Speaking: Interactive Communication A1 - Lesson 3
Asking "What's your name?" / "How are you?"
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to use different common phrases to ask for a name, ask how someone is, and give a variety of natural answers.
Conversation Variations
There is more than one way to ask and answer these common questions. Let's look at some examples.
Variation 1: Standard & Polite
Sokha: Hello. What's your name?
Piseth: My name is Piseth. And you?
Sokha: I'm Sokha. Nice to meet you.
Variation 2: "How are you?" with different answers
Teacher: Good morning, class. How are you today?
Student 1: I'm very well, thank you!
Student 2: I'm a little tired.
Student 3: Not bad, thanks.
Key Phrases & Variations
- How about you? (Question) | ចុះអ្នកវិញ? | A common alternative to "And you?". ↩
- I'm good. / I'm very well. (Phrase) | ខ្ញុំសុខសប្បាយធម្មតា | A positive and friendly answer to "How are you?". ↩
- I'm okay. (Phrase) | ខ្ញុំធម្មតា | A neutral answer. You are not good, not bad. Just okay. ↩
- Not bad. (Phrase) | គ្រាន់បើ | A common, informal answer that means "so-so" or "okay". ↩
- a little tired (Phrase) | ហត់បន្តិច | A polite way to say you do not feel 100% good. ↩
Intonation Shows Feeling
The "music" of your answer is very important. It tells the listener how you really feel.
- When you say "I'm fine!" with a high, happy intonation, it sounds like you are truly happy.
- When you say "I'm fine." with a low, flat intonation, it sounds like you are maybe not fine.
Try to use a friendly, positive intonation when you say you are good or well!
Beyond "I'm fine, thank you."
While "I'm fine, thank you" is 100% correct, native speakers use many different phrases. Using them will make you sound more natural.
Alternatives for "I'm fine"
- Positive: "I'm good, thanks.", "I'm very well, thank you.", "Great!"
- Neutral (Okay): "I'm okay.3", "Not bad.4", "Can't complain."
- A little Negative: "I'm a little tired.5", "A bit busy today."
Alternatives for "And you?"
- How about you?1
- What about you?
Practice Your Conversations
Activity 1: Mix and Match
Match the question with the most appropriate answer.
- Question: How are you?
- Question: What's your name?
- Answer A: My name is David.
- Answer B: Not bad, thanks. How about you?
(Correct match: 1 -> B, 2 -> A)
Activity 2: Role-Play with Feeling
Work with a partner. Ask each other "How are you?". One person should pretend to be very happy and use a positive answer. The other should pretend to be a little tired and use a different answer. Try to use friendly intonation!
Your Communication Mission
This week in Siem Reap, your mission is to move beyond "I'm fine, thank you."
- The next time someone asks you "How are you?", try using a different answer from this lesson, like "I'm good, thanks" or "Not bad".
- When you return the question, try using "How about you?".