A conversation is 2 or more people talking together.
The context and the people involved in a conversation affect the language used. Generally speaking, conversations can be formal or informal.
Formal conversations are official and impersonal.
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Formal Conversation Contexts |
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Job interview |
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Giving a speech |
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First time meeting someone |
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Official ceremonies |
Informal conversations are casual with people we know.
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Informal Conversation Contexts |
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Chat with friends/family |
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Dinner parties |
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Game night |
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Talking with coworkers you know well |
Click the conversation type for more information.
Greetings are used to begin a conversation.
Used both in formal and informal conversations.
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Hello
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Hi
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Good morning
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Good afternoon
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Good evening
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How are you?
Formal greetings are impersonal and keep a certain distance between the speakers.
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It is a pleasure to meet you
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How do you do?
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Nice to meet you
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Pleased to meet you
Informal greetings are casual and used with people we know very well.
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Hey!
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Yo!
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What’s up?
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Good to see you!
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Long time no see!
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What’s new?
Identifications are used to introduce and ask about another person or yourself. Identifications are often used with greetings.
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My name is . . .
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I’m . . .
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Let me introduce myself, I’m . . .
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I don’t think we’ve met. I’m . . .
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This is . . .
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Meet . . .
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This is my friend . . .
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Let me introduce you to . . .
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I’d like you to meet . . .
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Have you met . . .
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What is your name?
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Who is . . .?
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And you are . . .?
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Which group are you in?
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Who’s your partner for the project?
Goodbyes are used at the end of conversations, to close it.
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Goodbye
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Bye
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See you later
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Have a good day
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See you tomorrow
Formal goodbyes are used when ending a conversation with people you don’t know very well and in official settings.
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Enjoy your evening
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I must be going
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I have got to go
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It was nice meeting you
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It was nice talking to you
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It was a pleasure
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it was a pleasure meeting you
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The pleasure was mine
Informal goodbyes are used to end casual conversations with people you know very well.
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Bye bye
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Take care
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Good night
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Okay, thanks
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Until next time
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See you
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Talk to you later
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Have a good one
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Gotta go
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Take it easy
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Catch you later
Goodbyes are often used in combination by using 2 expressions together. The most common combinations are done by adding a phrase to the words Goodbye or Bye. It can be added before or after.
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Adding before: |
Adding after: |
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See you later, goodbye! It was nice meeting you, goodbye! |
Goodbye, see you later! Goodbye, it was nice meeting you. |
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See you tomorrow, bye! Have a good day, bye! |
Bye, see you tomorrow! Bye, have a good day! |
Thanks are used to express gratitude, appreciation and recognition. Thanks can be given or accepted.
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Thank you
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Thank you very much
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Thank you so much
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Thanks
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Thanks a lot
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Thanks for everything
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I owe you
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I owe you one
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I’m so grateful
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Much appreciated
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You’re a lifesaver
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You’re the best
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You are welcome
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You are most welcome
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You’re welcome
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Welcome
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It’s my pleasure
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My pleasure
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The pleasure’s mine
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That’s okay
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Anytime
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Glad to help
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Not at all
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Just doing my job
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Don’t mention it
Apologies are used to express regret, to say you are sorry and to ask for forgiveness.
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I’m sorry
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Sorry
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I apologize
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My apologies
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Please, accept my apologies
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Please, forgive me
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Forgive me
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Excuse me
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Pardon me
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I didn’t mean to . . .
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That's okay
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It’s okay
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That's alright
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It’s alright
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Don't worry about it
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Don't mention it
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Don't apologize
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Forget about it
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It doesn't matter
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No harm done
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No need to apologize
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Never mind
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You couldn't help it
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I quite understand
Interruptions are used when you need to say something and someone is busy or already talking.
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Excuse me
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I’m sorry to interrupt
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Pardon me
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Pardon me for interrupting
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Can I interrupt?
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I’m sorry about this, but . . .
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Before you continue . . .
Fillers are used to get more time to think or react to what was said.
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I mean . . .
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I think . . .
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All right . . .
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Well . . .
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Let’s see . . .
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I’ll think about it . . .
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I’m thinking about it . . .
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Let me think about it
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Hold on a second
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Can I have a minute?
Warnings are used to warn people of a situation or an upcoming situation.
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Be careful!
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Watch out!
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Look out!
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You’d better . . .
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I wouldn’t do that if I were you
Reassurances are used to comfort, reduce worry and generally support people.
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You’ll be fine
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It will be alright
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The same thing happened to me
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It’s not important
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It’s okay
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No problem
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Don’t worry about it
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That’s all right
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It doesn’t matter
Phone conversation phrases are used to call, answer, reply and take messages.
Answering a Personal Call
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Hello?
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Good morning!
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Good afternoon!
Answering the Phone at Work
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Hello, this is . .
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Jenna speaking.
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Alloprof, how may I help you?
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Alloprof, Jenna speaking. How may I help you?
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Thank you for calling Alloprof. How can I help you?
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Hello, may I speak to Steve?
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Hello, I would like to speak to Steve, please.
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Hi, can I talk to Steve?
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Hi, is Steve there?
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Hi! Steve, please.
Replying to a personal call:
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Yes, it’s me.
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Speaking.
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Sorry, you have the wrong number.
Replying to a call at work:
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One moment please.
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One minute please.
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Yes, it’s me.
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Please hold.
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I’ll place you on hold.
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I’ll transfer you.
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I will connect you right away.
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Hello, I’m calling about . . .
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Hello, I’d like some information about…
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Hello, could you tell me . . .?
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Hello, I was wondering if you could . . .
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Hi! Can you help with . . .?
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Hi! Can you tell me . . .?
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Hello! I have a question about…
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May I take a message?
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Would you like to leave a message?
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He’s not available. Do you have a message?
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Sorry, she’s not here. Can I give her a message?
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May I ask who’s calling?
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What is your number?
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This is Ray. Can he call me back at 555-2368?
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Yes, can he call me back?
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Ask him to call me back.
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My name is . . .
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This is . . .
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My number is . . .
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You can reach me at . . .
