The most common way of thanking someone is to say: Thankyou
This is said as one word.
To add emphasis we can say: Thankyou
very much.
Or: Thankyou so much.
A more informal word is: Thanks
Some polite replies to thankyou are: Thankyou Don’t mention it.
Or: Thanks You’re
welcome.
Some more casual or informal replies to thankyou or
thanks are: Thankyou That’s okay
Thankyou very much That’s
fine
Thanks No worries.
ANNE Thank
you very much for picking me up.
SARAH You’re very welcome.
Will you be alright here?
ANNE Thanks. I’ll be fine.
And thankyou Mark, for helping with my heavy bags.
MARK Don’t
mention it.
2. SAYING GOODBYE
When we leave someone we usually say: Goodbye
Or more informally: Bye
When leaving a friend or someone we will see again we might say: See
you later
or just seeya
SARAH Goodbye.
3. THE FUTURE TENSE
Thefuture tense is used to talk about
what will happen in the future, after the present.
The word will is used to show that we are talking about
the future. Will is put before the verb.
Here are three sentences:
Simple Present Tense: I go to the city. (I go there
every day)
Present Continuous Tense: I
am going to the city. (I am going there now)
Future
Tense: I will go to the
city. (at some later time)
Notice how the word will comes before the verb go.
To make this into a question, change the order of the
subject I and will.
Will I go to the city?
CLERK Will
you need a hire car?
CLERK Will you want a newspaper
in the morning?
In speech, the word will is often contracted.
I will becomes I’ll. I’ll
go to the city.
He will becomes he’ll. He’ll
get into trouble.
We will becomes we’ll We’ll
go out tonight
You will becomes you’ll. You’ll
go to the city.
They will becomes they’ll. They’ll
lose all their money.
But in questions, will is pronounced fully. Will
you go to the city?
SARAH Will
you be alright here?
ANNE Thanks. I’ll be fine.
4. PAYING
When buying something, the clerk, or sales assistant may ask:
How will you be paying?
Or: How would you like to pay for that?
You can say in reply: How will you be paying? I’d
like to pay bycredit card.
How
will you be paying? By Eftpos.
How
will you be paying? By cheque.
How
will you be paying? In cash.
CLERK And how will you be paying Ms
Lee?
ANNE Credit card.
5. FORMAL TITLES
When we speak to someone formally, especially when we first meet them,
we usually use their formal title.
This is done by saying: Mister (written Mr)
for men. Missus (written Mrs) for
married women. Miss for unmarried women.
Or Ms for women where you don’t know if they are
married.
May women in Western countries prefer to be called Ms,
and it is a good idea to use this term if not sure.
We say the person’s title, followed by their family
name. In English this is also called their surname.
The surname is also sometimes called the person’s last
name, because it is written last.
So Brenton Whittle’s formal title is: Mr Whittle.
Michelle Crowden’s formal title is either: Mrs Crowden
(if she is married) Miss Crowden (if she isn’t
married)
Or Ms Crowden (in either case).
When you know someone better, or in an informal situation, you would use
their first name. In Western countries, this is also often called their
Christian name.
So Brenton Whittle’s first name, or Christian name, is Brenton.
We never put Mr, Mrs or Ms before first
names, only before surnames.
Watch Living English and get to know the characters of our drama 'Sisters and Brothers' as you learn and revise your basic English skills.
How
will you be paying? 
How
will you be paying?