I'd like to know the differenes....

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Meg
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I'd like to know the differenes....

Post by Meg »

Hello, everybody

I understand there are a lot of greeting expressions in English, but I am not so sure about the subtle difference of nuance and
I'd like to know how to use them at proper situation.

For examples; "How are you? " and "How are you doing?"
"How are things with you?" "What's up?" etc.

I'd be very glad if you could answer my questions.

Meg
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Re: I'd like to know the differenes....

Post by ProfessorVerb »

Meg wrote:Hello, everybody

I understand there are a lot of greeting expressions in English, but I am not so sure about the subtle difference of nuance and
I'd like to know how to use them at proper situation.

For examples; "How are you? " and "How are you doing?"
"How are things with you?" "What's up?" etc.

I'd be very glad if you could answer my questions.

Meg
All of these examples are informal greetings with virtually identical meanings. These phrases in particular are simply pleasantries that people exchange, much as they do all over the world. I should point out, though, that "How are things with you?" is not normally heard, and the others are usually spoken thusly (at least in the Midwest):

How are you? = How are ya?
How are you doing? = How ya doin'?
What's up? = Whazzup? (increasingly being heard among the young - ugh!).

A typical response to the above would be: "Fine. You doin' all right?" (The speakers generally do not actually care either way, but these are standard.)

Other comparable greetings to these include: "Hot enough for you?" (in the summer of course); "Workin' hard?" and the inimitable "Howdy" (usually not heard outside of the Midwest unless joking). "Hi," "Yo," and "Hey there" are also used.
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Post by shokin »

Yes, we should go to England or US to know the real use of these expressions.

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Post by Meg »

Hello, professorVerb and Shokin

Thank you very much for your explanations. That's very understandable. :D :D :D
As Shokin says that we should go to England or US to feel the subtle difference of nuance..... :roll:
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Post by shokin »

or practicing here this expressions with english-native for example.

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Post by Meg »

shokin wrote:or practicing here this expressions with english-native for example.

Shokin
Oh, yes. why not? :idea: That's more inexpensive. :mrgreen:
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Post by Dixie »

Meg wrote: Oh, yes. why not? :idea: That's more inexpensive. :mrgreen:
You mean cheaper? ;)
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Post by Meg »

Dixie wrote:
Meg wrote: Oh, yes. why not? :idea: That's more inexpensive. :mrgreen:
You mean cheaper? ;)
Well, "cheaper" sounds like bad meaning in a sense so that I'd rather say it's inexpensive or economical. ;) ;) ;)
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Post by shokin »

Better is equitable and ecological buying ! ;)

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Post by Meg »

A huh. You've got a deal. That's better. ;)
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