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13-Jul-2004, 08:13
| | Key Member | | Join Date: Nov 2003 Country: China
Posts: 2,121
Current Location: China First Language: Chinese Member Type: Student or Learner Thanks: 384
Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts
| |  Greetings
Dear teachers,
I have two questions to ask:
1. When I was learning English as a beginner I learned from the textbooks that in a shop a shop assistant would greet you with 'Can I help you?'. But when I watch TV I heard a shop assistant say something like 'How is everything?'. Is it a special case or shop assistants have changed their way of addressing their customers? And how should a customer reply to this greeting?
2. I also noticed in a film that when people meet each other they said somthing like 'Hi, there' or maybe 'Hi, they'. From the context it functions like 'Hi'. Am I right? If I am, when do people use it? Is it used in informal situation and to friends?
I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.
Jiang |
13-Jul-2004, 08:20
|  | VIP Member | | Join Date: Sep 2003 Country: Canada
Posts: 12,997
Current Location: China First Language: English Member Type: Other Thanks: 0
Thanked 60 Times in 57 Posts
| | Re: Greetings
Quote: |
Originally Posted by jiang 1. When I was learning English as a beginner I learned from the textbooks that in a shop a shop assistant would greet you with 'Can I help you?'. But when I watch TV I heard a shop assistant say something like 'How is everything?'. Is it a special case or shop assistants have changed their way of addressing their customers? And how should a customer reply to this greeting? | Some salespeople believe "Can I help you?", the answer to which is either "Yes" or "No", might cost them a sale, so they alter their language so as to gain a sale,
Q: How may I help you?
A: I'm looking for ~ I'm not sure ~ Quote: |
2. I also noticed in a film that when people meet each other they said somthing like 'Hi, there' or maybe 'Hi, they'. From the context it functions like 'Hi'. Am I right? If I am, when do people use it? Is it used in informal situation and to friends?
| Hi, there is used with friends, and even with strangers you feel comfortable with. :D I look forward to hearing from you is rather formal. :wink:  |
13-Jul-2004, 12:55
| | Key Member | | Join Date: Nov 2003 Country: China
Posts: 2,121
Current Location: China First Language: Chinese Member Type: Student or Learner Thanks: 384
Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts
| | Re: Greetings
Thank you very much for your explanation. Now I see.
Could you please make a suggestion as to what to use instead of 'I am looking forward to hearing from you"?
Jiang Quote: |
Originally Posted by Casiopea Quote: |
Originally Posted by jiang 1. When I was learning English as a beginner I learned from the textbooks that in a shop a shop assistant would greet you with 'Can I help you?'. But when I watch TV I heard a shop assistant say something like 'How is everything?'. Is it a special case or shop assistants have changed their way of addressing their customers? And how should a customer reply to this greeting? | Some salespeople believe "Can I help you?", the answer to which is either "Yes" or "No", might cost them a sale, so they alter their language so as to gain a sale,
Q: How may I help you?
A: I'm looking for ~ I'm not sure ~ Quote: |
2. I also noticed in a film that when people meet each other they said somthing like 'Hi, there' or maybe 'Hi, they'. From the context it functions like 'Hi'. Am I right? If I am, when do people use it? Is it used in informal situation and to friends?
| Hi, there is used with friends, and even with strangers you feel comfortable with. :D I look forward to hearing from you is rather formal. :wink: | |
14-Jul-2004, 12:49
| | VIP Member | | Join Date: Sep 2003 Country: Canada
Posts: 12,997
Current Location: China First Language: English Member Type: Other Thanks: 0
Thanked 60 Times in 57 Posts
| | Re: Greetings
Quote: |
Originally Posted by jiang Thank you very much for your explanation. Now I see.
Could you please make a suggestion as to what to use instead of 'I am looking forward to hearing from you"?
Jiang | Forums/Email: Looking forward to your reply. |
15-Jul-2004, 00:00
| | Key Member | | Join Date: Nov 2003 Country: China
Posts: 2,121
Current Location: China First Language: Chinese Member Type: Student or Learner Thanks: 384
Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts
| | Re: Greetings
:D
Now I see. I hope, if it doesn't bother you too much, you could always point out my mistakes or inapproriate use of English.
Jiang Quote: |
Originally Posted by Casiopea Quote: |
Originally Posted by jiang Thank you very much for your explanation. Now I see.
Could you please make a suggestion as to what to use instead of 'I am looking forward to hearing from you"?
Jiang | Forums/Email: Looking forward to your reply. | | | Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode | 
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