Hello! How Are You? Your First Steps in English Conversation

Introduction

Hey! So you’re starting to learn English? That’s fantastic! You’ve taken a really great first step. One of the most important things when learning a new language is being able to say hello and start a simple conversation. It might seem a little scary at first, but don’t worry, we’re going to take it really slowly and make it super easy. Think of this as your friendly guide to saying “Hello!” in English and getting the ball rolling with simple chats. Ready? Let’s jump right in!

Let’s Say Hello!

The very first thing you’ll want to know is how to greet someone. There are a few common ways to say “hello” in English, and the one you use might depend on the time of day or how formal you want to be.

• Hello: This is a classic! You can use “Hello” in almost any situation. Meeting a new friend? Say “Hello!” Talking to your teacher? “Hello!” Answering the phone? “Hello!” It’s a safe and friendly way to start.
  • Practice: Say “Hello” out loud right now. Hear how it sounds? Try saying it like you’re happy to see someone. “Hello!” Good job!
• Hi: This is a little more informal than “Hello.” You’d usually use “Hi” with people you know, like friends, family, or classmates. It’s friendly and relaxed.
  • Practice: Now say “Hi.” It’s a bit shorter, right? Imagine you’re seeing your best friend – say “Hi!” That’s it!
• Good morning: We use this greeting in the morning, usually from when you wake up until around noon (12:00 PM).
  • Example: If you see your neighbor in the morning, you can say, “Good morning!”
  • Practice: Say “Good morning.” Imagine it’s the start of a beautiful day. “Good morning!” Well done!
• Good afternoon: We use this greeting from noon (12:00 PM) until around 6:00 PM, when the sun starts to go down.
  • Example: If you meet someone for lunch, you can say, “Good afternoon.”
  • Practice: Say “Good afternoon.” Imagine it’s the middle of a sunny day. “Good afternoon!” Great!
• Good evening: We use this greeting from around 6:00 PM until you go to bed.
  • Example: If you see a friend in the evening, you can say, “Good evening.”
  • Practice: Say “Good evening.” Imagine it’s a nice, calm evening. “Good evening!” Perfect!

Important Note: We usually say “Good night” when we are saying goodbye at the end of the day or when someone is going to sleep. We don’t usually use it to greet someone.

Asking “How are you?”

Once you’ve said hello, it’s polite to ask how the other person is doing. Here are some common ways to ask this:

• How are you? This is a very common and general way to ask. You can use it in most situations, formal or informal.
  • Practice: Say “How are you?” It sounds like a question, right? Your voice goes up a little at the end. “How are you?” Try it!
• How are you doing? This is very similar to “How are you?” and is also very common.
  • Practice: Say “How are you doing?” It’s just a slightly different way to ask the same thing. “How are you doing?” Good job!
• How’s it going? This is more informal and often used with people you know.
  • Practice: Say “How’s it going?” It’s a bit more relaxed. “How’s it going?” Try saying it like you’re greeting a friend.
• What’s up? This is very informal and usually used between friends. Be a little careful using this one if you’re not sure how well you know someone.
  • Practice: Say “What’s up?” It’s very casual. “What’s up?” Maybe try this with someone you know really well in English!

Responding to “How are you?”

Now, what if someone asks you “How are you?” Here are some simple ways to respond:

• I’m fine, thank you. This is a very common and polite response. You can use it in most situations.
  • Practice: Say “I’m fine, thank you.” It’s a nice and simple answer. “I’m fine, thank you.”
• I’m good, thank you. This is also very common and a little less formal than “I’m fine.”
  • Practice: Say “I’m good, thank you.” It sounds friendly and positive. “I’m good, thank you.”
• I’m okay, thank you. This means you’re not great, but not bad either. It’s a neutral response.
  • Practice: Say “I’m okay, thank you.” It’s a simple and honest answer. “I’m okay, thank you.”
• Not bad, thanks. This is an informal way of saying you’re doing okay.
  • Practice: Say “Not bad, thanks.” It’s a relaxed way to answer. “Not bad, thanks.”

Important! After you respond to “How are you?”, it’s polite to ask the other person the same question. You can simply say:

• And you? (After saying “I’m fine, thank you.”
• How about you? (This works with most responses.
• And how are you doing? (If they asked you “How are you doing?”
  • Practice: Try saying these follow-up questions. “And you?” “How about you?” “And how are you doing?” Great!

Putting it Together: Simple Conversations

Let’s see how these greetings and responses can work in a simple conversation:

Conversation 1 (Informal):

• Person A: Hi!
• Person B: Hi! How’s it going?
• Person A: Not bad, thanks. How about you?
• Person B: I’m good.

Conversation 2 (More Formal):

• Person A: Good morning.
• Person B: Good morning. How are you today?
• Person A: I’m fine, thank you. And you?
• Person B: I’m doing well, thank you.

Let’s Practice!

Imagine you just met someone new. What would you say first? Try it out loud!

Now, imagine they said “Hello!” back to you. What would you ask them? Try it!

And if they asked you “How are you?”, what would you say? Practice your response!

Remember, it’s okay to feel a little shy, but the more you practice, the easier it will become.

Simple Conversation Starters

Sometimes, after the greetings, you might want to say a little more. Here are some easy ways to start a simple conversation:

• Talking about the weather:
  • “It’s a nice day, isn’t it?” (If the weather is good
  • “It’s a bit cold today.” (If it’s cold
  • “The sun is shining!” (If it’s sunny
    • Practice: Imagine it’s a sunny day where you are. Say, “The sun is shining!” Now imagine it’s a little rainy. You could say, “It’s raining a bit.” Good!
• Commenting on something general:
  • “Are you having a good day?”
  • “How was your weekend?” (If it’s Monday or Tuesday
    • Practice: Imagine you’re talking to a classmate. Ask, “Are you having a good day?” Now imagine it’s Monday. Ask, “How was your weekend?” Great job!
• If you’re in a specific place:
  • “This is a nice cafe, isn’t it?” (If you’re in a cafe
  • “The bus is a little late today.” (If you’re waiting for a bus
    • Practice: Imagine you’re in a shop. You could say to someone nearby, “This is a busy shop today.” Now imagine you’re on a bus that’s moving slowly. You could say, “The traffic is slow today.” Fantastic!

Remember! When you start a conversation, it’s usually followed by a short response from the other person. For example, if you say, “It’s a nice day, isn’t it?”, they might say, “Yes, it is lovely!”

Let’s Practice Some More!

Imagine you are meeting someone for the first time. Write down (or say out loud) what you would say to:

1. Greet them.
2. Ask how they are.
3. Make a simple comment about the weather if it’s sunny.

Now, imagine you are seeing a friend you haven’t seen in a week. Write down (or say out loud) what you would say to:

1. Greet them informally.
2. Ask how they have been.
3. Ask about their weekend if it’s Monday.

Don’t worry about being perfect! The important thing is to try and get comfortable using these phrases.

You’re Doing Great!

Learning to greet people and start simple conversations is a big step in learning English. You’ve learned some really important phrases today. Remember to practice them whenever you have a chance, even if it’s just to yourself! The more you use these phrases, the more natural they will sound. Keep going, you’re doing a wonderful job!