This program is about greetings on the language you might use if you're greeting people in quite formal situations, when you want to sound polite, I'd like you to start by listening to this greeting.

Try to guess what the situation might be.

Good morning, sir.

Using sir in a greeting sounds very formal.

It gives extra status or importance to the person you're talking to, and there are several situations where you might hear it.

One of the most common situations is in the service industry.

It could be a hotel receptionist talking to a guest, a waiter talking to a customer in a restaurant.

Or it could be in a shop anywhere where people are dealing with customers or clients.

If you were speaking to a woman, you wouldn't say, Sir, you would say, Madam, good morning, madam.

It's nearly always the people offering the service.

Who would use this kind of language?

If a waiter says Good evening, sir.

You would just reply with Good evening.

You wouldn't say good evening, sir.

Back.

This is because in this particular situation you're the one being given the most importance.

So you don't need to show this extra sign of respect.

Likewise, if you walk into a hotel and the receptionist says Good afternoon, madam, it would usually sounds strange to say Good afternoon, madam.

Back as well as in the service industry.

There are other situations where you might here, sir.

And Madam, listen to this one.

And guess what the situation might be.

Good morning, sir.

It's a real honor to have you here.

The situation this makes me think off is a greeting of V I.

P.

Perhaps a very important politician or leader you meet.

In some cases, people use it when they greeting someone much older than they are as a sign of respect.

Or you may occasionally here it used in the workplace where employees want to show respect for their superiors.

As you listen to this clip again, note how only the employee uses the word, sir.

Good morning, sir.

Hello.

Dreams You're listening to how to with BBC learning English got so far, we've looked over some of those situations where you might use very formal language and greetings.

Such a cerrell.

Madam, you might use it in the service industry with V I.

P.

S with much older people on sometimes with bosses at work.

But as well as using these kinds of words.

What else is it that makes language and greetings sound more formal and polite?

We're going to hear two different versions of a greeting between James and his boss, Mr Jones.

Listen and decide which one is the most formal and think about.

Why?

Here's the 1st 1 Morning.

Hi.

How's it going?

Good.

Thanks.

You?

Yeah, fine.

Now listen to the second greeting.

Good morning, Mr Jones.

Hello, James.

Hi.

I'm very well, thank you.

That were you?

Fine.

Thank you.

The second greeting was more formal.

Why?

Well, one of the most obvious differences isn't how long the phrases are.

Good morning.

Sounds more formal than morning, because morning is shorter.

And it's a slightly lazier way of greeting someone if you like.

Hello is also a bit more formal than high.

I'm very well, thank you.

Also sounds more formal than fine.

Thanks or good.

Thanks again.

Mainly because it takes longer to say this doesn't mean you should never say hi informal situations.

It's just that if you want to sound more polite, using more complete words and phrases will help.

Listen again to the two exchanges and listen out for those differences first, the less formal one.

Morning.

Hi.

How's it going?

Good.

Thanks.

You?

Yeah, fine.

Now the more former one.

Good morning, Mr Jones.

Hello, James.

Hi.

I'm very well, thank you.

That were you?

Fine.

Thank you.

So words that a longer tend to sound more formal and polite, while shorter, abbreviated words are more likely to sound informal and friendly.

Now let's look at some other handy phrases you could use in greetings.

We're about to hear another clip.

Madeleine and Angus are both at the same dinner party.

They've met a couple of times before, but haven't seen each other for a while.

Listen to their conversation.

Hello, Madeleine.

It's lovely to see you again.

How are you?

Hello, Angus.

I'm very well, thank you.

What's being a long time, hasn't it?

How are things with you?

Lovely.

To see you again is a nice expression.

Often used when you haven't seen someone for a while.

Madeleine says it's been a long time, hasn't it?

Another nice thing you can say in that situation she finishes it with How are things with you?

Another way of saying How are you?

Listen again.

Hello, Madeleine.

It's lovely to see you again.

How are you?

Hello, Angers.

I'm very well, thank you.

What's being a long time, hasn't it?

How are things with you now?

Here's a recap of the language from this program.

Good morning.

Good afternoon, sir.

Good evening, madam.

How are you?

How are things with you?

I'm very well, thank you.

It's lovely to see you again.

It's been a long time, hasn't it?

And that brings us to the end of the program.

But do keep practicing your English on our website.