Questions tagged [conversation]
For questions related to natural spoken conversations. Please use the dialogue tag for authored or scripted conversations
0
votes
0answers
28 views
Correct usage of “This Side” in a phone conversation
I have heard people using
"This side James, here"
"This side James"
for example, when someone starts talking on a phone call.
I wanted to check if any of the above is a correct usage of ...
0
votes
1answer
51 views
How to ask to repeat a phrase?
If voice during phone conversation become gibberish, how to ask a person to repeat last words? I'm living in Cyprus and all local people when speak English just use 'tell me' for this. It this a ...
0
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1answer
44 views
Would it be possible to respond “Not” if someone ask me that “Do you ~”, or “Did you ~”?
Is it alright that I say just a word "Not." about the question starting with "Do you~?", or "Did you~?"? (Not Are you~?, Were you~?)
2
votes
0answers
39 views
How to shout to a stranger 80ft away to let her know that her cards have fallen onto the ground? [closed]
During my recent trip visiting U.S. I noticed a girl's credit card falling onto the ground. She was walking and did not notice this. The girl (maybe ~20 years old) was ~80ft away from me. I tried ...
0
votes
2answers
49 views
How would i ask for application process completed succesfully [closed]
We applied to International Revenue Service for obtaining ein for our new established USA based company, filled out and thereafter sent SS-4 form through fax and I need to check out on the phone ...
0
votes
1answer
339 views
Synonym for “sure” and “yes please”
When somebody suggests me something (maybe offering me something, or suggesting me for a proposal/plan), and I would like to show my agreement/approval for that. Instead of just saying "sure" or "yes ...
-1
votes
2answers
65 views
How to say “dulcet” in verbal English (or slang)?
For example, if somebody sitting next to me hummed or sang a song and I want to tell him that his song is dulcet, in a polite but informal manner (or even slang). How can I express that?
Should I ...
1
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0answers
63 views
How strong is using “you're a bitch” in a conversation? [closed]
Sorry if I bother you guys about my story but I don't know where I should ask for my problem. English is my second language so I have some problems in conversation with my boyfriend( a American man).
...
3
votes
1answer
79 views
My wife, I just have the one, is
A: Those are my wives
B: Well, my wife, I just have the one, ...
This conversation is taken from the series shameless, s07e03, min. 22:47.
What is the meaning of the definite article in B's ...
0
votes
1answer
731 views
I am your friend. What about you?
I want to offer a friendship, where there is a cultural barrier that I need to respect; And there is a barrier in the other direction too - but less strong.
I want to offer the friendship by stating ...
-3
votes
1answer
80 views
How can I improve my speaking? [closed]
When I speak I use a small vocabulary, even though I know a lot more than that. Those words tend to be vague and boring. I know other alternatives for those words, although it doesn't come out ...
1
vote
1answer
218 views
How to punctuate rhetorical question in an informal sentence?
I am writing a story where my character says something like, "It's been what? Twenty-five years? since I've seen you".
Now, how do I properly punctuate this in my sentence?
Do I use ellipses or ...
0
votes
1answer
78 views
Can “some couldn't know” be used to console somebody?
A : "Hey pal, I don't think I can go on anymore. I feel people around me are much greater than me. I feel I'm useless and nobody cares about me."
B : "Don't worry. It's okay. Some couldn't know." (= ...
0
votes
0answers
92 views
Punctuation of quotes when transcribing informal conversations. I'm baffled!
I'm well aware of both the British and US rules regarding punctuation of quotes in stories and more formal dialogue, especially ending with 'she said' or 'I replied', etc.
If it is an informal ...
1
vote
1answer
142 views
Word for not insignificant small talk?
From Merriam Webster small talk is defined as
"light or casual conversation"
However describing a conversation with my parents as small talk would indicate a shallow relationship.
Is there a word ...
1
vote
0answers
35k views
Best reply to “Have a nice weekend”?
Someone says: "Have a nice weekend!"
Which of these replies suits best? Consider saying this to a foreign person, not a friend:
"Same to you."
"You too."
"I wish you, too."
Feel free to post if ...
0
votes
2answers
111 views
Daily Conversation
John: May I speak to Ali please?
Father: _______________________________.
Yes, you may
Hold on please.
Some of my students give number 1 answer. I do not intend to accept number 1 as a valid answer ...
9
votes
3answers
1k views
What is the difference between didn’t get to sleep and “toss and turn”? [closed]
I saw this saying in a conversation book:
I didn’t get to sleep for two or three hours. Then after that I tossed and turned all night.
And I’ve consulted Merriam Webster dictionary.
Doesn’t “toss ...
0
votes
1answer
2k views
If I were you or if i was you? [duplicate]
I think they both acceptable, but which one you recommend me to use in conversation.
If he were/was an elephant.
Isn't were sounds too formal/oldfashioned?
1
vote
1answer
2k views
Difference between saying basically and essentially?
I've observed that the word "basically" is not appreciated by any of my professors, specifically in the writing context (as opposed to in conversation).
Is saying (writing) "essentially" a more ...
0
votes
0answers
251 views
The way to ask if “everything is done and I can leave”
For example, you go to the social security office to replace the lost SSN card. The government workers examined all your materials, and after some time they give you something back. However, they did ...
0
votes
1answer
1k views
What does “Sunny Greetings” mean when starting a conversation?
Recently I met a new friend who uses the message "Sunny Greetings" every time we start a conversation, especially via message.
What makes this word "Sunny" becomes appropriate?
Will it depend on any ...
2
votes
3answers
3k views
What phrase do you use instead of “Nice to meet you” when the two of you have already met but [closed]
I'm not a native English speaker. I would like to know what phrase can be used instead of
"Nice to meet you"
when the two of you have already met but this just happens to be the first time you ...
0
votes
1answer
1k views
what's the difference between “artificial” and “man-made”?
My colleagues and I started a conversation about skiing.
I told them about my last year trip to a mountain but unfortunately there wasn't any snow at all. People there managed to make some artificial ...
0
votes
1answer
89 views
Does using “most” in conversational English convey use of some statistic or data gathering?
In a conversation someone said the following:
Most of the engineers working in the high-tech industry switch jobs for money.
I was a little adamant about the use of Most in the above statement. I ...
1
vote
2answers
309 views
“I understood her to say” [closed]
‘I did. But when I reached the telephone, he had grown tired of waiting and had rung off. I should never have allowed Miss Wickham to take me away from the house.’
‘She wanted you to see the big ...
0
votes
0answers
105 views
Do word contractions and brief sentences make for a more conversational / natural speech?
I'm currently studying what makes a sentence sound/ read conversational to native English speakers. Do word contractions and brief sentences make them so? Please consider the dialogues below. Do both ...
1
vote
0answers
392 views
What is this type of non-answer called? [duplicate]
I walk into a store and ask the clerk: "Do you have any diet Dr Pepper?"
The clerk answers, "We have regular Dr Pepper."
Searching for a description of this type of response, I've found a lot of ...
1
vote
0answers
2k views
What would you call “the other party” in a conversation in which you are participating? [duplicate]
The ideal word would be "conversee" but that obviously isn't correct. "Recipient" doesn't feel right either. I suppose "interlocutor" is somewhat better, but that doesn't refer to the "other", in this ...
0
votes
1answer
4k views
What's the meaning of “don't make too much trouble for me”
I asked my friend if she likes roujiamou, a popular snack in China, because I was considering to bringing her this as a small gift when we are hanging out tomorrow.
She said "I'd like that, but don'...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
'I says' in spoken English
Is it popular to use 'I says' in conversations in spoken English?
Especially when we talk about the past in the present.
"Hey, John do you remember Linda?"
"Yeh"
"We were talking yesterday and she ...
-1
votes
1answer
565 views
What is the meaning of “put in” in a conversation [closed]
I have visited Great Britain a while ago, and I communicate often with people from nordic countries, and from all of them I often hear the "put in" when someone don't understand or don't hear ...
1
vote
2answers
19k views
It's really nice seeing you. Do native speakers often use this phrase?
My teacher told us that if you want to start a conversation or greeting in a not necessarily formal way you should say the phrase "it's really nice seeing you" after saying hello.
Do native English ...
4
votes
1answer
8k views
How do you respond when someone tells you their parent is deceased? [closed]
Well I'm still in college and I know from one of my friends that another friend's father died when she was young. Now how do I react politely if she tells me that in some situation. "Oh, sorry to hear ...
0
votes
2answers
2k views
How to answer when an American asks “Which part of ___ are you from”?
I'm an alien worker here in USA.
This happens a lot when I start chit-chatting with a stranger, he/she would ask "Where're you from?"
"China" I say.
Then chances are the following question would be "...
3
votes
1answer
640 views
Is it better to write 'I' or 'Me' for the name of a speaker in a dialogue? [duplicate]
What should I choose when I write a conversation? Should I write like this?
I: How are you?
John: Fine.
or like this?
Me: How are you?
John: Fine.
0
votes
1answer
297 views
How should I address this professor in the US?
Realted to this question How should I address a professor in the US?
I have a question how to adress the professor in the US in my concrete situation. In the last E-Mails I wrote "Dear professor ..." ...
-1
votes
1answer
129 views
What to say in-order to stop a long boring conversation? [closed]
Suppose two friends got into an argument which turned out to be an unending debate. And one of them wanted to end it. What are the different ways to express this?
2
votes
1answer
2k views
“I'm not fit for public consumption ”
A new girl around me had been hospitalized over the weekend for a non-urgent issue. The same day, I wrote to her that I was available to visit her, to see if she needed any help or something (and if ...
1
vote
2answers
498 views
The correct usage of to and in when asking if this is a person's first time in a city [closed]
I'm not sure how to explain this to my student. He is asking which of the following sentences are correct:
Is this your first time TO Tokyo?
or
Is this your first time IN Tokyo?
I'm thinking the ...
1
vote
3answers
14k views
How to reply properly to 'Thank you' [closed]
Consider following situation
You are a polite person and you hold a door open for someone that comes immediately after you. He/she says: "Thank You!"
What is the correct expression to reply to him/...
0
votes
1answer
118 views
punctuation to indicate non-grammatical pause or omission
Is it inappropriate to use an ellipsis to create a conversational pause in a typed sentence, in a situation where it's not appropriate to use a comma or a dash or anything else? There's no grammatical ...
0
votes
4answers
172 views
Adjective for a type of conversation where no real information is conveyed but rather the speakers are establishing a connection.
There is an english word (adj) that refers to a type of conversation where no real real information is being conveyed but rather the speakers are establishing a connection.
A casual conversation ...
0
votes
1answer
114 views
running into someone after vacation
for the question 16, I don't know either using "How was your break?" or "What's going on".
And Q20,"what about you?" and "what are you up to?" seem able to use?
Could someone explain their usages?
1
vote
1answer
617 views
“I know you are” as a response to introduction [closed]
I was watching a movie and noticed this sentence used as a response from a person introducing himself/herself. This is quite odd for me as a non-native speaker of the language.
Example:
Setting: In ...
4
votes
4answers
332 views
Is there a word for this type of overhearing?
just those snippets of conversations that you're not involved in that you overhear and its not even louder than the rest of their conversation it just stands out to you. I feel like that deserves an ...
0
votes
1answer
6k views
How to answer the greeting “What's the story?”
I have a lot of Irish coworkers that often greet me by saying "What's the story?"
What's a good way to answer to this greeting?
Also, does this ever get used in the UK, US or Australia?
6
votes
2answers
2k views
What is the proper response to “Excuse my language”?
What is the proper response to "Excuse my language"?
I don't want to say "not a problem", because honestly, it is a problem. However, I can't think of any other appropriate response.
I'm looking ...
2
votes
4answers
3k views
Is there a word for talking without moving your mouth?
I don't mean Ventriloquism exactly, I mean talking around what you may already have in your mouth... For instance say you put something gross in your mouth and ask if its okay to spit it out.
Example:...
4
votes
2answers
33k views
How to answer “how's it going man?”
I've lived in USA only for a while and people sometimes say to me (when we meet):
How's it going man?
Or
How you doing man?
What do I answer? Do they ask me how is it going? I try to say:
Thanks, ...
