Speaking and Listening Situations

How do you greet someone in the morning in English?

• AGood morning or Hello✓
• BGood afternoon
• CGood evening or Goodbye for now
• DGood night

Answer: In the morning, you say 'Good morning' or 'Hello'. 'Good afternoon' is after 12pm, and 'Good night' is when you go to bed.

What do you say when someone sneezes?

• ABless you or God bless you✓
• BThank you or Thank you very much
• CGoodbye or See you soon
• DHow are you today?

Answer: When someone sneezes, you say 'Bless you' or 'God bless you'. This is polite. In some countries, people say 'Gesundheit'.

You are meeting your new manager. Which is the most formal way to greet them?

• AWhat's up? or How's it going, mate?
• BYou alright?
• CYou okay?
• DGood morning. How are you?✓

Answer: 'Good morning. How are you?' is formal. 'You alright?' and 'You okay?' are informal. Use the formal greeting with people you do not know well, such as a manager or a doctor.

What is the polite way to ask for help?

• AHelp me now, I am in a hurry
• BI need help with this, right now
• CYou, help me. or You there, come and help me with this now.
• DCan you help me, please? or Could you help me, please?✓

Answer: The polite way is: 'Can you help me, please?' or 'Could you help me, please?' or 'May I have some help?'. Always say 'please' and 'thank you'.

How do you politely ask for something in a shop?

• ACan I have that, please?✓
• BGive me that one over there
• CThat is mine now
• DI want it, give it here

Answer: The polite way is: 'Can I have..., please?' or 'Could I have..., please?'. For example: 'Can I have a coffee, please?'

What do you say after someone gives you something or helps you?

• AThank you or Thanks✓
• BHello or Hi or Hey there
• CExcuse me or Pardon me
• DGoodbye or See you again

Answer: You say 'Thank you' or 'Thanks' to show gratitude. For example: 'Thank you for helping me.' You can also say 'Thank you very much.'

How do you respond when someone thanks you?

• AThank you. or Thanks. or Thanks for the help.
• BYou are welcome or No problem✓
• CHow are you? or How is work? or How is the family?
• DGoodbye or See you again another time

Answer: You say 'You are welcome' or 'No problem' or 'Don't mention it'. In informal English, people say 'No worries' or 'That's alright'.

What do you say when you bump into someone by accident?

• ASorry or Excuse me✓
• BHello or Hi there
• CThank you very much
• DGoodbye or Bye for now

Answer: You say 'Sorry' or 'Excuse me' to apologise. For example: 'Sorry, I didn't mean to bump into you.' This is polite and shows respect.

How do you politely interrupt someone?

• AListen to me now, because I am talking
• BShut up and listen to me
• CBe quiet now, because I want to talk
• DExcuse me, can I say something?✓

Answer: The polite way is: 'Excuse me' or 'Sorry to interrupt' or 'Can I say something?'. Do not be rude or aggressive.

What should you do if you do not understand what someone said?

• AAsk them to repeat it or speak more slowly✓
• BLeave the conversation and walk away quickly
• CSay 'I don't care' or change the subject
• DSay nothing or pretend that you understand it

Answer: Ask politely: 'Can you repeat that, please?' or 'Can you speak more slowly, please?' or 'Sorry, I didn't understand.' This is okay and helpful.

How do you ask for directions on the street?

• AExcuse me, can you tell me the way to the station, please?✓
• BI'm lost, I do not know this town, and I am new here
• CDo you live here or are you a visitor?
• DWhere is it? Tell me now

Answer: Say: 'Excuse me, can you tell me the way to...please?' or 'Excuse me, where is...please?' or 'Excuse me, how do I get to...?'

What is a good way to start a conversation with a stranger?

• ALeave me alone. or Go away now. or Stop talking to me.
• BI don't want to talk to you or your friends
• CHello, how are you? or Excuse me, is this seat taken?✓
• DWho are you? or What do you want from me and my friends?

Answer: You can say: 'Hello, how are you?' or 'Excuse me, is this seat taken?' or 'Nice weather today, isn't it?' Start politely and friendly.

How do you politely say 'no' to an offer?

• ANo, thank you. / Thank you, but no.✓
• BNo, I don't want it or need it. Do not ask again.
• CStop asking me about it
• DNo way. or Not a chance. or Forget it.

Answer: Say: 'No, thank you' or 'Thank you, but no' or 'That's kind of you, but no thanks'. This is polite. You do not need to give a long explanation.

How do you ask about opening hours at a shop?

• AWhat time do you open? or What are your opening hours?✓
• BDo you sleep here? or Do you live above the shop?
• CWhen do you work? or How many hours do you work?
• DAre you open? or Is anybody working today?

Answer: Ask: 'What time do you open?' or 'What are your opening hours?' or 'When do you close?' For example: 'What time do you open on Monday?'

What do you say when you leave a place during the day?

• AGood night
• BGood morning
• CGood afternoon
• DGoodbye or See you later✓

Answer: Say: 'Goodbye' or 'See you later' or 'Bye'. At night, you say 'Good night'. 'Good afternoon/morning' are greetings, not goodbyes.

How do you ask someone's name politely?

• AI need your name or I cannot help you today.
• BWhat's your name? or Can I ask your name?✓
• CWho are you? or Why will you not say your name?
• DTell me your name and where you come from now.

Answer: Ask: 'What's your name?' (informal) or 'Can I ask your name?' or 'May I have your name?' These are all polite ways.

When meeting someone for the first time, what should you do?

• AGreet them and introduce yourself✓
• BIgnore them and look at the floor
• CSay nothing and wait for them to speak first
• DAsk them for money

Answer: Introduce yourself: 'Hello, my name is...' and smile. For example: 'Hello, I'm Sarah. Nice to meet you.' In Britain people often shake hands as well, but a friendly hello is always polite.

How do you express that you are sorry for being late?

• AIt's not my fault. or You gave me the wrong time for this.
• BI'm not late or slow, you are early
• CI'm sorry I'm late. or I apologise for being late.✓
• DYou don't need to wait for me when I am late like this

Answer: Say: 'I'm sorry I'm late' or 'I apologise for being late' or 'Thank you for waiting'. Give a reason if you can.

What is the correct way to say goodbye on the phone?

• ATalk to you soon. or Goodbye. or Bye.✓
• BI'm leaving now, so I am putting the phone down
• CGood morning. or Good afternoon. or Hello again.
• DI have to go or I will be late for work

Answer: Say: 'Goodbye' or 'Bye' or 'Talk to you later' or 'It was nice to talk to you. Goodbye.' Then hang up slowly and politely.

How do you politely ask someone to move so you can pass?

• AGet out of my way now, I am walking here
• BMove. or Move out of the way for me right now.
• CExcuse me, can I get past you, please?✓
• DI need to go, so move, you are in my way

Answer: Say: 'Excuse me, can I get past you, please?' or 'Sorry, can I just squeeze past?' This is polite and respectful.

What should you do if you do not hear what someone said?

• AAsk: 'Sorry, what did you say? or 'Pardon?'✓
• BPretend you heard or just nod your head
• CLeave the room and go and speak to somebody else
• DTell them that you are deaf and cannot hear them

Answer: Ask politely: 'Sorry, what did you say?' or 'Pardon?' or 'Could you say that again, please?' This is normal and acceptable.

How do you ask permission to do something?

• AJust do it. or Do it now. or Do it anyway.
• BYou cannot stop me. or I am doing it anyway.
• CI will do it now. or I am doing it now.
• DCan I...? or May I...? or Could I...?✓

Answer: Ask: 'Can I...?' or 'May I...?' or 'Could I...?' For example: 'Can I sit here?' or 'May I use your phone?'

What is the polite way to suggest something to a friend?

• AYou have to come. or You are coming. or No excuses.
• BHow about we...? or Would you like to...? or Shall we...?✓
• CYou are going to do this or I will be angry.
• DDo what I say. or Do it right now, I am not asking you twice.

Answer: Say: 'How about we go to the cinema?' or 'Would you like to get a coffee?' or 'Shall we go for a walk?' These are friendly and polite.

How do you ask someone about their opinion or experience?

• AWhat do you think about...? or Have you ever...? or How was...?✓
• BYou don't know anything about this or about me.
• CI don't care about your opinion or your ideas or your stories.
• DTell me what you think, and be quick about it.

Answer: Ask: 'What do you think about...?' or 'Have you ever...?' or 'How was your weekend?' This shows interest in the other person.

What should you say if you made someone upset or hurt their feelings?

• AI'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you.✓
• BYou're too sensitive about these small things
• CForget about it. or It does not matter now.
• DIt's not my problem, it is your own problem

Answer: Say: 'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you' or 'I apologise for hurting your feelings.' Show that you care and want to make it right.