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  #1 (permalink)  
Old 05-Nov-2004, 23:30
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ion Joe
Default I'm confused! need your help!

Dear teachers,

I have some problem with my spoken English, and I want to ask some questions I met in my daily life (maybe it seems too simple, but I'm still confused. )

1.Everday when I meet some friends, they always say, 'how are you?' And I just reply 'fine, thanks! And you?' I feel it very boring to say the same words every time. Are there any other replies to 'how are you'?

2.If I want to get newspaper I've subscribed, can I say 'collect' my newspaper or 'pick up' or other words?

3.After collecting my newspaper, the staff always say 'cheers' to me. What does that word mean? I thought it was only used when we drinked and we said cheers to each other. How can I reply it? Say 'cheers' as he or she said? Or just say 'thank you'?

4.If I want to do something, is it impolite to say 'I want to..' to others? Or I should say 'I'd like..'?

Thank you so much!

Cheers,(can I use the word here?)

Joe
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Old 06-Nov-2004, 02:57
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Default Re: I'm confused! need your help!

1.
Q: How are you?
A: Fine/Great/Not bad/Fantastic/Wonderful/Not good/Not great/I'm feeling ill/ I'm tired/I'm doing OK/I'm 100%/Not 100%/I have a cold/Don't ask.

2. 'collect' or 'pick up' or 'get'

3.
Sam: Cheers
Pat: Cheers (thanks)

4. 'I want to..' or 'I'd like..'

5. Cheers, (can I use the word here?)
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Old 06-Nov-2004, 13:17
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ion Joe
Default Re: I'm confused! need your help!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Casiopea
1.
Q: How are you?
A: Fine/Great/Not bad/Fantastic/Wonderful/Not good/Not great/I'm feeling ill/ I'm tired/I'm doing OK/I'm 100%/Not 100%/I have a cold/Don't ask.

2. 'collect' or 'pick up' or 'get'

3.
Sam: Cheers
Pat: Cheers (thanks)

4. 'I want to..' or 'I'd like..'

5. Cheers, (can I use the word here?)
Thank you!
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Old 06-Nov-2004, 19:56
Natalie27
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Default Re: I'm confused! need your help!

Just a couple of expressions to greet your friends in addition to the ones already mentioned:

these ones are less formal if you need to use them with close friends and buddies:

Hi, how's life treating you?...Great!
Hi, how is it going?( very informal) repliy: "Even better yesterday"

Hi, what's new? Not much!/ Same old stuff.
What's up?
What's happening?
What's cooking?
How are things?
How goes the world?/ How goes the day?
Long time no see! (if you haven't seen each other for quite some time)
Good/great to see you!
How are you?...Getting better every minute!
Older, yet wiser and more handsome! (humorous)
So and so = Fair to partly cloudy (also humorous)
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Old 07-Nov-2004, 15:01
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ion Joe
Default Re: I'm confused! need your help!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Natalie27
Just a couple of expressions to greet your friends in addition to the ones already mentioned:

these ones are less formal if you need to use them with close friends and buddies:

Hi, how's life treating you?...Great!
Hi, how is it going?( very informal) repliy: "Even better yesterday"

Hi, what's new? Not much!/ Same old stuff.
What's up?
What's happening?
What's cooking?
How are things?
How goes the world?/ How goes the day?
Long time no see! (if you haven't seen each other for quite some time)
Good/great to see you!
How are you?...Getting better every minute!
Older, yet wiser and more handsome! (humorous)
So and so = Fair to partly cloudy (also humorous)
Very interesting! Thanks!!
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Old 08-Nov-2004, 00:49
Natalie27
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Default Re: I'm confused! need your help!

you bet!
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Old 08-Nov-2004, 18:47
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ion Joe
Default Re: I'm confused! need your help!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Natalie27
you bet!
Sorry, what's the meaning of you bet?
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Old 08-Nov-2004, 18:57
Natalie27
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Default Re: I'm confused! need your help!

Quote:
Originally Posted by ion Joe
Sorry, what's the meaning of you bet?
It means, that's great, OK, sure, etc...that's just a way to acknowledge what you have just said. Sorry for having you confused!
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Old 08-Nov-2004, 19:06
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ion Joe
Default Re: I'm confused! need your help!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Natalie27
It means, that's great, OK, sure, etc...that's just a way to acknowledge what you have just said. Sorry for having you confused!
I find people here are all very polite and shy.
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Old 08-Nov-2004, 19:10
Natalie27
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Default Re: I'm confused! need your help!

Thanks!
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