The Most Used Phrases in English Conversation

[thebestking]

How to Check In at a Hotel:

?A: Hi miss, how are you today? Are you checking in

“—”B: Yes, I had a room reserved under the name

A: Oh ok, let me check. Oh great I found your reservation, you are in room 207.

B: Great so here are your keys and we have a complimentary continental breakfast between 7am and 10am in the lobby. Would you like a hand bringing those bags up to your room? Our bellhop can take those for you.

A: Sure, that would be great.

B: Enjoy your stay with us.

[thebestking]

How to Ask for More Information:

A: Lindsay, what are you doing?

B: Oh I’m trying to figure out how to make this microphone work better. It sounds kind of strange.

A: What do you mean? I think it sounds fine.

B: Do you know what my friend said? He’s an audio expert and he said that we need to improve it. I don’t know, what do you think?

A: I think it’s OK.

[thebestking]

I was wondering if – this is a beautiful way to strike up a conversation with someone you might know, yet you haven’t spoken to them too often. Typically it would be some occasion when you get to meet your work colleagues and talk about something else other than work-related matters!

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Sorry to bother you – this starter phrase is pretty universal and can be used in a lot of situations – ranging from chatting up strangers on the street when asking for directions and ending with addressing a busy co-worker when approaching them for advice!

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Excuse me, would you happen to know – this is another one of those phrases you can use when asking people for advice in pretty much any life situation – be it when trying to find the nearest grocery shop or when navigating a new building you’re visiting for the first time.

[thebestking]

What you been up to lately? – this is a great English small talk phrase used to inquire what the other person has been doing lately. You’ll probably notice that there’s something wrong with the way the sentence is constructed – it should really say “What HAVE you been up to lately?” – but guess what? It’s typical to leave out words in spoken English, and as a matter of fact, when you speak in real life, this phrase sounds more like “Watch you bin up to lately?” Try it – and you’ll realize that you sound WAY MORE native-like this way!

[thebestking]

How are you getting on? – just another way of saying ‘how are you?’

[thebestking]

You doing OK? – asked when the person has had some tough experience recently and you want to ask politely if they’re OK.

[thebestking]

Hi, …! What’s new? – this is a very informal way of greeting a close friend or anyone who you see on a regular basis and you want to ask has anything happened since you last met.

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Hi, …! What’s up? – the same as above with a difference that you’re probably not that interested in what news the other person might have.

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Hi, …! Long time no see! – used when you haven’t seen the person for a long period of time and you want to state that fact in the greeting.

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Hi, …! Have you been keeping busy? – just a standard enquiry with little or no direct meaning.

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Do you mind me asking…? – a typical way of asking something that might be a slightly personal question.

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OK, here’s the thing … – a very handy way to start making your point if you’re not sure how to begin the sentence.

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Is everything OK? – this is what you’d say to a person when you see that they’re distressed and obviously not OK. Normally you’d ask this to a close friend or a work colleague – but you can also say this to a stranger you meet in the street and if it’s obvious that that person needs help.

[thebestking]

Thanks, I’ve been keeping busy – just a standard response to a standard greeting with little or no direct meaning.

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Thanks for asking, I’m fine, how are you? – a typical response and counter-question to a greeting phrase ‘how are you?’

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Sorry, I didn’t catch that? – the verb “to catch” in this context means “to understand”, so this English small talk response phrase means “Sorry, I didn’t understand what you just said?” – it’s just that in conversational English we use these type of slang words to make it sound friendlier and easier to understand!

[thebestking]

Help yourself! – this English small talk phrase is one of the traditional phrases you’ll find in all English phrase-books, and it’s an encouraging phrase used to let the other person know that they can go ahead with the action in question. Typically this is used as a response when the other person is asking for permission to take something, and then you tell them that they can certainly do it: “Sorry, do you mind if I take this *****e? Everyone seems to have taken theirs…” – “Sure, help yourself!”

[thebestking]

Where were we? – imagine a situation when you’re speaking with someone, and then somehow you’re getting side-tracked and you veer off the original subject, or it could be that some other person distracts you and you forget where you left off. Now, this is the typical phrase to be used in situations like these – you’re basically asking your conversation partner what it was that you were talking about last.

[thebestking]

How’s that sound for you? – let’s say for argument’s sake, you’re proposing something to your conversation partner. Well, in this case this small talk phrase is ideal to ask for their opinion on your proposal! Here’s an example: “Listen, I know what we’re doing tonight. Let’s go to the movies, there’s a new blockbuster out! How’s that sound for you?”

[thebestking]

…if that’s alright with you? – you can attach this small talk bit at the end of your sentence to ask for the other person’s permission. Let’s imagine for a second you’re telling your work colleague you have to leave your desk for a few minutes, but you just want to be sure he’s OK with that. So here’s what you say “Listen Jimmy, I’m gonna leave my desk for a few minutes to make a really important phone call if that’s alright with you?”

[thebestking]

Hi, how are you doing? It’s good to see you! – a typical response to a greeting from someone you haven’t seen for a while.

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Can’t complain – a response to a standard greeting like ‘How are you?’ It’s not as exciting phrase as ‘Thanks, I’m great!’ but it doesn’t mean you’re having some problems in your life.

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Can you say it again, please? – a request to repeat the question if you didn’t understand what was said. This can also be used when the native speaking person speaks a bit too fast – they should get the hint and slow down a bit. But if they don’t, you can ask a more direct question:

[thebestking]

Can you slow it down a bit, please?

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And how about you? – a typical response when you’re not sure what to ask next so you’re asking the other person the same think they asked you. You can respond with this counter-greeting on nearly all standard greetings.

[thebestking]

To the best of my knowledge … – when you’re 99% sure about the statement you’re making. Also a good start of a response you want to take a bit more time to consider what you’re going to say.

[oussgamer]

Thank youuuu