How do you do?! or What century is this?

You wanna speak natural English? Then you're not going to say "How do you do?" when you meet someone, unless you want to sound like you came from the 19th Century (1800s) . This might seem simple and basic, but everyone can review how we should say, hello (greet people).

2 different questions that are important to ask and understand, are often confused by students: How are you? and What's new?

Both of these questions are used when we greet people. Of course, we start with Hello, Hi, Good Morning, Good Afternoon, or just Hey - But we should usually follow that with a question: How are you? How are you doing? What's new? What's up? What's going on?

Notice how these are 2 different types of questions: HOW and WHAT...

HOW question is asking more about feelings.

That's why the answer to this question can be: GOOD, FINE, GREAT, FANTASTIC.

After the answer, the question is returned: How are YOU?

The stress is on YOU, because the question is repeated.

FYI (For Your Information): Intonation is very important!! DO NOT answer How are you? with "Fine thanks, and you? UNLESS you can use natural intonation. If you say this and you do not use good intonation, YOU WILL SOUND LIKE AN UNFRIENDLY ROBOT.

A WHAT question, like What's new? is asking: What is new in your life? What's up? is the same meaning. (What's up is just more casual then What's new?) Again, follow the answer with the same question: "Not much. How about YOU?"

I hope you are all fine and good! More posts are coming. Check back on my site for details about lesson prices and my coming YouTube channel.