Kilo Lingo

Ch 1 · Lesson 4

How are you? Please, thank you and sorry

The sentences that keep a first conversation going (How are you? My name is... I don't understand) and the polite words: please, thank you, sorry, excuse me.

The short version

Excuse me before, sorry after

, ?

You want to ask a question, so excuse me comes first.
Why?

Excuse me comes before something: you want to get past, or you want to ask a question. Sorry comes after a mistake, for example when you walk into someone. And please makes a request polite: without it, Give me water sounds rude, even with a smile.

Getting by

Six sentences that keep a first conversation going. Learn each question with its answer, as a pair.

WhenYou say
?
, . ?
Anna.
?
.
, ?

Put your own name at the end: My name is Omar. The name swap is the first real conversation most learners have:

  • Hello. What is your name? (you ask)
  • My name is Anna. And you? (she answers, and asks back)

How are you? is a small, friendly question, not a big one. I'm fine, thanks is the normal answer, even on a bad day.

I don't understand is the most useful sentence a beginner has. It tells the other person to slow down or try again: Sorry, I don't understand. Can you say that again, please?

Courtesies

The words that keep things polite.

PhraseWhenExample
Water, please.
Thank you! (for a coffee)
, Thanks, Omar!
Thank you! You're welcome.
Sorry! (you walk into someone)
, Excuse me, where is the bank?
/ Are you Anna? Yes.
Inside a bakery with a striped awning: a customer holding out a coin stands at the counter; behind it a smiling baker in a chef's hat; on the counter a big loaf of bread, a steaming cup of coffee and a till, with more bread on the shelves behind.
  1. , .
  2. !

1 asks with please. 2 takes the money and says thank you.

One word makes a request polite: Water, please. Without please, Give me water sounds rude in English, even with a smile.

Common mistakes

WrongRightWhy
Good night!Good evening! : .
I'm fine, thanks.I'm fine, thanks. And you? , .
Please. (thanks)You're welcome. .
Give me water.Water, please. .

Going further: Greetings and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.

Read the full guide (optional) · 4 min read

Practice

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8-question session

One question at a time, mixed across the exercises in this lesson. Miss one and it comes back round before the end.

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Lesson 4 of 42 in this chapter

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