Formal Greetings | Spoken English

Graham: Good morning, Lucy, how are you doing?

Lucy: Good morning, Graham. I am doing well. And you?

Graham: I’m great, thank you. This is my friend Ranjita. She is thinking about applying to this college. Would you mind telling us about the process, please?

Lucy: Hello, Ranjita. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m more than happy to speak with you. Please meet me once next week.

Graham: It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lucy. Thank you so much for helping us.

Lucy: Don’t mention it. Hopefully, I will be able to help your friend out!

Analysis:

• The greetings good morning/good afternoon/good evening are used at different times of the day to greet people. “Good evening” is often used after 6 p.m. or generally when the sun has set.

• “Good night” is not a greeting: It is used when leaving a place or group of people. Thank you and good night!/Good night, and see you tomorrow.

• How are you doing is used to enquire about your well-being. Another way of saying ‘ how are you’?

• Would you mind telling… This expression is used to ask for permission to do something, or to ask somebody in a polite way to do something.

e.g Do you mind if I open the window?/ Would you mind explaining this poem to me?

• Note: would you mind is always followed by -ing of V1 ( Verb 1)

• e.g would you mind calling me in the afternoon?

• “Don’t mention it” is another way of saying “You’re welcome.” The phrase “You are welcome” is more formal. However, responses such as Don’t mention it./No problem./ Happy to help are informal ways of responding.