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Lesson Transcript

Welcome to EnglishClass101.com’s “British English in Three Minutes”. The fastest, easiest, and most fun way to learn English.
Hi, how’s it going? I'm Gina. Nice to meet you!
In this series, we’re going to learn some easy ways to ask and answer common questions in English. It’s really useful, and it only takes three minutes!
In this lesson, you’re going to learn new, more common ways to answer ask and answer the question: “How are you?” in English.
You’ve probably learned “How are you?” and “I’m fine” in textbooks before, but in the United Kingdom, people will usually ask this question and answer it in a different way.
First, let’s first review. If someone says:
“How are you?”
You can say:
“I’m fine.” -
(slow) I’m fine.
Here are some other ways to answer:
“Quite good.” - This means about the same as “I’m fine”.
(slow) Quite good.
We also have:
“Not bad.” You can use this if you are feeling just okay, or so-so.
(slow) Not bad.
Let’s look at our question again: How are you?
This is the most well-known way of asking how someone is. You could use it when you want to be polite.
But now, let’s look at some different ways to ask how someone is. These ways are more casual, and much more common.
First:
"Hi, how are you doing?"
(slowly) "Hi, how are you doing?"
or,
"Hey, how's it going?"
(slowly) "Hey, how's it going?"
or in an especially casual situation, you could say
"You alright?"
(slowly) "You alright?"
What if you're not doing alright? Although it's the British way to say you're doing fine even if you're not, if you feel comfortable with the other person you could also choose to tell them when you're not fine.
You could say:
“Not so good”
(slow) Not so good
“Not great”
(slow) Not great.
or,
"I've been better"
(slow) "I've been better"
Be careful: If you say one of these, the other person will usually ask, “Why, what’s wrong?” to be polite. Then, you will have to explain!
But, if you're feeling particularly well you could answer more enthusiastically.
"Fantastic!"
(slow) "Fantastic!"
"Fabulous!"
(slow) "Fabulous!"
or even
"I'm very well indeed!"
(slow) "I'm very well indeed!"
Now it’s time for Gina’s Tips!
Because of the popularity and influence of American film and media, some American phrases have become common in the United Kingdom as well. "How are you doing?" was originally an American phrase, but these days you can hear it on either side of the pond!
Now, do you know the difference between “What do you do?” and “What are you doing?” It’s a little tricky, but we’ll explain it simply in the next British English in 3 Minutes lesson! See you next time!

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