Every day, by choice or by necessity, we involve ourselves in the process of communication. With relatives, casual acquaintances, colleagues and friends. Communication is a natural process of receiving and transmitting information, expressing one's point of view, developing thinking, after all.
But how to participate in communication with native speakers if the level of English is not high enough? How to make your speech coherent and understandable, especially in a foreign language? The answer is - having decided on the topic, structure your statements!
A conversation between two people - a dialogue - is one of the units of communication. Our task is to understand what the dialogue in English consists of. It is logical that from questions and answers. There are also a couple of other options. How to ask a question in English and how to correctly answer a question in English - read below. We are starting a large series of articles about different types of dialogue in English.
The most important formula for success is knowing how to deal with people (Theodore Roosevelt)
To understand what conversational dialogues in English are, the basic units of communication will help.
1. A speech event is a sequential text viewed from the perspective of some event. An example is everyday dialogues, various kinds of interviews, conversations.
2. The speech situation is not so close to our topic of dialogues, since its participants do not enter into communication with each other: one speaks, the second listens.
3. Speech interaction, in which both the addresser and the addressee take part, having a common subject of conversation and speaking in a language understandable to both, these are the very components of the dialogue that are needed to understand its structure.
Simply put, a dialogue requires two people who are united by an interest in one or more topics, ready to speak in turn and listen to each other, taking into account the possible reaction.
The dialogue mainly develops through questions and answers, that is, according to the formula: question answer.
— Hi! How are you? - Hey! How do you?
— Hi! I'm great! Yourself? - Hey! Everything is fine with me! And how are you?
— Thank you, I'm fine! - Thanks, everything is fine!
This is the simplest example of building a dialogue. Another formula is possible: question - question. The answer after such a construction may or may not be, it is up to you.
- You won't be late, will you? "You won't be late, will you?"
Why would you even ask me that? Of course, I will come in time! How can you ask? Of course I'll be there on time!
The formula is often used: statement - question.
— You look tired. - You look tired.
— Do I? I feel fine. - Truth? I feel myself good.
As well as: assertion - assertion.
— Nick called me last night, was asking about you. “Nick called me last night asking about you.
— I don't want to hear about him! “I don't want to hear about him.
Two people tell the truth: the one who tells and the one who listens (Eastern wisdom)
We have already figured out what the dialogue consists of and how you can compose a dialogue in English. Now let's move on to the types of questions and possible answers and consider simple dialogues in English using examples.
1. General question - yes / no answer:
— John, do you like pizza? John, do you like pizza?
— Yes, I do. No, I don't. - Yes. No.
Yes, I was. No, I wasn't - Yes, I was. No. I was not.
But in English, you can give a more complete answer, providing more information:
— John, do you like pizza? John, do you like pizza?
Yes, I do but I don't eat it everyday. Yes, I do, but I don't eat it every day.
— Were you at work? - Were you at work?
Yes, I was but until lunch. - Yes, I was, but only until lunch.
2. Wh-question with the words who, what, when, where, why, which, whose and how:
— What are you reading? - What are you reading?
— I'm reading poems of Edgar Allan Poe. I read poetry by Edgar Allan Poe.
- Who called you? - Who called you?
— It was my mom. She asked me to buy bread. - My mum. She asked to buy bread.
3. A disjunctive question with the first affirmative part and the second interrogative:
— It's a beautiful day, isn't it? - It's a wonderful day, isn't it?
— Oh yeah, it's great! Oh yes, he's wonderful!
- You don't know my husband, do you? You don't know my husband, do you?
— I know him very well! – I know him very well!
4. Alternative question with the conjunction or:
— When will you call me: today or tomorrow? When will you call me: today or tomorrow?
— I will call you and give all the information you need as soon as I will get it! “I’ll call you and give you all the information you need as soon as I get it myself!”
Will we go to the restaurant or go to the cinema? Are we going to a restaurant or to the cinema?
— I prefer to stay at home. - I'd rather stay at home.
We live in an active society, so there is no doubt that even the most reserved person needs to communicate. Interaction with people helps to develop the psyche, intuition, communication skills that will help you communicate easily, even with strangers. And conversation clubs at Native English School will help you learn to speak English fluently, because you won’t have to invent examples of dialogues in English, you can use all the knowledge you have gained on how to compose a dialogue in English right here and right now!
Hello my dears.
If you remember that there are many in business English, then it will be much easier to learn them in dialogues. Therefore, today I have prepared for you business dialogues in English, where you can use familiar - or not very familiar - expressions as much as possible. All of them will be given with a translation into Russian. By the way, you can read and listen to them at the same time - which will allow you to compare and analyze what you hear.
- Dialogue 1 - Negotiation of the terms of the contract
A: And now I’d like to discuss with you the year results of our new contract with the “TechArt Group”.
B: So the contract was signed 10 months ago and in the beginning the outcome was under a big question. We provided them with high quality raw materials for their production chain but one supply was with a large percentage of waste.
A: So how did you solve the problem?
B: We changed the delivery and suggested them a discount on the following dispatch. Now our total turnover is over 2 billion dollars. It is 5% higher than what we expected.
A: That is a good outcome. Are they going to sign a contract for the next year deliveries?
B: Yes, they certainly will. They are happy with our delivery terms and payments. And what is more, we are discussing their new project now.
A: It is great. Keep working this way.
Translation:
A: And now I would like to discuss with you the results of the year under our new contract with TechArt Group.
B: So the contract was signed 10 months ago and at the beginning the income was under big question. We have provided them with high quality raw materials for their production chain, but one of the deliveries was with a large percentage of expenses.
A: So how did you solve this problem?
B: We changed the delivery and offered them a discount on the next shipment. Now our total turnover is over 2 billion dollars. This is 5% higher than we expected.
A: This is a good result. Are they going to sign a supply contract for next year?
B: Yes, of course. They are satisfied with our terms of delivery and payments. Moreover, we are now discussing their new project.
A: It's great. Keep up the good work.
- Dialogue 2 - Discussion of the budget and finances
-So we gathered here to discuss budget planning for the next year expenditures. What I want to underline is that basing on the latest research we are going to face some financial difficulties. So we need to prepare and cut the budget.
-First of all I would like to say that no redundancy will take place. We are staffed better than ever before. All our employees correspond to the required level and do their job well. Besides, we cannot cut down production financing. As even a small decrease in the quality of raw materials largely results in the goods quality.
-So what is going to be cut down is the marketing budget. I appreciate what the marketing department does for the company. What is more, I realize that this is going to create huge difficulties for the marketers. But we all understand what will happen if we don't do this way.
Translation:
So, we're here to discuss budget planning for next year's spending. Here's what I want to emphasize - based on recent research, we will face some financial difficulties. So we have to prepare and cut the budget.
- First of all, I would like to say that there will be no excesses. We are better equipped than ever before. All our employees meet the required level and do their job well. Besides, we can't cut production funding. Since even a slight decrease in the quality of raw materials significantly affects the quality of goods.
— The only thing that can be cut is the marketing budget. I appreciate what the marketing department does for the company. Moreover, I understand that this will create huge difficulties for marketers. But we all understand what will happen if we don't.
Do you want to understand speech and capture the meaning of dialogues in English? And also improve your conversational skills in communicating with foreigners? Feel more confident and overcome your language barrier? Then I can offer you an excellent online intensive "English for communication" . If you are not ready for large amounts of knowledge and super fast results, you can try part of this intensive in the form of a course « The development of colloquial speech» .
You will most likely also benefit from the following courses: Fundamentals of Marketing in English , English for Entrepreneurs , English for IT business , Business English .
- Dialogue 3 - Talking on the phone about a meeting
–Hello. May I talk to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), please?
–Good morning. Mister Brownson is busy at the moment. He is holding a meeting. Do you mind leaving the message for him, please?
–No, I don "t. It is Mr. Sparrow calling. We arranged to meet for discussion of our new contract. So I" m calling to confirm.
– Oh, yes, Mr. Sparrow. I was looking forward to your call. Mr.Browson asked me to confirm that he would meet you at the Brew at 2 p.m.
–It is very good. Thank you for information. Looking forward to meeting him.
Translation:
Hello. Can I speak to the CEO please?
Good morning. Mr Browser is busy at the moment. He's holding a meeting. Do you mind leaving him a message, please?
Of course not. This is Mr. Sparrow. We agreed to meet to discuss a new contract. So I'm calling to confirm this.
Oh, yes, Mr. Sparrow. I've been waiting for your call. Mr. Browser asked me to confirm that you are meeting at the Brew Cafe at 2 pm.
Very well. Thanks for the info. I look forward to meeting him.
- Dialogue 4 - Discussion of shipping and costs
–The recent research of average customer consumption revealed that we are going to face the forthcoming problems.
-Our turnover decreased by 15% while the profit is 7.5% lower than last season. So we need to change the way we are working now. And the sphere we need to pay lots of attention to is logistics and delivery.
-The goods departure needs to become cheaper. Transportation and storage costs need to be cut down. That is the main and the most obvious thing to do.
-As we can't influence custom duties we need to think over what else we can do to reduce our logistics expenditures.
Translation:
“A recent survey of average customer spending showed that we have challenges ahead.
- Our turnover decreased by 15%, and profit is 7.5% lower than last season. Therefore, we must change the tactics we are currently using. And the area that we should pay special attention to is logistics and delivery.
- Shipping should be cheaper. Transport and storage costs should be reduced. These are the main and most obvious things to do.
“Since we can't influence customs duties, we need to think about what else we can do to reduce logistics costs.
- Dialogue 5 - Discussion of future cooperation
– Hello, Mr. Collins.
-Good morning, Mr. Evans.
-So we've met to discuss our future mutual development.
-Yes. Our businesses can produce much more together rather than by themselves. You specialize in marketing and we specialize in producing high-quality goods. That is going to give an amazing synergy.
-I hope it will. Have you seen the contract yet?
-Yes. My lawyers looked it through and I am ready to sign and start working.
-That's great. So I suggest celebrating such a move in our development. In our company we have a tradition to meet outside the office on a yearly basis. So why don't we commit this year gathering to our agreement?
- That is a very good idea.
Translation:
Hello Mr Collins.
Good morning Mr Evans.
— So, we met to discuss our future joint developments.
— Yes, our business developments can give much more together than on their own. Do you specialize in the field of marketing, and we are specialized in manufacturing high quality goods. This will give amazing interaction.
- I I hope so will. Have you already seen the contract?
- Yes. My lawyers have reviewed it and I'm ready to sign it and start working.
- Amazing. Therefore, I propose to mark such a step in our development. Our company has a tradition to meet outside the office every year. So why don't we time this meeting to coincide with our agreement?
- This is a very good idea.
If you prefer an individual approach, supervision by a qualified teacher and tracking your progress in English, then I advise you to take Individual Business English course via Skype at EnglishDom school - 20 lessons of communication with a tutor, who will be selected for you at the introductory lesson, will significantly advance you in the topic. Your first step is sign up for a free introductory lesson .
Well, my dears, you have consolidated all the learned phrases and expressions from business English on the topics of sales, contracts and deliveries. Of course, this is not all that exists in the English language. So study, study and study again. And to make it easier - subscribe to my blog newsletter and get the most useful and latest news.
The ability to conduct a conversation is a talent, and the ability to conduct a conversation in English is an even more unique and much needed talent. In this article, we will tell you how to greet the interlocutor and say goodbye to him, express agreement and disagreement in English, interrupt the interlocutor and deal with rudeness. We will also provide a list of recommended and forbidden topics for conversation.
We have written a simple travel phrasebook that contains dialogues, phrases and a dictionary on 25 essential topics. Go on a journey with the main character and improve your English. You can download the book for free at.
Greeting in English
Every conversation starts with a hello. We offer you two lists of expressions: formal and informal greetings in English. Use the former when communicating in a business environment or when meeting a person, the latter when talking with friends. In this case, you do not have to learn all the phrases in a row. To get started, you can learn just a couple of greetings, use them and gradually learn the rest.
Formal greetings in English are appropriate when you communicate with colleagues, business partners, and people you meet for the first time. In the latter case, you will also need to find out the name of the person, in response to give your own and say that you are pleased to meet him. Here is a set of phrases for a formal greeting:
| Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| Hello! | Hello! |
| Good morning/afternoon/evening! | Good morning/afternoon/evening! |
| I am glad to see you. / I am happy to see you. / I am pleased to see you. | I'm glad to see you. |
| Good to see you again. / Nice to see you again. | Glad to see you again. |
| How have you been? | How are you? |
| You met a person for the first time | |
| What is your name? | What is your name? |
| My name is (name). Nice to meet you! | |
| My name is (name). It is a pleasure to meet you! | My name is (name). Nice to meet you! |
Possible responses to the greeting:
| Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| Fine thanks, and you? | Fine, thank you, and how are you? |
| Okay thanks, how are you? | |
| Very well, thanks. | Very good thanks. |
| Pretty good, thanks. | Pretty good, thanks. |
| How do you do? | - response to the greeting How do you do? (obsolete) |
How do you do? - obsolete greeting. It is sometimes used as a phrase "Nice to meet you" and is only used when seeing a person for the first time. The correct answer to How do you do? - this is How do you do ?, that is, you do not need to talk about your affairs.
If you don't hear the person say something to you, ask them to repeat it by saying Sorry?, Pardon? or Could you repeat, please?
Informal greetings in English that you can use when meeting with friends:
| Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| Hi! | Hey! |
| hello there! / Hey there! | Hey! |
| Look who's here! Long time no see! | Look who I see! Haven't seen you in years! (when you are happy to see someone you haven't seen for a long time) |
| Morning! | An informal alternative to good morning. |
| How's life? | What's up? |
| How are you? | How do you? |
| How are things? | How are you? |
| What's up? (Sup!) / How are you getting on? / How is it going? | How are you? |
| What's new? | What's new? |
| What have you been up to? | What have you been doing all this time? |
| Nice to see you! / Good to see you! | Nice to see you! |
| Long time no see! / It's been a while! | Haven't seen you in years! / Long time no see! |
The response to an informal greeting might sound like this:
| Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| Great thanks! | Excellent thank you! |
| Fine thanks, and you? | Okay thanks, how about you? |
| Fine thanks, what about yourself? | I am fine, thanks. And how are you? |
| Not bad! | Not bad! |
| Can't complain. | Can't complain. (in a good way) |
| I am doing pretty well. | Everything is pretty good for me. |
| I have been better. | It's been better. |
| Nothing much. | Nothing special. |
How to start a conversation in English
After you have greeted the person, you need to somehow continue your conversation. If you are talking with a friend, then, of course, you will quickly find a topic for communication. However, if you just met a person at a party or at an official event, then you need to “break the ice”, that is, to establish contact between you and your new acquaintance. There is a good article on the blog of our teachers "Breaking the ice: how to start a conversation in English", read this material and use it in practice. In this article, we will give you a small selection of phrases that will help you start a conversation with your interlocutor.
If you are at a formal event, you can use the following conversational phrases in English to start a conversation:
| Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| I've heard so much about you. | I have heard a lot about you. |
| I've heard so much about you from Mr. Smith. | I have heard a lot about you from Mr. Smith. |
| How do you like the conference/workshop? | How do you like the conference/training? |
| Is it your first time at the conference/workshop? | Are you attending a conference/training for the first time? |
| So, you work in IT, right? | You work in IT, right? |
| Have you always been in IT? | Have you always worked in IT? |
| How long have you been a member of ABC organization? | How long have you been a member of the ABC organization? |
| How long have you been working for this firm? | How long have you been working for this firm? |
| I am from Moscow/Russia. And you? | I am from Moscow/Russia. And you? |
| How do you like it here? | Do you like it here? / What are your impressions? |
| How long have you been here? | How long have you been here? |
| How long have you been living here? | How long have you been living here? |
| This is my first visit to London. What do you recommend to visit while I am here? | This is my first visit to London. What would you recommend me to watch while I'm here? |
| This place is really nice. Do you come here a lot? | This place is really wonderful. Do you visit here often? |
Do you need to start a conversation in English in an informal setting? The following phrases will be appropriate at the party:
| Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| That is a lovely name. Are you named after someone? | This is a great name. Were you named after someone? |
| Who are you here with? | With whom did you come here? |
| How do you know Jane? | How do you know Jane? |
| So, you are friends with Jane, right? | You and Jane are friends, right? |
| I think we've met somewhere. | I think we have already met somewhere. |
| I love your hat/dress/blouse. It really suits you. | I love your hat/dress/blouse. She really suits you. |
| So, you like football. | So you love football. |
| Where will you spend Easter? | Where will you spend Easter? (any holiday) |
| The food looks great! Have you tried the cake/dessert/wine? | The food looks great! Have you tried cake/dessert/wine? |
| These decorations are wonderful. I love the flowers! | These decorations are wonderful. I love these flowers! |
How to express your opinion on any issue
So, your mission was crowned with success: you attracted the attention of the interlocutor and he answered the question. Now it is important to keep his attention and continue the conversation. Most likely, your new acquaintance will ask a similar question to yours or ask for an opinion on a topic. To answer him confidently, you need to know how to express your opinion in English. Of course, you can immediately express your point of view, but we suggest that you learn special phrases that will make your speech more beautiful and persuasive. You can use them in both formal and informal settings. At a formal event, try to formulate your thoughts more gently, with less emotionality than when communicating with friends.
| Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| In my mind... | In my opinion... |
| The way I see it... | From my point of view... |
| In my experience... | In my experience... |
| As far as I'm concerned... | As far as I understand... |
| To tell the truth... / Frankly speaking... | Honestly... |
| According to Mr. Smith... | Mr Smith says... |
| If you ask me... | Personally, I think... |
| Personally, I think... | Personally, I think... |
| Speaking for myself... | To my mind... |
| I'd say that... | I would say that... |
| I'd suggest that... | I would guess that... |
| I'd like to point out that... | I would like to mention that... |
| I believe that... | I believe that... / I believe that... |
| What I mean is... | I mean that... |
| To my mind... | In my opinion... |
| From my point of view... | From my point of view... |
| My opinion is that... | My opinion is that... |
| I hold the opinion that... | I am of the opinion that... |
| I guess that... | I think that... |
| It goes without saying that... | It goes without saying that... |
| It seems to me that... | I think that... |
If you are not completely sure of your words or want to more accurately present your point of view at an official event, then you can express your opinion in English using the following phrases:
How to maintain a dialogue: phrases of agreement and disagreement in English
So, you have successfully started a dialogue with your interlocutor, discussing a topic, exchanging opinions with him. To avoid awkward pauses, after the exchange of views, continue the discussion: express your agreement or disagreement with the point of view of the interlocutor.
First, let's look at how you can express consent in English. All of the phrases listed below are appropriate in both formal and informal settings. They are neutral, so if you are at a social event, just say them in a calm tone, and at a party with friends, you can say them more emotionally. Note that the pronoun you in English means both "you" and "you", so you can't go wrong using the above phrases in any setting.
| Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| I agree with you one hundred percent. | I agree with you/you one hundred percent. |
| I couldn't agree with you more. | I completely agree with you/you. |
| You're absolutely right. | You are absolutely right. |
| Absolutely. | Absolutely right. |
| Exactly. | Exactly. |
| No doubt about it. | Undoubtedly. |
| I suppose so. / I guess so. | I guess so. (there is a small amount of uncertainty) |
| I was just going to say that. | I was just about to say this. |
| That is exactly what I think. | This is exactly what I think about it. / I think so. |
| I agree with you entirely. / I totally agree with you. | I fully agree with you/you. |
| I am of the same opinion. | I am of the same opinion. |
And now here are some more emotional and informal phrases that are appropriate to use when communicating with friends:
| Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| Tell me about it! | Still would! / I don't know! |
| That is exactly how I feel. | This is exactly what I feel. |
| Quite so! | Quite right! / That's it! / Undoubtedly! |
| fair enough! | I agree! / All clear! / Fair! / Logical! |
With disagreement, things are somewhat more complicated. When you want to express disagreement in English, you need to be extremely polite so as not to offend a person, especially if you just met the interlocutor or are at an official event. We recommend using the following polite language to express disagreement:
| Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| I'm afraid I disagree. | I'm afraid I don't agree. |
| I beg to differ. | I beg to differ. |
| Not necessarily. | Not necessary. |
| No, I'm not so sure about that. | No, I'm not so sure about that. |
| That's not really how I see it, I'm afraid. | I'm afraid I see it a little differently. |
| I'm afraid I have to disagree. | I'm afraid I have to disagree. |
| No, I disagree. What about... | No I do not agree. How about... |
| On the contrary... | On the other side... |
| I'm sorry to disagree with you but... | I'm sorry I don't agree with you, but... |
| Yes, but don't you think... | Yes, but don't you think... |
| The problem is that... | The problem is... |
| I doubt whether... | I doubt... |
| With all due respect... | With all due respect... |
| I am of a different opinion because... | I have a different opinion because... |
| On the whole I agree with you but... | In general, I agree with you, but... |
| Yes, OK, but perhaps... | Yes, fine, but maybe... |
| I see what you mean but have you thought about... | I understand what you mean, but you didn't think that... |
| I hear what you are saying but... | I hear what you're saying, but... |
| I accept what you are saying but... | I understand what you're saying, but... |
| I see your point but... | I understand what you mean, but... |
| I agree to some extent but... | To some extent I agree, but... |
| True enough but... | You are right, but... |
If you are talking to your old acquaintance, you can express a more severe disagreement with his opinion. However, in the midst of a dispute, we still recommend that you think about what is more expensive for you: a friend or truth. To soften the severity of the following phrases a little, you can start your speech with I am afraid ... (I'm afraid ...).
| Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| I can't agree. I really think... | I cannot agree. I really think... |
| no way. I completely disagree with you. | In no case. I absolutely disagree with you. |
| I can't share this view. | I cannot share your point of view. |
| I can't agree with this idea. | I cannot agree with this idea. |
| That's not always true. / That's not always the case. | This is not always true. |
| I don't think so. | I do not think so. |
| I have my own thoughts about that. | I have my own thoughts on this. |
| no way. | In no case. |
| I totally disagree. | I strongly disagree. |
| I'd say the exact opposite. | I would say exactly the opposite. |
How to politely interrupt someone
To interrupt the interlocutor so that he does not take offense at you is a whole skill. Of course, it is best not to interrupt the person who is talking to you, but to endure until the end of his speech and only then speak out. However, sometimes there are situations when you just need to urgently intervene in the conversation and stop it when you are at a formal event, or "insert your five cents" in a conversation with a friend. In this case, try to pause in your speech and say one of the following phrases. And to make it sound as polite as possible, don't forget to say Excuse me... first.
| Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| Can I add/say something here? | May I add something on this matter? |
| Is it ok if I jump in for a second? | May I insert a few words? |
| If I might add something... | If I may add something... |
| Can I throw my two cents in? | May I put in my five cents? |
| Sorry to interrupt, but... | Sorry to interrupt you, but... |
| Can I just mention something? | May I mention something? |
| Do you mind if I come here? | May I join the conversation? |
| Before you move on I'd like to say something. | Before you move on to the next topic, I would like to say something. |
| Excuse me for interrupting but... | Sorry to interrupt, but... |
| Excuse me for butting in but... | Sorry to interrupt, but... |
| Just a moment, I'd like to... | Wait a second, I'd like... |
| I apologize for interrupting... | I apologize for interrupting... |
We would like to focus on polite language, but sometimes it becomes necessary to abruptly interrupt the interlocutor. For example, if a person has touched on a topic that is painful for you or is trying to humiliate someone around you, you need to act more decisively. Use the following phrases only as a last resort, they are harsh and rude, after such a statement the interlocutor may be offended.
If you interrupted the person politely, expressed your opinion, then you need to give him the floor again. Use one of the following phrases:
Desirable and undesirable topics for conversation in English
So, we have given you good phrases that will help you start and maintain a conversation in English. It remains only to understand what to talk about: what topics of conversation are welcomed by English speakers, and which ones are best avoided.
- Events in the host city
A good topic for conversation is the recent events in the city. The only condition is that the events must be good, evoke positive emotions, for example: a city day, the opening of a new ice rink, etc. You should not discuss the news about a maniac or a recent accident, this is not pleasant for anyone.
- Funny case
Laughter brings people together, helps them loosen up and relax - exactly what you need when talking. Remember a funny incident from your life and tell it to your interlocutor, this will help you find a common topic for conversation and feel more free.
- Trips
Traveling and stories about distant (and not so) countries are liked by almost all people, so this is a fertile topic for conversation. Tell us about your trip or just ask the interlocutor if he likes to travel and where he has already been.
- Work
An ideal topic of conversation, especially if you are talking to a person at a formal event. At the same time, the rules of courtesy require that the conversation take place in a positive way. That is, you may be interested in whether a person has been working in his industry and in a particular company for a long time, which attracts him to work. Avoid questions about salary and attitude to management, in this case it is inappropriate.
- Hobby
Well, who refuses to talk about their favorite activities?! Ask a person what he likes to do in his free time, how long he has been fond of his hobby, etc. A real strong friendship sometimes begins with such an unobtrusive conversation.
- Music, books, movies
The simplest and most obvious thing is to start a conversation by finding out the musical and other tastes of the interlocutor. Try to discuss the latest in the world of music or cinema, as well as book bestsellers, this will help you quickly establish contact with the interlocutor.
- Holidays
Think about the next holiday and ask the person how they usually celebrate it, where they recommend you go and how to have fun.
- Food
A theme from the category of universal. If you are at a banquet, then it would be quite logical to say an unobtrusive phrase that the dishes are excellent, or to ask the interlocutor if he knows what those pretty canapes are made of.
- Weather
The topic is rather banal, but unobtrusive, it will come to the rescue if you do not know where to start a conversation in English.
- Sport
A harmless and quite interesting topic, especially if you are going to start a conversation with a man. However, keep in mind that you yourself must be interested in any kind of sport, otherwise you simply will not be able to keep up the conversation on this topic.
- Entertainment establishments (local bars, cafes, clubs, etc.)
Ask your new friend which places to visit and which ones to stay away from. And if he himself recently arrived in the city, you can offer to go together to some interesting place.
Want to find more interesting conversation topics in English? We recommend that you take a look at the page, where you will find 250 interesting questions that will help you start a conversation.
Forbidden topics of conversation in English (and any other) language:
- Personal life. If you are not talking with an old friend, this topic is forbidden - you can inadvertently hurt the feelings of your interlocutor.
- Complaints about work, salary, boss and in general on any topic.
- Gossip.
- Discussing age, weight, or appearance.
- Criticism of someone or something.
- Bad habits.
- Indecent topics.
- Illness and death.
- Bad news (discussions of crime news, disasters, etc.).
- Religion.
- Politics.
- Finance.
- Specialized topics that are understandable and interesting only to a narrow circle of people.
What to do if you are being rude?
Unpleasant interlocutors from time to time come across to everyone. What to do if you are rude? If you respond to a person with similar insults, then you will drop yourself in the eyes of others, so we recommend that you do things differently. Sometimes it happens that a person “breaks down” on you, and then asks for forgiveness if you managed to cool his ardor. In any case, we advise you to adopt the following phrases that will help you decisively and at the same time politely deal with rudeness.
| Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| Whatever you say. | As you say. |
| Well, I think we've reached the end of this conversation. | Well, I think we're done. |
| You don't really expect me to answer that, do you? | You don't really expect me to answer this, do you? |
| Oh! Did you mean to be that rude? | Ouch! Did you intentionally/deliberately rude me? |
| I think that was a bit rude. | I think it was a little rough. |
| You just offended me. | You hurted me. |
| I'm sure you didn't mean to be rude, but that's how you sounded. | I'm sure you didn't mean to be rude, but that's how it sounded. |
| I don't really know how to answer that. | I don't even know what to answer you. |
| I feel hurt by what you are saying. | It hurts me to hear what you say. |
These are the phrases you can answer the rude. We do not recommend engaging in a skirmish with him: you should not waste time and nerves on such people, especially since you can almost forget English from stress and still do not give weighty arguments, so your words will not be convincing.
How to say goodbye in English
After the conversation, you need to say goodbye to your interlocutor. Of course, a standard Goodbye will do just about anything. However, you can say goodbye more interestingly. We offer you a list of farewell phrases in English:
| Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| Have a good/nice day. | Have a nice day. |
| I look forward to our next meeting. | I am looking forward to our next meeting. |
| I've got to go. | I have to go. (when you are in the company of people and you have to say goodbye to everyone) |
| It was nice to see you again. / It was nice seeing you. | It was nice to see you again. |
You can use the previous phrases in both formal and informal settings. And to communicate with close friends, we will present you with a few more slang farewell phrases in English:
| Phrase | Translation |
|---|---|
| Catch you later. | See you later. |
| I am off. | I went. |
| see you later. | See you later. |
| See you soon. | See you soon. |
| take care. | Till! / Come on! / Be healthy! |
| Talk to you soon. | See you! / Let's call! |
| See you next time. | See you! |
| Bye. | Till. |
Now you know how to have a conversation in English at a formal event and among friends. We highly recommend that you learn the presented phrases by heart, because they will be useful to you more than once in communication. And if it’s difficult for you to speak English with a stranger, we invite you to our school on. Our wonderful teachers will help you overcome the language barrier. We wish you only pleasant conversations and interesting interlocutors!
Complete list of phrases for download
We have compiled a document for you that will facilitate your dialogue with your interlocutor. You can download it from the link below.
You can train to conduct and maintain a conversation in English - one lesson costs 300 rubles.
A greeting is what every dialogue with any person begins with, regardless of whether you communicate in Russian, English or any other language. Therefore, it is especially important for novice English lovers to know what greetings are usually used when communicating with certain people. This will help to initially outline the scope and tone of further conversation. How to have a welcome conversation in English
Building welcome dialogs
Dependence of the dialogue on the situation
Further, the dialogue should develop depending on the situation. There can be many variations of the continuation of the conversation: these will be the so-called middle parts of the dialogues. Therefore, we will first introduce several possible wordings of farewell in English − saying goodbye:
- good bye! - All the best! (Goodbye!)
- Bye Bye! or just Bye! — Till!
- so long! — Till! (See you!)
- see you later. — See you later. (See you later)
- See you (soon). - See you soon. or see you soon.
- Have a good (nice, fine) day! — I wish you a pleasant (good, good) day!
Now, after learning the basic wording of greetings and farewells in English, we can model any kind of greeting dialogues. They will include simple phrases that are understandable even for beginners. Let's look at some examples of English dialogue.
An example of friendly-respectful English dialogue
An example of a friendly-respectful English dialogue Suppose that our English student Jack Higgins left the house in the morning for a walk. He met a neighbor, Mrs. Dawson.
Jack: Good morning, Mrs Dawson!
Good morning Mrs Dawson!
Mrs Dawson: Oh, Jack! good morning! Haven't seen you for ages!
Oh Jack! Good morning! Have not seen you for a long time!
Jack: I am studying in Russia now and just came home for a vacation.
I am now studying in Russia and have just come home for the holidays.
Mrs Dawson: I see. I am really pleased to meet you!
Understand. I'm very glad to meet you!
Jack: I'm also glad to meet you. How are feeling today?
I am very pleased to meet you. How do you feel?
Mrs Dawson: Never better, my young friend! There is a wonderful weather for a stroll today, isn't it?
Good as never before, my young friend! It's lovely weather for a walk today, isn't it?
Jack: Yes, it's a beautiful sunny day today. I think you will enjoy it.
Yes, today is a beautiful sunny day. I think you will like it.
Mrs Dawson: Thank you! See you, Jack!
Thank you! See you again, Jack!
Jack: Good luck, Mrs Dawson!
Good luck Mrs Dawson!
Example of friendly slang English dialogue
Example of friendly slang English dialogue Eric: Hey man! What brought you here?
Hey guy (dude)! What fates?
Jack: Hey, Eric! Just came home to visit my parents.
Hey Eric! Just came to see my parents!
Eric: It's awesome that I met ya *
! It reminded me of my childhood.
It's great that I met you! It reminded me of our childhood.
Jack: Me too! We haven’t met since school times… What’s new?
Me too! We haven't seen each other since school days... What's new?
Eric: Nothing changed, I study and now lookin" for a job work. Have you got one?
Nothing has changed, I'm studying and looking for a part-time job. Do you have? (Job)
Jack: I can't get along with Russian language, so I've no chance for a job yet.
I'm still not very friendly with the Russian language, so I still have little chance of finding a job.
Eric: Oh, you're a brainy fellow, you'll find something!
Oh, you're a brainy kid, you'll find something!
Jack: Hope so!
Hope!
Eric: Lots of luck!
Good luck!
Jack: The same to you! so long!
You too! See you!
Eric: Bye!
Till!
Note: *ya = you, shortened slang
Jack continued his walk. A little later he met his schoolmaster, Mr. Newman. Consider the third version of the English conversation:
Official spoken dialogue
Official spoken dialogue Jack: Good morning Newman!
Good morning Mr Newman!
Mr. Newman: Oh, Jack Higgins! Good morning, young man! I guess you shouldn't be here.
Oh Jack Higgins! Good morning young man! I thought you weren't here.
Jack: I am also surprised! Nevertheless, I am happy to meet my best-loved teacher!
I am also surprised! However, I am happy to meet my favorite teacher!
Mr. Newman: Oh, thank you! You are highly polite, as usual!
Oh thanks! You, as always, are very polite!
Jack: You taught me to, did not you?
You taught me that, didn't you?
Mr. Newman: I did, and I taught many children, but you stand alone… It was a rare pleasure to have such an eager disciple.
That's right, and I taught many children, but no one can compare with you ... It was a rare pleasure for me to have such a diligent student.
Jack: I hope I deserve your compliment.
I hope I deserve your praise.
Mr. Newman: Sure you do! Are you studying anywhere now?
Certainly! Are you currently studying somewhere?
Jack: I study engineering at a wonderful university in Moscow.
I'm studying engineering at a great university in Moscow.
Mr. Newman: I guess that you will become an A1 specialist.
I am sure that you will become a highly qualified specialist.
Jack: Thank you! good bye!
Thank you! Goodbye!
Mr. Newman: All the best to you!
All the best to you!
After analyzing the above greetings and dialogues in general, we should notice that there are clear differences between them. The first is friendly and respectful, although not formal. The second is more colloquial, containing slang and phraseological turns of the English language. The third one is emphatically official without interjections and abbreviations. That's how different our friend Jack can be. He is able to easily communicate with people belonging to completely different social and age categories. And we, beginners, should take an example from him, because learning English also includes the ability to communicate with any representative of the English language group.
The skill of free speech at the beginning of learning any language seems, if not unattainable, then definitely requiring a lot of effort, which often scares off novice polyglots who are not used to hearing their own voice speaking in another language. However, you need to speak English, and at the same time - from the very beginning of the study, and this section will help you get an easy start. Video files with text and audio tracks will help you not only remember how individual phrases are built, but also how they are pronounced.
Dialogues in English are presented in different thematic aspects: in this section there are both elementary questions that students answer at the very beginning of learning the language, and individual situations that will be useful in cases where you are learning a language solely for travel. You can act out the presented situations both alone and in pairs.
Simple dialogues for dating
Everyone who attended English classes at school knows where to start learning it: just with an acquaintance. This is done not only because the teacher needs to get to know the students as soon as possible, but also because information about oneself rarely affects lexical blocks unknown to the beginner. Of course, the need for a complete presentation in the case of communication with the carrier may not appear, however, you will already be able to briefly tell about yourself, listing the most important points of your biography.
For those who study English on their own, it will be very useful, for example, the dialogue? - the interlocutors meet for the first time, ask each other for names. Of course, speech is slowed down and made as clear as possible (it will probably be more difficult in spoken English), but a beginner can already listen to how to get to know each other and repeat after the video participants.
Another, no less important question - ? - an obligatory part of any acquaintance, especially abroad. Of course, while you can not go into a detailed description of the cultural aspects and traditions of your country, but you can learn how to clarify the nationality of your interlocutor and even the homeland of his accent!
And, of course, how, without observing the rules of politeness - a question, in the life of your interlocutor and his close people? Study these dialogues and you will not notice how your confidence in your own knowledge of a foreign language will increase greatly!
Dialogues for individual situations
By stepping outside the classroom (and comfort zone), you can imagine yourself in a more problematic environment than getting to know one person for later communication. Even if you are still at the Beginner level, you can get into a situation in which you need to ask questions, for example: or about the building you need (anything can be put in the place of the “Holiday Inn”: station, shopping center, hotel). By the way, these dialogues can be modified by adding prepositions of place and direction already known to you: using them regularly will help you remember them faster!
Perhaps the most common question for tourists abroad who are desperately looking for someone to ask for advice is: When this question is asked, it can be said that communication has begun, as the speakers have established the language of conversation.
Of course, when you find yourself in a situation that requires a sufficient level of language proficiency to exchange information (as a rule, this applies to those moments when you come to a restaurant or even a simple store abroad), you have to involve not only the passive use of language through speech patterns, but also active - you have to listen to the interlocutor and understand his answer. However, there are two very important points at work here:
- pre-designed dialogues in English allow us to assume, at least in theory, that they can answer you, and you will be less afraid if you at least roughly understand how to behave;
- it is much easier to start a conversation with a few phrases in reserve, albeit memorized, but absolutely correct both in a grammatical and lexical sense.
The good news is that if your interlocutor sees that you have a language problem, he may start to take care of himself and use simpler vocabulary, or even sign language. In a word, communication will still take place, even if you fail to understand what exactly they answered you.
Of course, to consolidate the material, you need to repeat it not once, but several times, but you still shouldn’t sit on one dialogue endlessly. Over time, you can even think about compiling your own dialogues - let the form remain the same, but the content changes somewhat. This will help you consolidate the studied grammatical constructions and get on the path to independently compiling colloquial phrases in a foreign language.
