Greetings and small talk
Answer "How's it going?" the way people really do, return the question, and keep a one-minute chat alive with safe topics.
Mina: Hey, Sara! How's it going?
Sara: Pretty good, thanks. How about you?
Mina: Not bad. Busy week, though.
Sara: Tell me about it. Any plans for the weekend?
Mina: Not really. Just taking it easy.Two coworkers meet in the hallway. The whole chat takes about fifteen seconds, and nobody says "I'm fine, thank you"."Tell me about it" here means "I know, same for me". It is not a request to explain.
THE MAIN IDEA
It's a greeting, not a question
"How's it going?" and "How are you?" are mostly a way of saying hello. The other person expects three things: a short positive answer, a quick thanks, and the question back. That's it. Real news (good or bad) is for friends, and even then it comes after this opening.
"How's it going?" → "Good, thanks. You?" Three words and a question, and you've done it perfectly.
Check yourself
Omid gets into the elevator. A neighbor he barely knows smiles and says, "Hey, how's it going?" What is the most natural reply?
- I am going to work.
- Good, thanks. You?
- How do you do?
- Actually not good. I slept badly and I have a headache.
Show the answer
Good, thanks. You?
Yes. Short, positive, and the question goes back. That is all a greeting needs.
How's it going? /haʊz ɪt ˈɡoʊɪŋ/
A friendly, everyday way to say "How are you?"
Hey, Ali! How's it going? — Not bad, thanks. You?
| Level | Greeting | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Too formal | How do you do? | I'm fine, thank you. And you? |
| Natural | How's it going? / How are you doing? | Pretty good, thanks. You? / Not bad. |
| Friends only | What's up? / Hey, man! | Not much. You? |
Check yourself
Where does each line belong?
- How do you do?
- How's it going?
- What's up, man?
- How are you doing?
- I am very well, thank you. And yourself?
- Yo! What's good?
Show the answer
Too formal or stiff: How do you do?, I am very well, thank you. And yourself?
Natural with anyone: How's it going?, How are you doing?
Only with friends: What's up, man?, Yo! What's good?
Two questions, two kinds of answer
"How's it going?" asks how things are, so you answer with a feeling word: good, pretty good, not bad, great. "What's up?" asks what is happening, so the normal answer is "Not much" or "Nothing much", and then you can add one small thing you're doing.
- How's it going? — Pretty good, thanks.
- What's up? — Not much. Just heading to class. You?
- What's up? — I'm fine, thank you.
Check yourself
A classmate greets Negar in the hallway. Complete her reply.
A: Hey, what's up? B: Not ____ . Just heading to class. You?
Show the answer
much
Any plans for the weekend?
Are you going to do anything special on Saturday and Sunday?
- Any some, even one; used in questions
- plans things you intend to do
- for connected with a time
- the weekend the days off at the end of the week
Safe topics, risky topics
- Safe with anyone: the weather, the weekend, how work or study is going, food, the place you are both in ("This line is so long!").
- Drop the start of the question. In speech, "Do you have any plans?" becomes "Any plans?" and "Did you have a good weekend?" becomes "Good weekend?"
- Risky with people you don't know well: salary, age, weight, "Are you married?", "Why don't you have kids?", religion and politics. These can be friendly questions in Iran. In English small talk they feel too personal.
Check yourself
It's Monday morning. You meet a coworker at the coffee machine. Ask about their weekend.
Show the answer
How was your weekend
Right. The weekend is over, so "was". A good reply would be "Pretty good, thanks. Yours?"
Check yourself
At a conference coffee break, a stranger next to Negar says, "Nice weather today, huh?" Which reply keeps the conversation going?
- Yeah, finally! Are you from around here?
- Sorry, my English is not good. I cannot speak very well.
- Yes, it is nice weather today.
- How do you do?
Show the answer
Yeah, finally! Are you from around here?
Exactly. Agree in a word or two, then hand over a new easy question. That is the whole skill of small talk.
Lesson recap
- "How's it going?" is a hello. Answer short and positive, say thanks, and return it: "Good, thanks. You?"
- "What's up?" gets "Not much", not "I'm fine".
- "How do you do?" and "I'm fine, thank you. And you?" are too stiff for everyday life.
- Keep small talk on safe ground: weather, weekend, work, food. Agree briefly, then ask an easy question back.