Learn English - Greetings in English, how to Answer the Question "How are you?"

Summary

In this lesson from EnglishClass101.com, Alisha introduces casual ways to ask and answer the common question, 'How are you?' Instead of the standard responses like 'I’m fine,' she offers alternatives such as 'Pretty good,' 'Not bad,' and 'Not so great' to reflect different feelings. Alisha emphasizes that questions like 'How’s it going?' or 'What’s up?' often serve as polite greetings rather than genuine inquiries about well-being. The lesson encourages learners to embrace these expressions as friendly conversation starters, enhancing their English communication skills in everyday contexts.

Takeaways

• 😀 EnglishClass101.com offers quick, engaging lessons to help learners improve their English in just three minutes.
• 😀 The lesson focuses on various casual ways to ask and answer 'How are you?' beyond the standard responses.
• 😀 'Pretty good' is a common alternative to 'I’m fine,' conveying a similar sentiment.
• 😀 'Not bad' is useful for expressing a so-so feeling without sounding negative.
• 😀 Casual greetings like 'Hey, how's it going?' are widely used in informal settings.
• 😀 Responses to 'How's it going?' should be simple, such as 'Good,' 'Pretty good,' or 'Not bad.'
• 😀 Answers like 'Not so good' or 'Not great' may prompt the other person to ask for further details.
• 😀 'What's up?' can serve as both a greeting and a conversation starter, allowing for replies like 'Not much!'
• 😀 When asking casual questions, the intent is often politeness rather than a genuine inquiry into someone's well-being.
• 😀 Learners are encouraged to think of these expressions as friendly greetings rather than literal questions.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the EnglishClass101.com series?

The series aims to teach easy ways to ask and answer common questions in English.

How long does each lesson in the series take?

Each lesson takes about three minutes.

What is the most common way to ask someone how they are?

The most common way is to ask, 'How are you?'

What are some alternative answers to 'How are you?' mentioned in the lesson?

Alternative answers include 'Pretty good,' 'Not bad,' and 'I’m fine.'

What is a more casual way to ask 'How are you?'

A more casual way to ask is 'Hey, how’s it going?'

Why is it not common to respond 'I’m fine' to 'How’s it going?'

Responding with 'I’m fine' to 'How’s it going?' sounds a bit strange and is not typical in casual conversation.

What should you say if you're not feeling good?

If you're not feeling good, you can say 'Not so good,' 'Not great,' or 'Not so well.'

What does the phrase 'What’s up?' mean in the context of the lesson?

'What’s up?' is another way of saying 'Hello' and can be used casually in conversation.

How should you respond to 'What’s up?' if you're not engaged in anything?

You can respond with 'Not much!' or 'Nothing much!'

What is a key point made about asking 'how are you?' questions?

These questions are often asked out of politeness and not necessarily to inquire about someone's health.