
- #ANOTHER WORD FOR YOU ARE BUSY HOW TO#
- #ANOTHER WORD FOR YOU ARE BUSY PDF#
- #ANOTHER WORD FOR YOU ARE BUSY PROFESSIONAL#
Let’s look at an example of how “fine” has a somewhat negative meaning, in a different situation: If you sigh, say it slowly and use a lower tone of voice, “I’m fine” could mean the opposite-you aren’t fine at all. A shorter, higher-pitched “I’m fine” with a smile will mean you actually are okay. The tone you use when you say this word makes a difference. Here are some common answers and what they mean: FineĪs an ESL teacher, this is the answer I hear most often from non-native speakers.īe careful, though! “Fine” often means that you’re not completely all right-something could be wrong. You usually won’t share how you really feel. So, in these situations, it’s best to give a short answer. Also, the person you’re greeting won’t answer honestly, because that’s just how it is in this society. If you say this to an acquaintance or stranger, you probably aren’t really interested in their true answer. In the United States, “Hi, how are you?” is almost a cultural greeting-it’s how we say hello. So, when one of these people (an acquaintance or a stranger) asks how you are, what should you respond? Greetings for acquaintances and strangersįirst, let me tell you something important: This person doesn’t want to know how you actually are that day. People that you don’t know or have never met before are called “strangers.” A stranger could be the cashier (the person working at the check-out counter) of a supermarket, the receptionist at an office or someone sitting next to you on the bus.
#ANOTHER WORD FOR YOU ARE BUSY HOW TO#
In these situations, it is essential that you know how to talk to these acquaintances at work properly.
#ANOTHER WORD FOR YOU ARE BUSY PROFESSIONAL#
You will often encounter acquaintances in your everyday life, but also in your professional life at work. If you both know each other but don’t say anything to the other person, it’s somewhat rude (bad manners). When you see an acquaintance somewhere, it’s polite to greet them. This could be someone you’ve met just once or twice, perhaps a friend of a friend, an old classmate that you were never really friends with or a man who works at the local grocery store. Who are acquaintances and strangers?Īcquaintances are people that you know, but don’t know very well. Of course, you can use these with anyone you speak to, even family and close friends. This first section will give you some formal (more polite) answers to “How are you?” You will use these when you’re talking to acquaintances and strangers. First, we’ll look at what to say when people you don’t know or people you don’t know very well ask how you are. Your answer to the question “How are you?” depends on who asked you the question. (Download) Formal Answers to “How Are You?”
#ANOTHER WORD FOR YOU ARE BUSY PDF#
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Sounds easy, right? Don’t you just tell people how you feel? Then it’s time to make sure you know how to react when someone asks “How are you?” Want to avoid awkward conversations with native English speakers? We give you the tools and skills you need to communicate successfully in your field of expertise and to expand your business and career opportunities.Home » English Vocab and Grammar » How Are You Doing? How to Introduce Yourself in Englishīy Rebecca Thering How Are You Doing? How to Introduce Yourself in English The London School of English offers high quality English language training for motivated adults from all professional backgrounds. The following qualifiers can be used interchangeably with expressions 1- 7 above Use qualifiers or modifiers for greater precision To have other priorities today/this week /this month Nuance: To have more important things to doġ0. Nuance: Varies according to alternative selected To have enough/rather a lot/too much on one’s plate at the moment There is, after all, a world of difference between being “a little tied up” and being “completely snowed under”.Įxample: I’m a little tied up with this new project.Įxample: She’s a bit occupied today dealing with new staff.Įxample: He’s slightly overstretched at the moment.Įxample: She’s quite over-extended in this particular role.Įxample: We’re rather overloaded with all these new cases.Įxample: They’ve been completely swamped with new customers this week.Įxample: He’s been snowed under with complaints.Ĩ. Here are some alternatives which allow you to better express exactly how busy you are and how soon you are likely to be available. Are you tired of being busy? Why not try a new word or an expression which describes your level of busyness a little more precisely.
