Speaking and Listening Situations

How do you greet someone in the morning in English?

• AGood afternoon
• BGood morning or Hello✓
• 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?

• AGive me that one over there
• BThat is mine now
• CI want it, give it here
• DCan I have that, please?✓

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?

• AHello or Hi or Hey there
• BExcuse me or Pardon me
• CGoodbye or See you again
• DThank you or Thanks✓

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?

• AHello or Hi there
• BThank you very much
• CGoodbye or Bye for now
• DSorry or Excuse me✓

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?

• AExcuse me, can I say something?✓
• BListen to me now, because I am talking
• CShut up and listen to me
• DBe quiet now, because I want to talk

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?

• ALeave the conversation and walk away quickly
• BSay 'I don't care' or change the subject
• CAsk them to repeat it or speak more slowly✓
• 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?

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

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
• CWho are you? or What do you want from me and my friends?
• DHello, how are you? or Excuse me, is this seat taken?✓

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, I don't want it or need it. Do not ask again.
• BStop asking me about it
• CNo, thank you. / Thank you, but no.✓
• 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?

• ADo you sleep here? or Do you live above the shop?
• BWhen do you work? or How many hours do you work?
• CAre you open? or Is anybody working today?
• DWhat time do you open? or What are your opening hours?✓

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?

• AGoodbye or See you later✓
• BGood night or Sleep well
• CHello or Good morning
• DGood afternoon or Hi there

Answer: Say 'Goodbye' or 'See you later' or 'Bye'. 'Good night' and 'Sleep well' are for the end of the evening, and 'Hello', 'Hi there', 'Good morning' and 'Good afternoon' are greetings, not goodbyes.

How do you ask someone's name politely?

• AI need your name or I cannot help you today.
• BWho are you? or Why will you not say your name?
• CWhat's your name? or Can I ask 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?

• AIgnore them and look at the floor
• BSay nothing and wait for them to speak first
• CAsk them for money
• DGreet them and introduce yourself✓

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?

• AI'm sorry I'm late. or I apologise for being late.✓
• BIt's not my fault. or You gave me the wrong time for this.
• CI'm not late or slow, you are early
• 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?

• AI'm leaving now, so I am putting the phone down
• BGood morning. or Good afternoon. or Hello again.
• CTalk to you soon. or Goodbye. or Bye.✓
• 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?

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

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.
• BCan I...? or May I...? or Could I...?✓
• CYou cannot stop me. or I am doing it anyway.
• DI will do it now. or I am doing it now.

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.
• BYou are going to do this or I will be angry.
• CDo what I say. or Do it right now, I am not asking you twice.
• DHow about we...? or Would you like to...? or Shall we...?✓

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.