How to improve your speaking: Stop saying “I’m fine, thank you. And you?”

Don't say "I'm fine, thank you. And you?"

2/9/2020

Category: Speaking

You probably learned “How are you?” and “I’m fine, thank you. And you?” in textbooks before, but native English speakers answer it in a different way. Unfortunately, replying to this question with “I’m fine” can still be found in many English textbooks. It’s not the natural way to greet someone and actually may be rude or negative.

Here are some other phrases that you can use instead of “I’m fine”
How are you?

Fine. You?
Very well, thank you.
(I’m) good, thanks. You?
(I'm) great, (thanks). And you?
(I’m) pretty good. What’s new with you?
Yeah! Good. You?
Not bad. You?
(I'm) alright. You?
(I) can’t complain. You?
Never better.
Never been better. What about you?
I am on top of the world!
Over the moon!

Now, let’s look at some different ways to ask how someone is. These ways are much more common.

Hey, how’s it going?

Good. And you?
(It's going) pretty good.
Not so good.
Great.
Not great.
Not so well.
Well, a bit tired/sick/sleepy.
Things have been better.
Things have been a bit rough lately, but they’re getting better.

What’s up?

Not much.
Nothing much.
Hey! What’s up?
Hi!

How do you do? / Howdy? (informal)

How do you do?
Hello.
Nice to meet you.

How are you doing? / How ya doing? (informal)

I’m doing great (thanks). How about you?

Doing good. You?
Doing pretty good. You?
Doing well. You?
I’m not doing that great.
Not (doing) that great.
Not (doing) so well.

How have you been? / How’ve you been?

I’ve been doing great. What about you?
Never been better.
Could be better.
Couldn't be better.
Things have been better.
Not so good lately.
It’s been tough.
I’ve been a bit sick.
A little crazy actually!
As usual.
Pretty good. Work’s been busy.
Busy, busy.
I’ve been busy working.
I've been a bit busy but ok.
I've seen better days.

16 Comments

Avinash Singh link

3/20/2021 05:42:06 am

Really appreciating article and I use these sentences in my regular routine.

Ahmad link

11/1/2021 01:53:37 pm

thank you.

M.K.

12/8/2021 09:53:54 am

Sorry to say it , but if someone approaches me with any of the mentioned ....... "bla bla" above...... This would only be the end of our conversation for sure.

There is so much better words to approach a person than this pile of rubbish like "I'm fine how bout you?" ......
The only thing that all the mentions above pointing is , that you actually have nothing to say to the person in front of you , and you just randomly shooting words because you have no idea how to speak with a person ( result from the so called MOBILE phone users age )

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Arianna

6/28/2022 10:44:19 am

There is nothing rude or negative about say "I'm fine, thank you. And you?" It's less rude than your option of omitting "thank you".
Also, not many people say "Over the moon".

lisab

2/28/2023 11:58:46 am

Some of these replies are dated, and are not reflective of current vernacular. I find it interesting that common phrases are not considered native English". This coming from a natural born, 60 year old. But what ever. Be in your feelings.

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Don't say "I'm fine, thank you. And you?"

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