Teacher Notes
Objectives & Sequence: This lesson is intended to be used as a preview of Grammar 1-1.
The following vocabulary words are used in this activity:
Part One
A greeting is what you say when you meet or see someone.
Work with a partner. Read and listen to the following conversations. What are some examples of greetings that you see and/or hear?
Conversation #1
A: Hey, Chris!
B: Oh, hi! How are you, Janet?
A: I'm great, thanks! How about you?
B: Oh, pretty good. How's Tim?
A: Tim? He's doing well too.
B: That's good to hear.
Conversation #2
A: What's going on, Steve?
B: Um, not much I guess. You?
A: Nothing. Are you going to Amanda's party on Friday?
B: Yeah, I think so. Are you?
A: Definitely.
B: Cool. It'll be a good time.
A: Yeah, see you there.
Conversation #3
A: Good morning, Mr. Jeffries.
B: Wilson! How are you doing this morning?
A: Very good, Sir. Yourself?
B: I'm well, thanks. It's going to be a busy day.
A: Definitely, but I'm ready for it.
B: Excellent! Let's get started!
Part Two
With your partner, decide which conversation you think is the most formal. Which one is the most casual? Why?
Part Three
Step 1: Saying "Hello"
When you first see or meet someone, you should greet them by saying "Hello." Here are some other ways:
| Normal |
|---|
Hi
|
Hey
|
Good morning / afternoon / evening
|
Hello / Hi / Hey, there
|
| Casual |
|---|
Howdy
|
Yo
|
Step 2-A: "How are you?"
After greeting people, we usually ask people, "How are you?"
Here are other ways to ask this question and possible ways to answer:
How are you?
- I'm great!
- I'm well.
- I'm fine.
- I'm OK.
- I'm alright.
- I'm not bad.
How are you doing?
- I'm (doing) great!
- I'm (doing) well.
- I'm (doing) fine.
- I'm (doing) OK.
- I'm (doing) alright.
- I'm not (doing) bad.
How's it going?
- (It's going) great!
- (It's going) well.
- (It's going) fine.
- (It's going) OK.
- (It's going) alright.
(It's not going) bad.
Example #1 Example #2 Example #3
Hi, Mike!
Howdy!
How's it going?
Good, thanks.
Hello!
Hey, Jenna!
How are you doing?
I'm well.
Good morning, Chris!
Hi, there.
How are you?
I'm alright, thanks.
Step 2-B: "What's new?"
Sometimes, we use questions with "what" instead of asking "How are you?":
Questions with "What"
- What's new?
- What's going on?
- What's up?
Possible Answers
- Nothing.
- Not much.
- Not a lot.
- Not a whole lot.
We can also describe news or new events as our answer (Example #3):
Example #1 Example #2 Example #3
Hi, Mike!
Howdy!
What's going on?
Not much.
Hello!
Hey, Jenna!
What's new?
Nothing.
Good morning, Chris!
Hi, there.
What's up?
Well, actually, today is my birthday!
Step 3: And you?
Finally, if someone asks you, "How are you?", it is polite to ask them in return after your answer:
- And you?
- You?
- How about you / yourself?
- What about you / yourself?
- Yourself?
- How are you?
Example #1 Example #2 Example #3
Hi, Mike!
Howdy!
What's going on?
Not much. You?
Not much.
Hello!
Hey, Jenna!
How are you doing?
I'm well. How about you?
I'm alright, thanks.
Good morning, Chris!
Hi, there.
What's up?
Not a whole lot. Yourself?
Not a lot.
Part Four
Practice what you have learned by walking around the room, greeting others. Try to use different greetings.
Part Five
In each of the three conversations at the top of the page, all of the pronouns are in blue. Look at the chart below. What do you know about pronouns? Can you complete the chart below?
Subject Pronouns |
Object Pronouns |
| I | me |
| you | you |
| he | him |
| she | her |
| it | it |
| we | us |
| they | them |
| that | that |
| this | this |
| these | these |
| those | those |