Basic greetings are essential expressions used to acknowledge others, start conversations, and show politeness in everyday situations. They vary depending on the time of day, formality, and context.
- Used to start conversations and show politeness
- Vary by time of day, formality, and context
- Include expressions like "Hello," "Good morning," and "How are you?"
Common Greetings
| Greeting | When to Use | Formality | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hello | Anytime | All | "Hello! How are you?" |
| Hi | Anytime | Informal | "Hi! What’s up?" |
| Hey | Anytime | Very informal | "Hey! Long time no see!" |
| Good morning | Morning (before noon) | All | "Good morning! Did you sleep well?" |
| Good afternoon | Afternoon (noon–5pm) | All | "Good afternoon! How’s your day?" |
| Good evening | Evening (after 5pm) | All | "Good evening! Ready for dinner?" |
Hello is suitable for both formal and informal situations.
Responses to Greetings
| Greeting | Typical Response | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| How are you? | "Good, thanks. And you?" | Common follow-up to a greeting |
| What’s up? | "Not much. You?" | Informal, used among friends |
| How’s it going? | "Pretty good." | Informal |
| Nice to meet you | "Nice to meet you too." | Used when meeting someone new |
Good, thanks; Fine, and you?; and Not bad are common responses.
Farewells
| Farewell | When to Use | Formality | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goodbye | Anytime | All | "Goodbye! See you tomorrow." |
| Bye | Anytime | Informal | "Bye! Take care." |
| See you later | When parting | Informal | "See you later!" |
| Take care | When parting | All | "Take care! Drive safe." |
| Have a good day | When parting | All | "Have a good day!" |
'Goodbye' works in almost all situations.
Conclusion
Basic greetings are key to polite and effective communication in English. They help you connect with others and are used in nearly every social interaction.
- Include phrases for hellos, goodbyes, and responses
- Vary by time of day and formality
- Are essential for starting and ending conversations smoothly