Chapter 1_ First Impressions

Grammar Tools: Nouns · Pronouns · Plurals Vocabulary: Greetings · Goodbyes · Introductions

1.1 Cha pt e r G o al - Wha t Y ou Will Be Able to D o B y t he end o f t hi s cha pt e r, you w ill be able to: G r ee t so me o ne c o n fi den t l y in f or mal and inf or mal s i tu a t i o n s In tro d u ce yours elf us ing t h r ee s im p le, r ead y -to -us e t em p la t e s In tro d u ce an ot he r p e rso n po li t el y S t a rt and end a s h ort c o n v e rs a t i o n na tur all y U s e t he c orr ec t n ou n s, pro n ou n s, and p l ur al s in your fi rst c o n v e rs a t i o n s Whe r e w ill you us e t he s e s kill s? A t a j o b in t e rv ie w. On your fi rst da y a t a ne w o ffi ce. When you mee t a clien t. When a f or eign v i s i tor c o me s to your wor k p lace. When you j o in a ne w cla ss or tr aining pro g r am. 📌 Remembe r: Y ou ne v e r ge t a s ec o nd chance to make a fi rst im pr e ss i o n. B ut t he g oo d ne ws i s - you o nl y need a fe w s en t ence s to make a g r ea t o ne.

1.2 Wa r m -U p Dial o g u e - Li st en and N ot ice Read t hi s dial o g u e ca r ef u ll y. T wo p e op le a r e mee t ing f or t he fi rst t ime a t an o ffi ce.

P r i y a: G oo d m or ning! I d o n' t t hink w e' v e me t. I' m P r i y a - I j ust j o ined t he ma r ke t ing t eam. A r j u n: Oh, hell o! I' m A r j u n. I wor k in acc ou n ts. Welc o me to t he t eam! P r i y a: Thank you! Ha v e you been he r e l o ng? A r j u n: Ab out two y ea rs n ow. I t' s a g oo d p lace to wor k. P r i y a: Tha t' s nice to hea r. Oh - and t hi s i s m y c o lleag u e Sneha. She' s f ro m t he P u ne o ffi ce. A r j u n: Hi Sneha, nice to mee t you! Sneha: Nice to mee t you too, A r j u n. P r i y a: We s h ou ld ge t back to our de s k s. I t w a s g r ea t mee t ing you!

A r j u n: Y ou too! See you a rou nd.

T ry t hi s: Read t he dial o g u e again. Find and u nde r line:

1. All t he g r ee t ing p h r a s e s ( e. g., " G oo d m or ning")

2. All t he in tro d u c t i o n p h r a s e s ( e. g., " I' m P r i y a")

3. All t he g oo db y e p h r a s e s ( e. g., " See you a rou nd") We w ill stu d y all o f t he s e in t he s ec t i o n s bel ow.

1.3 C or e G r ee t ing s - F or mal, Ne utr al, and Inf or mal N ot all g r ee t ing s a r e t he s ame. Ch oos ing t he r igh t g r ee t ing s h ows t ha t you u nde rst and t he s i tu a t i o n. He r e a r e t he t h r ee typ e s you need: F or mal G r ee t ing s (Use with: bosses, clients, interviewers, senior colleagues, strangers in professional settings) G r ee t ing When to U s e G oo d m or ning Bef or e 12 n oo n G oo d af t e r n oo n 12 n oo n to 5 p m G oo d e v ening Af t e r 5 p m H ow d o you d o? Ve ry f or mal fi rst mee t ing ( r a r e in dail y us e)

Ne utr al G r ee t ing s (Use with: colleagues, classmates, neighbours, people you meet regularly) G r ee t ing Re spo n s e Hell o! Hell o! / Hi! H ow a r e you? I' m fi ne, t hank you. / Ve ry w ell, t hank s. H ow' s i t g o ing? P r e tty g oo d, t hank s! / N ot bad, t hank s. Nice to mee t you. Nice to mee t you too.

(Use with: close friends, family, people your own age in casual settings) G r ee t ing Re spo n s e Hi! He y! / Hi! He y! He y! Wha t' s up? Wha t' s up? N ot hing m u ch! / All g oo d!

⚠ C o mm o n Indian Engli s h Mi st ake: Man y lea r ne rs s a y "Myself Priya" a s a g r ee t ing. Thi s i s inc orr ec t in st anda r d spo ken Engli s h. Al w a ys s a y " I' m P r i y a" or " M y name i s P r i y a."

1.4 In tro d u cing Y ours elf - 3 Beginne r Tem p la t e s Y ou o nl y need to lea r n t h r ee s im p le p a tt e r n s. Mi x and ma t ch t hem de p ending o n t he s i tu a t i o n.

Tem p la t e A - Name + Place Use when: you are meeting someone for the first time in a social setting " I' m [ name]. I' m f ro m [ ci ty/p lace]." E x am p le s: " I' m Ka vy a. I' m f ro m Bengal uru." " I' m Rah u l. I' m or iginall y f ro m L u ckn ow, b ut I li v e in Delhi n ow."

Tem p la t e B - Name + R o le Use when: you are in a professional or work setting " I' m [ name]. I wor k a s a [ ro le] / I' m a [ ro le]." E x am p le s: " I' m Sanja y. I wor k a s a so f tw a r e t e st e r." " I' m Meena. I' m a t eache r a t a g ov e r nmen t s ch oo l."

Use when: you are at an event, interview, training, or meeting " I' m [ name]. I' m he r e to [ purpos e]." E x am p le s: " I' m Dee p ak. I' m he r e f or t he s ale s tr aining." " I' m Anan y a. I' m he r e f or t he in t e rv ie w f or t he HR pos i t i o n."

Adding One E xtr a De t ail ( O pt i o nal) Af t e r your t em p la t e, you can add o ne s afe, f r iendl y fac t ab out yours elf. Kee p i t s h ort. Safe top ic s to add: H ow l o ng you ha v e been in t he c o m p an y/ ci ty S o me t hing you enj oy ab out your wor k A c o nnec t i o n you ha v e (" I kn ow Raje s h f ro m t he P u ne o ffi ce") E x am p le ( Tem p la t e B + e xtr a de t ail): " I' m Sanja y. I wor k a s a so f tw a r e t e st e r....