How are you?
Often just a greeting, not a real question.
Day 3 of 365
How are you?
1Chunks
Whole phrases to say as one piece.
I'm fine, thanks. And you?
The safe, polite answer. Always ask back.
Not too bad.
Warmer and more real than 'fine'.
I'm a bit ___.
Tired, busy, hungry — a small honest word.
How's your ___?
Family, work, day — ask about their life.
Same as always.
Say it when nothing has changed.
I've got a bit of a ___.
Cold, headache, cough — a small illness.
I hope you feel better ___.
Soon, tomorrow — after someone says they're ill.
Take it easy.
A kind goodbye that means 'don't work too hard'.
Look after yourself.
Warmer than goodbye, for someone you care about.
2Sentence patterns
One frame, many sentences. Tap a word to hear it.
I'm a bit ___.
How's your ___?
3Expressions
Natural ways people really talk.
How's it going?
How's it going? — Not too bad, you?
Can't complain.
How are you? — Can't complain.
What's new?
What's new? — Same as always.
Sorry to hear that.
I'm a bit ill. — Sorry to hear that.
Get well soon.
Rest today. Get well soon.
You look tired.
You look tired. Are you okay?
4Q&A
Read both parts aloud. Hide the answers to test yourself.
How are you?
I'm fine, thanks. And you?
How's your family?
Same as always. Busy!
You look tired.
Yeah, I'm a bit tired.
I passed my test!
Glad to hear it!
I have a headache.
I hope you feel better soon.
5Collocations
Words that go together.
feel better
Rest, and you'll feel better tomorrow.
have a cold
I can't come. I have a cold.
a long day
You look tired. Long day?
good news
I have good news. I got the job!
take a break
You work too hard. Take a break.
look after
Look after your mother while I'm out.
6Phrasal verbs
A verb plus a small word that changes its meaning.
cheer up
become happier, or make someone happier
Cheer up! Tomorrow is the weekend.
get over
become well again after being ill
It took a week to get over the cold.
7Sounds
How today's phrases really sound. Play speaks it slowly too.
How are you
how-ar-yuh
Same as day 1: two beats, stress on ARE.
How's it going
how-zit-GO-in
'How's it' links into one sound. Drop the final g.
8Dialogue
The chunks in a real scene. Play the whole thing.
Two neighbours on the street
Budi
Morning, Nina! How are you?
Nina
I'm fine, thanks. And you?
Budi
Not too bad. You look tired.
Nina
I'm a bit tired. Long week.
Budi
How's your family?
Nina
Same as always. Rio passed his test.
Budi
Glad to hear it! Tell him well done.
Nina
I will. Take it easy, Budi.
Budi
You too. Look after yourself.
9Real text
Written English you'd meet in real life.
10Grammar
Short answers: I'm, you're, it's not
To answer quickly, use the short form of *be* and add *not* to say no: 'I'm fine', 'I'm not well', 'It's a cold'. Don't drop the verb — 'I not well' is wrong.
- Are you okay? — Yes, I'm fine.
- Are you tired? — No, I'm not tired.
- Is it a cold? — Yes, it's just a cold.
- Are they busy? — They're always busy.
- Is Nina here? — No, she's at home.
- Am I late? — No, you're right on time.
11Words
New words for today.
fine
well; good enough
I'm fine, thanks.
tired
needing rest or sleep
I'm a bit tired.
busy
having a lot to do
She's busy this week.
family
your parents, children and close relatives
How's your family?
cold
a common illness with a runny nose
I have a cold.
ill
not well; sick
He's ill and staying home.
better
more well than before
I feel better today.
rest
stop working to relax or sleep
Take some rest.
glad
happy about something
I'm glad to hear it.
news
new information about what happened
I have good news.
week
seven days
It's been a long week.
soon
in a short time from now
Get well soon.
12Idioms
Phrases with a hidden meaning.
under the weather
a little bit ill
I'm a bit under the weather today.
13Daily article
Just asking
Budi and Nina live on the same street. They meet almost every morning. "Morning, Nina! How are you?" Budi says. "I'm fine, thanks. And you?" Nina answers, the way she always does.
But today Budi looks closer. "You look tired," he says. "I'm a bit tired. Long week," says Nina. "How's your family?" Budi asks. "Same as always. Rio passed his test." "Glad to hear it!" Budi says, and he means it.
It is a small talk, thirty seconds long, the kind people have and forget. But Nina walks to the bus feeling a little lighter. Someone asked, and someone listened. "Take it easy," Budi called after her. "Look after yourself." Sometimes that is enough.