English Vocabulary in Use Elementary » Unit 8: Conversations 1: Greetings and wishes

Word List
  • Bless you
  • Cheers
  • Good afternoon
  • Good evening
  • Good luck
  • Good morning
  • Goodbye
  • Congratulations
  • Excuse me
  • Goodnight
  • greetings
  • Happy Birthday
  • Happy Christmas
  • Happy New Year
  • hello
  • hi
  • How are you?
  • Merry Christmas
  • not too bad
  • please
  • See you soon
  • sleep well
  • sorry
  • Thank you
  • thanks
  • Well done
Exercises

8.1 ‣ Choose one of the phrases from the opposite page to fit the dialogues.

  1. A: (sneezes) Atishoo!
    B:
  2. A: I’m taking my driving test today.
    B: _____
  3. A: I passed my driving test!
    B: _____
  4. A: Goodbye.
    B: _____
  5. A: It’s my birthday today.
    B: _____
  6. A: How are you?
    B: _____
  7. A: Hello!
    B: _____
  8. A: Here’s your tea.
    B: _____

8.2 ‣ What is the person saying in the pictures?

  2. _____
  3. _____
  4. _____
  5. _____
  6. _____

8.3 ‣ What do you say? Choose a phrase from the opposite page.

  1. You want to go through a doorway. There are some people blocking it.
  2. A friend buys you a drink. _____
  3. A child says ‘Goodnight’ to you. _____
  4. You answer the phone at work. It is 10.30 am. _____
  5. You answer the phone at work. It is 3 pm. _____
  6. It is 2 am on January 1st. You meet a friend in the street. _____
  7. You are on a very crowded bus and you stand on someone’s foot. _____
  8. It is 24th December. You meet a friend on the bus. _____

8.4 ‣ You meet Ann, an English friend. Reply to her.

ANN: Good evening.
YOU:
ANN: How are you?
YOU: _____
ANN: It’s my birthday today.
YOU: _____
ANN: Would you like a drink?
YOU: _____
ANN: Here you are.
YOU: _____

8.5 ‣ Write a conversation between you and a friend. He / She has passed an exam.

_____

Answer Key
A ‣ Every day

When we leave someone we usually say Goodbye and also perhaps See you soon! See you soon is quite informal.

When someone goes to bed, we usually say Goodnight. We sometimes also say Sleep well.

Don’t say Goodnight when you arrive somewhere, only when you leave.

If you ask for something you usually say Please.

If someone does something nice for you, you say Thank you or Cheers (informal).

B ‣ Special days

When:you say:
it’s someone’s birthdayHappy Birthday!
it’s ChristmasHappy / Merry Christmas! /ˈkrɪsməs/
it’s New Year’s DayHappy New Year!
someone is doing something difficult, e.g. taking an exam or having an interview for a jobGood luck!
someone has done something special, e.g. done well in an exam or had a babyCongratulations! / Well done!

Common mistakes

When it’s someone’s birthday we say: Happy Birthday [NOT Congratulations].

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