It’s often confused with the question “How are you?” but it isn’t a question at all. How do you do is a statement. A greeting. It’s an alternative to “I’m pleased to meet you.” When responding to these greetings, the expectation is that you use simple answers or simply respond with a similar greeting. For example

But none of them really ask, how are you? When those questions get asked in a greeting, we don’t really expect a lengthy conversation about how you’re doing. Who are ya?” seems a popular chant or taunt with English football fans, both on and off the stands. Is it a fair assessment that it means to diminish the opposition as unknown and insignificant? Imagine you unexpectedly see a coworker at the grocery store. Here’s what that conversation might sound like: Context of the conversation (how long it’s been since you saw them, what you last spoke about, etc.) A rhetorical question, generally in the form of an insulting chant, accompanied by finger-pointing; meant as abuse to a single person or team performing in front of a crowd, by indicating that they are unknown and insignificant.

12 Ways to Ask ‘How Are You’ in Casual English Conversation

How do you do is a bit old-fashioned and not often used. In fact, I’m not sure if I’ve ever used it. B: Hi Sue, what’s up? I’ve just been busy, working a lot of long hours. What about you? How have you been? Let’s say you’re texting a loved one with a chronic health condition. You might message, “How are you doing today?” This speaks directly to what you want to know, and it shows them that you understand that things may shift daily, while leaving it up to them about how detailed they want to get in their response. There are many ways to ask this fundamental question, but how you phrase it can imply different things. For example: Your Coworker. Everything’s fine. Just busy with the kids, of course. So how are you? It’s been a tough few weeks at work with the looming deadline, hasn’t it?

Let’s transition to situations in which we may need more formal or business professional language in English. Some common examples include How’s it going? This is casual. You’re asking how a person’s life has been lately, in a more general sense. All right. I’ve been working a lot lately. How about you?” English Greetings: Group 3 What’s up? / What’s new? / What are you up to?* What information you want to know (for example, do you see it as a passing conversation, or do you want a more in-depth dialogue with specific details?) Would you like to talk about X? This is an empathetic inquiry about a potentially sensitive event or aspect of a person’s life—with the built-in option for them to decline.

3 Ways to Ask ‘How Are You’ When You Haven’t Seen Someone in a Long Time

Follow-ups like this are a great way to start conversations. Unlike a typical “How are you?” they show that you’ve been paying attention to the other person’s activities. And, more than likely, the person will be happy to start a conversation about their work or opinions once you’ve expressed interest. 4 There are many different ways to say Hello and Goodbye in English. In this lesson, you’ll learn some of the most common greetings and goodbyes. The greetings are divided into three groups with appropriate responses. English Greetings: Group 1 Hi / Hi there / Hello / Hey / Hiya / Howdy Group 1 Responses Hi, how are ya? / Hey, how’s it goin’? English Greetings: Group 2 How ya doin’? / How are ya? / How’s it goin’? / How are things? / How’s life? Group 2 Responses Good, and you? / All right, how about you? Some people pronounce “What are you up to?” as “Whatcha up to?” Group 3 Responses Not much. / Not much, how about you?