Here are some common English phrases for general conversation with people you already know.
Asking how someone is
| how are you? |
| how's it going? (quite informal) |
| how are you doing? (quite informal) |
| how's life? (quite informal) |
| how are things? (quite informal) |
| I'm fine, thanks |
| I'm OK, thanks |
| not too bad, thanks |
| alright, thanks |
| not so well |
| how about you? |
| and you? |
| and yourself? |
Asking what someone is or has been doing
| what are you up to? |
| what have you been up to? |
| working a lot |
| studying a lot |
| I've been very busy |
| same as usual |
| not much or not a lot |
| I've just come back from … |
| Portugal |
| English phrase guide | |
|---|---|
| Page 4 of 61 | |
|
➔
Emergencies |
Making friends
➔ |
Asking where someone is
| where are you? |
| I'm … |
| at home |
| at work |
| in town |
| in the countryside |
| at the shops |
| on a train |
| at Peter's |
Asking about someone's plans
| do you have any plans for the summer? |
| what are you doing for …? |
| Christmas |
| New Year |
| Easter |
| English phrase guide | |
|---|---|
| Page 4 of 61 | |
|
➔
Emergencies |
Making friends
➔ |
Sound is available for all the English phrases on this page — simply click on any phrase to hear it.
Mobile app
Our award-winning English phrase guide app for Android devices contains over 6000 useful phrases and words with sound.
