelings for my ex-boyfriend/girlfriend or ex-husband/wife=)