American English greetings, opening lines and conversations

1.10   Greetings (First time meeting):

There are many ways to greet someone.  Here are some examples.

Greetings (First time meeting):

Question: Hi, my name is Sebastian.  It's nice to meet you.

You can respond to this by saying:

It's a pleasure to meet you.  I'm Hector. Or thank you Mr. Trump, I have a question for you.

Another regularly asked American question is:

What do you do for a living? You can answer to this by saying:

1.       I work at the coffee bean.

2.       I work at a night club.

3.       I work at a media company.
4.       I work for Donald.

5.       I'm a Veterinarian.
6.       None of your business.
7.       Why do you ask?

When people meet, they introduce themselves naturally. But in case they don’t, here are some ways to respond.

What is your name? Many times, I can’t hear or understand their name.  Huh? If you would like for them to repeat their name, you can simple ask:

1.       What was that again?

2.       Excuse me?

3.       Pardon me?
4.       I'm sorry I can't understand you. Can you repeat that?

General Statements

As you might have noticed in America, speaking in the present tense is not as common as speaking in the future or past tense.

Here are some example sentences:

1.       I see Rocco and Bobby over there by the newspaper stand.

2.       I'm going to the beach.

3.       I'm on my way home.

4.       I'm going to the movie theater.

5.       Talk to the hand.

6.       Carmen is going to the store.

7.       Jackie is making coffee now.

8.       The breakfast is starting now.

9.       The owner is waiting for you in her office.

10.    Tell the receptionist that you are here to see Mr. Hamilton.

Common Questions and Answers

To answer these questions, you should use the present tense since these events are currently occurring.

Each sentence begins with 'I am' or I'm instead of 'I will be' or 'I was.'

Exercise 1: Practice the following questions aloud.

1.       What are you doing? I am working out. Or I’m working out. Or, I'm tired, leave me alone.

2.       How is your day going? Fine, I have an easy day. Or Crazy day today.

3.       What are you doing now? I’m at Whole Foods spending my whole paycheck. or I'm working call you later.

Complain like an American:

Complain like an American.  For example, if you have a boring job, and who doesn't? You might want to complain to your friend. Just don’t let the boss hear you, and don’t put it in writing and don't post it on social media. 

Exercise 1: Repeat the following answers aloud.

How is your work these days?

1.       Work is so boring, I’m going crazy. Or It's terrible I can't wait to find a better job.

2.       I ran out of things to do and my boss is too swamped to give me more work.  I tried to find things to do with no avail.  I'm sitting at my desk on Facebook.

3.       Work seems so boring.

4.       Time goes so slow when you're bored.  I'd rather be working or anything else.

5.       The day goes by faster when I'm busy. 

Leisure or Recreational time

Have you tried the following to fill your free time? Gardening, exercise, genealogy, fishing, bowling, biking, photography, collecting, reading, music, hiking, or sports.

General Activity Statements

Exercise 1: Repeat the following answers aloud.

1.       I need to find a job.  I have nothing to do all day.

2.       I would love to go hang gliding.  It's exciting.

3.       I would go skiing more often, but it's dangerous.

4.       I wish tennis wasn't so expensive.

5.       How have you been?

6.       How you've been?

These informal questions are only asked by people who have already met. If someone asks you. How have you been? They want to know if you have been well since the last time the two of you were together.

1.       How do you do?

2.       Hey, Hey man, or Hi

3.       How’s it going? or How are you doing?

4.       What’s up? What’s new? or What’s going on?

5.       How’s everything? How are things? or How’s life?

6.       How’s your day? or How’s your day going?

7.       Good to see you or Nice to see you

8.       Long time no see or It’s been a while

Business greetings and formal greetings

Exercise 1: Repeat the following greetings aloud.

1.       Good morning, Good afternoon, or Good evening

2.       It’s nice to meet you. 

3.       Pleased to meet you.

Greetings for an informal situation.

To show friendliness or informality add "hey" or "yo" to the beginning of these greetings.

Exercise 1: Repeat the following greetings aloud.

1.       Hey, what’s up? Yo, what's up?

2.       Yo, good to see you.

3.       Hey, how are things with you?

4.       How’s it going?

5.       How’s life been treating you? It’s going good?

6.       What’s cooking?

The pronunciation is often shortened to, cookin. This is highly informal, slang and should only be used with people around your age and or socioeconomic class. Its similar in use to What’s happening? Or What’s good?

•             What’s happening?

The pronunciation is often shortened to happening.

Greeting a person, you haven’t seen for a long time (the boss)

Exercise 1: Repeat the following statements aloud.

1.       It's been a long time.

2.       It’s been too long.

3.       It’s always a pleasure to see you.

4.       How long has it been?

5.       What’s new?
6.       Good morning Mr. President 

Greeting a person, you haven’t seen for a long time (friends)

Exercise 1: Repeat the following statements aloud.

1.       Long time no see.

2.       Where have you been hiding?

3.       It’s been ages...since I’ve seen you.

4.       How’ve you been.
5.       You look thin.

Banking terms (A) with definitions

One of the best places to work is a Bank, here are some common Banking terms starting with the letter "A"

A

Account(uh-kount) Agreement:

The contract governing your open-end credit account, it provides information on changes that may occur to the account.

Account History:

The payment history of an account over a specific period of time, including the number of times the account was past due or over limit.

Account Holder:

Any and all persons designated and authorized to transact business on behalf of an account. Each account holder's signature needs to be on file with the bank. The signature authorizes that person to conduct business on behalf of the account.

Accrued(uh-krood) Interest:

Interest that has been earned but not yet paid. 

Acquiring Bank:

In a merger, the bank that absorbs the bank acquired. 

Adjustable-Rate Mortgages(mawr-gijs) (ARMS):

Also known as variable-rate mortgages. The initial interest rate is usually below that of conventional fixed-rate loans. The interest rate may change over the life of the loan as market conditions change.  

There is typically a maximum (or ceiling) and a minimum (or floor) defined in the loan agreement. If interest rates rise, so does the loan payment. If interest rates fall, the loan payment may as well. 

Adverse Action:

Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, a creditor's refusal to grant credit on the terms requested, termination of an existing account, or an unfavorable change in an existing account.

Adverse Action Notice:

The notice required by the Equal Credit Opportunity Act advising a credit applicant or existing debtor of the denial of their request for credit or advising of a change in terms considered unfavorable to the account holder. .

Affidavit(af-i-dey-vit):

A sworn statement in writing before a proper official, such as a notary public. 

Alteration(awl-tuh-rey-shuhn):

Any change involving an erasure or rewriting in the date, amount, or payee of a check or other negotiable instrument. 

Amortization(am-er-tuh-zey-shuhn):

The process of reducing debt through regular installment payments of principal and interest that will result in the payoff of a loan at its maturity.

Annual Percentage Rate (APR):

The cost of credit on a yearly basis, expressed as a percentage. 

Annual Percentage Yield (APY):

A percentage rate reflecting the total amount of interest paid on a deposit account based on the interest rate and the frequency of compounding for a 365-day year. 

Application:

Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), an oral or written request for an extension of credit that is made in accordance with the procedures established by a creditor for the type of credit requested. 

Appraisal(uh-prey-zuhl):

The act of evaluating and setting the value of a specific piece of personal or real property.

Authorization(aw-ther-uh-zey-shuhn):

The issuance of approval, by a credit card issuer, merchant, or other affiliate, to complete a credit card transaction. 

Automated Clearing House (ACH):

A computerized facility used by member depository institutions to electronically combine, sort, and distribute inter-bank credits and debits. ACHs process electronic transfers of government securities and provided customer services, such as direct deposit of customers' salaries and government benefit payments (i.e., social security, welfare, and veterans' entitlements), and preauthorized transfers.

Automated Teller Machine (ATM):

A machine, activated by a magnetically encoded card or other medium, that can process a variety of banking transactions. These include accepting deposits and loan payments, providing withdrawals, and transferring funds between accounts. 

Automatically Protected:

As of May 1, 2011, up to two months of Federal benefits such as Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income benefits, Veteran’s benefits, Railroad Retirement benefits, and benefits from the Office of Personnel Management that are direct deposited to an account may be protected from garnishment. The amount automatically protected will depend upon the balance of the account on the day of review. 

Automatic Bill Payment:

A checkless system for paying recurring bills with one authorization statement to a financial institution. For example, the customer would only have to provide one authorization form/letter/document to pay the cable bill each month. The necessary debits and credits are made through an Automated Clearing House (ACH).

Availability Date:

Bank's policy as to when funds deposited into an account will be available for withdrawal.  

Availability Policy:

Bank's policy as to when funds deposited into an account will be available for withdrawal. 

Available Balance:

The balance of an account less any hold, uncollected funds, and restrictions against the account. 

Available Credit:

The difference between the credit limit assigned to a cardholder account and the present balance of the account.