[Grammar] Is it right to say "I'm Okay" in response to "How are you?"

[wotcha]

Whenever one of my students often say "I'm okay" to respond to my "How are you?"

I was thinking to myself 'Do i need to correct him or not?"



Is it usual to say "I'm okay" to "How are you?"

 

[Rover_KE]

Is it usual to say "I'm okay" to "How are you?"

It's ungracious and a bit surly.

'Fine, thanks' or 'I'm OK, thanks' are better responses.

Rover

 

[billmcd]

Whenever one of my students often say "I'm okay" to respond to my "How are you?"

I was thinking to myself 'Do i need to correct him or not?"



Is it usual to say "I'm okay" to "How are you?"

Good question. Depends on context as usual, but in AmE if one responds "I'm OK" with the stress on "OK", it is an upbeat/enthusiastic/positive response. On the other hand, if the stress is slightly on the "I'm", it is a less than positive response that suggests something is wrong or bothering the responder.

 

[SoothingDave]

I don't see it as "surly" either, though tone of voice would matter more than words.

 

[Barb_D]

I don't understand Bill's explanation.
I'm okay can mean "not great" or "just fine" but the first meaning doesn't come from stressing the first word. I'd say instead that it's a rising inflection on K that says all is well and a falling K suggests not great.

 

[tzfujimino]

Hello.:-D
Please see this (at 1:06): Learn English - Don't say "I'm fine"! Let's learn native English greetings - YouTube

It's "Yeah, I'm all right."
He's saying it with a falling intonation/inflection, isn't he?