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Shaking Hands
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When meeting someone formally for the first time, we shake their hand and say "How do you do?" or "Pleased to meet you."
"How do you do?" isn't really a question, it just means "Hello". |
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When young people meet informally they sometimes say "Give me five!" and slap their hands together (high five). |
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Generally we do not shake hands with people we know well. |
Naturally speaking
You say hello, and I say goodbye!
Follow the dialogue.
Mr Bean meets Mrs Breuer, one of his students, and her husband in the street.
| Mr Bean: |
Good morning, Mrs Breuer. |
| Mrs Breuer: |
Good morning, Mr Bean. How are you? |
| Mr Bean: |
I'm fine thanks, and you? |
| Mrs Breuer: |
Not too bad. Mr Bean, this is my husband Michael, Michael this is Mr Bean my English teacher. |
| Mr Breuer: |
Pleased to meet you. |
| Mr Bean: |
Pleased to meet you too. Are you from Germany, Mr Breuer? |
| Mr Breuer: |
Yes, East Germany, from Dresden. And you, are you from London? |
| Mr Bean: |
No, I'm from Derby, but I live in London now. |
| Mrs Breuer: |
Well, goodbye Mr Bean, it was nice to see you. |
| Mr Bean: |
Yes, goodbye. |
Formal to Informal Greetings and Introductions
First meetings
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Formal |
Introducing yourself |
Introducing others |
Responding to an introduction |
On Leaving |
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- How do you do? My name is Mrs Hand.
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- Mrs Hand, may I introduce my boss, Mr Smith.
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- Pleased to meet you Mrs Hand.
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- Goodbye. It's a pleasure to have met you.
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- Hello, Lynne Hand. I'm the owner of this web site.
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- Lynne, I'd like you to meet John Smith, our salesman. John, this is Lynne Hand.
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- Pleased to meet you Lynne.
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- Goodbye. Nice to have met you.
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- Lynne, meet John, my husband. John, this is my teacher Lynne.
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- Bye. It was nice to meet you.
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Informal |
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Subsequent meetings
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Formal |
Possible Greetings |
Possible responses |
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- Hello, Mrs Hand. It's nice to see you again.
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- What a pleasant surprise! How are you? It's been a while.
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- Good morning Mrs Hand. How are you today?
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- I'm very well thank you. And you?
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- Good afternoon, Mrs Hand. It's good to see you.
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- Thank you. It's nice to see you too. How are you?
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- Hello Lynne. How are you doing?
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- Fine thanks. What's new with you?
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- Hi, Lynne! How's it going?
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- Not too bad, busy as ever.
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- Hi, Lynne. How are things?
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- Oh fine. You know how it is.
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Informal |
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 "Get well soon." |
or 
etc....
or
etc...
