A handful of English phrases cover most everyday interaction, though social convention around them — especially small talk — often matters as much as the words themselves.
| English | Note |
|---|---|
| Hello / Hi | Hi is more casual than hello |
| Thank you / Thanks | Thanks is more casual |
| Please | Used in requests; often omitted in very casual speech without sounding rude |
| How are you? | Frequently a routine greeting rather than a literal question |
"How are you?" is often answered with a brief, positive reply ("good, thanks") regardless of how someone actually feels — it functions as a greeting ritual more than a literal question, which can confuse learners from cultures where the same question expects a genuine, detailed answer.
Yes — hi is generally more casual, while hello works in both casual and more neutral or formal contexts.
Often not — it frequently functions as a routine greeting ritual, typically answered briefly and positively regardless of how someone actually feels, rather than expecting a detailed answer.
Not always in very casual speech among close friends or family, though it's still generally expected in most everyday and all formal requests.
That's the plan, matching the audio-based approach used for Tarc's existing courses.
See also: English Pronunciation · English Vocabulary · Learn English