50 common English phrases to use in conversation

Part (1)

 

 

Common phrases for asking how someone is.

 

‘What’s up?’  This is quite ‘informal’, and you're likely to receive an ‘informal’ answer.

 

‘What's new?’  This is asking for an update on what has been happening.

 

‘How is it going?’  It refers to 'everything'.

‘How is everything?’or, ‘How are things?’  This is very casual and very vague and general.

 

‘How is life?’

 

‘How is life treating you?’

 

‘What's have you been up to recently?’

 

Common phrases to say how you are.

The most common one is ‘I'm fine thanks’

‘I'm fine thanks, how are you?’' 

'pretty good'

or, if nothing has changed 'same old really’ 

 

or if negative, 'not so great really' 

 

or, ‘could be better'

 

or if things are very good but you do not want to show off 'can't complain'.

 

'I can't complain', meaning others have it much worse than me, so I'm not going to say anything negative about my own life.

 

 

Common phrases to say thank you

‘I really appreciate that / it!’  This is quite heartfelt.

‘I am really grateful’  this is all so informal.

‘That is so kind of you’  if someone has shown you an act of kindness 

‘I owe you one big time!’less formal.

 

Common phrases to respond to thank you

 

‘you are most welcome’ 

‘No worries’, which is very informal, or ‘my pleasure' 

or you can shorten this down to 'pleasure' which is very casual.

Or 'Anytime!'

 

Common phrases to ask for information

‘Do you have a clue / any idea?’  These are interchangeable, for example ‘do you have a clue where the supermarket is?or 'do you have any idea about the homework this evening?’

 

‘You wouldn't happen to know .............., would you?

 

or 'you wouldn't happen to know about Road directions, would you?'

or 'you wouldn't happen to know Mary's sister, would you?'

I don't suppose (you) would know....?

I don't suppose you know where the taxi rank is?

 

Command phrases to say I don't know

‘I have no idea’ or ‘I haven't got any idea’

‘I haven't got a clue sorry’or

‘Sorry I can't help you there’, or ‘sorry I can't be any help’ 

‘I'm not really sure’ 

‘I've been wondering about the same thing!’