Blog Bahasa inggris Mr. Zals

 Basic English Conversations For Beginners

Greetings

When starting a conversation, the first thing to do is to determine the tone. If you are speaking with a friend or colleague, you will likely have an informal conversation. Informal conversations are very common in English. If you are speaking with a teacher or stranger in a formal setting, you will likely need to use more formal language. Here are a few informal and formal greetings to practice:

Hello.

• This is the easiest, most common greeting that can be formal or informal.

Hi.

• This is also very common and is informal.

Hey.

• This is informal and more casual.

Good morning.

• Use this as a greeting before noon.

Good afternoon.

• Use this in the afternoon before 5 PM or before the sun sets.

Good evening.

• Use this in the evening, after 6 PM.

Introducing Yourself

Many conversations end after the greetings. If you do engage in a longer English conversation, you will need to know how to introduce yourself.

My name is _____.

• This is the most common way to introduce yourself.

I am _____.

• This is more informal and can be used if you’re introducing yourself to multiple people.

At this point, the other person will likely introduce themselves. If not, you can ask their name.

What is your name?

• This is an easy way to ask that is neither formal nor informal.

You may also have to introduce someone else.

This is _____.

Please meet _____.

• This is more formal.

The next step is to respond to having met someone. This can be a way to end a conversation or open it up to a larger discussion.

Nice to meet you!

• This is common and easy to use in any situation.

It’s a pleasure to meet you.

• This is more formal.

Great to meet you.

• This is neither formal nor informal. It is more positive than others.

Now let’s put it all together. Here is an example of a basic English conversation.

• Frank: Hello.
• Kim: Hi, my name is Kim.
• Frank: Hi Kim, I’m Frank. This is Bill.
• Kim: Hi Bill, nice to meet you!
• Bill: Great to meet you too.

At this point, you will either continue the conversation or you will say goodbye. If you do continue the conversation, you can use these questions:

How are you?

• This is the most common way to continue a conversation.

How are you doing?

• This is another common choice.

How’s it going?

• This is more informal.

What’s up?

• Very informal.

The best option is to use “How are you?” or “How are you doing?” All others are informal and can be taken as too casual unless you are speaking with a close friend. To respond, try using one of these and always remember to thank them and ask the same question in return.

I’m doing well, thank you. And you?

• Formal, polite response.

Good, thanks. You?

• Informal.

Doing well, thanks. You?

• Informal.

Great, thanks! You?

• Informal and more enthusiastic.

If the conversation continues, you can open the discussion with many different topics. When beginning, it’s best to try things you feel comfortable with like the weather. It’s also safe to discuss something in front of you, like a meal you are sharing or something around you. This will help if you forget vocabulary words or need clarification on what someone else is saying. Just simply point to something and describe it with other words. Don’t worry about getting anything wrong!

If the conversation ends, use any of these:

Goodbye.

• Common, formal.

Bye.

• Common, informal.

Have a good day (or afternoon, evening, or night).

• Formal and polite.

Let’s put it all together.

• Frank: Hi, my name is Frank.
• Kim: Good morning, I’m Kim.
• Frank: Hi Kim, it’s nice to meet you.
• Kim: Nice to meet you too. How are you?
• Frank: Doing well, thanks. You?
• Kim: I’m doing well, thank you.
• Frank: Have a good day.
• Kim: Bye!

While first learning English, it’s good to know how to ask the other person to explain or repeat something. If someone is speaking to fast or said something you didn’t understand, you can use these questions and phrases to clarify.

• I’m sorry, can you please repeat that?
• Can you please speak slower?
• Could you say that again?
• I didn’t understand.

When having a basic English conversation, you may ask simple questions like the time or where something is. Learning these questions can help turn a short conversation into a longer, more rewarding discussion. Here are a few examples:

• What time is it?
• Do you have the time?
• Where is the _____?

These are appropriate to ask anyone. They are not too personal, and most people will be able to help you answer them. Here are a few responses you may receive:

• The time is 2 PM.
• It’s 12 o’clock.
• I think it’s noon.
• The bathroom is to the left.

To engage in deeper conversations, be sure to learn things like how to say the time and directions like left and right. You should also learn a few vocabulary words so that you can ask where things are.

Let’s try a longer, basic English conversation:

• Frank: Good evening.
• Kim: Hello, my name is Kim.
• Frank: Hi Kim, I’m Frank.
• Kim: It’s nice to meet you. How are you doing?
• Frank: I’m doing well, thanks. And you?
• Kim: Good thanks, do you have the time?
• Frank: I think it’s 7 PM. Where is the bathroom?
• Kim: I’m sorry, can you please repeat that?
• Frank: Where is the bathroom?
• Kim: The bathroom is to the right.
• Frank: Thank you, have a good night!
• Kim: You too, bye.

All languages take time and patience to practice. Don’t be afraid to say something wrong or start a conversation. There’s no wrong answer when it comes to learning a new language. The more you practice, the more new words and phrases you will learn. Every step you take will help you master English conversation and bring you closer to learning the language.