Informal Greetings | Spoken English

Graham: Hi, Lucy! How is it going?

Lucy: Fine, thanks—and you?

Graham: Just fine. Where are you off to?

Lucy: To the Library. I’ve got a Science exam next week and need to start studying. Ugh.

Graham: Oh, no. Well, I’ll see you later then. Good luck!

Lucy: Thanks. See you later.

Analysis:

• “Hi” is an informal way of saying “hello.”

• “How is it going?” is an informal way of saying “How are you?”

• Notice the rising intonation on “and you?” This shows that Lucy is interested in what Graham has to say.

• “Where are you off to?” is an informal way of saying “Where are you going?”

• “To the library.” Notice that Lucy does not say “I’m going” here because that information was already established in the question

• Ugh: expression people make when they think that something is disgusting or unpleasant

• e.g: Ugh! How can you eat that stuff?

• “Oh, no” is a way of saying “I sympathize with you” or “I understand you are not happy.”

• Note: used to express surprise, fear, joy, etc

• Oh, how wonderful!

• Oh no, I've broken it!

• “See you later” is an informal way of saying “goodbye.”