20 Simple, Concise, and Common English Sentences Used in Daily Life

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Common sentence

Sentence Meaning

Explanation & Uses

Tone & Nature

Examples

1

Hello

The phrase “hello” is one of the most common greetings in English.

You say “hello” when you meet someone after some time or to get someone’s attention or start a conversation.

Most people may not know that “hello” is a complete sentence in English.

The greeting “hello” is used to begin a conversation with someone.

You can say “hello” when you first see someone, either in person or on the phone (i.e., social media, a phone call, or an email).

The phrase can also be used to address more than one person.

“Hello” is also used in some scenarios to greet someone without intending to start a conversation. Here, it acts as a simple and polite acknowledgment of the other person’s presence. Some scenarios include passing by someone you know, entering an elevator and seeing someone you already know, or seeing someone at a social gathering whom you may know.

Fairly formal, polite, respectful, neutral.

More formal than “hi” and “hey.”

Less formal than “dear” in writing.

1. “Hello, John.” (when meeting someone in person)

2. “Hello, aunt! I didn’t expect to run into you here.” (used as a greeting when meeting someone unexpectedly)

3. “Hello, Sir? You seem confused. Can I help you with something?” (used to get someone's attention or start a conversation)

4. “Hello everyone, how’s the project going so far?” (used to address a group of people you know)

5. “Hello, everyone. Welcome back to my channel.” (used to address people you don’t know)

6. “Hello!” (while quickly walking past someone you know, you acknowledge them but continue on your way).

2

I am [name]. (and you?)

In English, the most common way to introduce yourself to someone is by saying, “I am [your name].”

For example, if your name is John, you would say, “I am John.” Or, if your name is Anna, you would say, “I am Anna.”

So, "I am [name]" is used to introduce yourself or provide your identity. It’s the most common way to say who you are when meeting someone new, especially in casual and formal introductions.

The phrase is used to introduce oneself to others.

It is a simple and concise sentence that can be used in almost every situation where you need to introduce yourself.

This self-introduction line is usually paired with a greeting like “hi” or “hello” and may be paired with additional sentences depending upon the situation. For example, “Hello, I am John. And you?”

Naturally, the most common situations where you’d use “I am [name]” is when meeting new people, replying to questions that ask about your identity, such as “Who are you?” or “What’s your name?” and writing formal letters, introductions, or emails.

Another use of the phrase is confirming your identity in a speech or writing. For example, “I am Mabel, the team’s representative.”

Formal, neutral, straightforward, polite.

“I am [name]” may be informal or casual when used in a relaxed context.

By nature, the phrase is informative, introductory, and identifying.

1. Hello, I am John. And you?

2. Hello John, I am Anna. It’s nice to meet you.

3. Hello, Mam. I am Katherine, and here to assist you with the transaction.

4. Nice meeting you, Sarah. I’m Albert, your new colleague.

5. I’m your classmate Omar. Can we be friends?

6. Okay, class! I’m Roy, your new history teacher.

7. I am Dr. John Williams, and I specialize in heart surgeries.

8. Dear Sir, I am Alice Brown, and I would like to apply for the job you advertised.

9. I’m Perry from Washington.

3

How are you?

The most common and simple way to ask someone how they are doing is by saying, “How are you?”

It inquires about someone’s condition and well-being.

However, “How are you?” is not considered a serious inquiry about a person’s well-being. It’s a ubiquitous phrase everyone uses for formality at the beginning of a conversation.

People usually don't expect a detailed answer to the question unless there's a reason to explain. A common response to "How are you?" might be "I'm good, thank you," or simply "I'm fine, and you?"

So, it’s mostly treated as a greeting rather than a question.

The phrase is used as a greeting to start a conversation with someone. It can be used when meeting someone for the first time – formally, informally, or casually.

It can be used to ask about someone’s well-being.

“How are you?” may be extended using additional words to suit certain situations, like saying, “How are you today?” “How are you now?” or “How are you feeling?”

A slightly more sentimental version is “How are you doing?”

Fairly formal, informal, polite, neutral, concise, casual.

More formal and sentimental than “How are you doing?”

Less formal than “How do you do?” and ”I trust you are doing well.”

Considered a social nicety.

1. Hello, how are you?

2. Hi Fren, how are you? Wanna hang out?

3. How are you now, Sam? It’s good to see you recover from the fever.

4

How are you doing?

Similar to saying, “How are you?” “How are you doing?” is a slightly more casual, informal, and sentimental way of inquiring about someone’s well-being in general.

It asks how someone feels or how things progress in their life, work, or activities.

Often, it’s not just a question about health but more about how a person might be managing or coping with situations in general. For example, it could be a way to ask about someone's day, work, or current state of affairs.

“How are you doing?” is mostly used in casual conversations to ask people about their general affairs.

It can be used to inquire about someone’s well-being when meeting them after a long time.

The phrase can be used to give a hint of curiosity or interest, showing that you care about how the other person is doing.

It may be extended using additional words or phrases to suit certain situations, like saying, “How are you doing lately?”

Casual, informal, friendly, polite, conversational.

Less formal than “How are you?” and “How do you do?”

Less casual than “How’s it going?”

More specific and warmer than “What’s up?” and “How’s everything?”

1. How are you doing, Tina?

2. How are you doing lately, Amina? Haven’t heard from you in a while.

3. Good morning! How are you doing today?

4. Hey, I heard you were feeling sick last week. How are you doing now?

5. How are you doing with all the new changes at work?

5

How have you been?

“How have you been?” is used to ask about a person’s health and well-being when meeting them after a while or a long time.

It asks about the person’s well-being when they’ve been away from you, whether they’ve been doing well or not.

“Have been” in the sentence suggests that the person has been away for some time.

“How have you been?” is a way to start a conversation with someone without intending to dive deep into their state of being. So, the questioner usually expects a concise answer like “I’ve been good.”

The sentence can be used as a catch-up question when meeting someone after a while.

It’s mostly used informally but may also be used formally, such as when reuniting with a colleague after a few holidays.

The phrase is used to strike up a conversation when reuniting with someone and as a casual inquiry to ask about someone’s life or mood.

Friendly, polite, informal, casual, semi-formal, conversational.

More formal than "I trust you’ve been well."

Less formal than "How’s it going?”

1. Oh, hey Sarah! How have you been?

2. It’s been a while since we last spoke. How have you been?

3. Hi Granny, I missed you. How have you been?

4. The vacation took quite a long time. How have you been, Jerry?

6

Long time no see.

The phrase “Long time no see.” is used when you meet someone after a long time. It means it has been a long time since you last saw the other person.

The phrase is a way to acknowledge the time spent after you last met someone.

It also gestures that you’re excited to reconnect with the person but also don’t want to focus on why it took so long.

“Long time no see” is a lighthearted expression when greeting someone after a gap, used as a catch-up phrase, expressing that you’re excited or happy to see the person again.

However, the phrase should be avoided in formal and professional settings as it is casual and informal.

Friendly, informal, casual, cheerful, lighthearted, conversational.

Less informal than "It’s been ages!"

1. Long time no see, Aron. How have you been?

2. Long time no see, Joe. Where have you been all these years?

3. Oh wow, it’s you! Long time no see!

4. Hi Aunt Marry! Long time no see!

7

I am fine, thanks.

"I'm fine, thanks" is a polite yet neutral response to questions like "How are you?" or "How have you been?" It indicates that you are doing well or just okay.

Though you can just say, “I am fine,” adding "thanks" to the sentence shows politeness and gratitude for being asked, which can otherwise sound curt, especially in informal conversations where much courtesy is expected.

It’s a common response to questions about your well-being, used when you don’t want to elaborate much on your feelings or when the interaction is brief.

People may respond with “I am fine.” or “I am fine, thanks.” to questions like “How are you?” even if they’re not feeling great but don’t want to discuss it, as the phrase puts an end to the question.

Use the phrase if you want to keep the conversation brief.

Use an alternative phrase like “I’m great…” if you feel better than just “fine.”

Neutral, concise, polite, formal, or even casual, depending on the context.

Direct and non-conversational unless followed by something like, "How about you?"

Less formal than "I’m doing well, thank you."

More formal than "I’m good, thanks." and “All good.”

1. (Professional setting)
   

   Person A: “Good morning! How are you?”
   Person B: “I am fine, thanks. And you?”
   Person A: “Hey! How have you been?”
   Person B: “I’m fine, thanks. What about you?”
   Harry: “What’s up, Joe? You don’t seem well.”
   Joe: “I’m fine, Harry. Just a bit tired.”

2. (Casual setting)
   

3. (Casual setting)
   

8

Nice to meet you.

“Nice to meet you.” is a polite sentence used to greet someone for the first time. It means that you’re pleased to get to know the other person.

“Nice to meet you” is grammatically incomplete.

It works in both professional and informal situations.

One of the most common replies to the phrase is the phrase itself: “Nice to meet you, too.,” with a “too” or “as well” at the end.

An alternative version is “It’s nice to meet you,” which is grammatically correct and more suitable for formal occasions.

Some may confuse “Nice to meet you” with “Nice meeting you.” However, the latter is a phrase said at the end of conversations. The grammatically correct version is: “It was nice meeting you.”

Formal, informal, polite, friendly, warm, fairly neutral.

Appropriate for almost any context.

1. (Professional setting)
   

   Pasha: “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Smith.”
   Smith: “Nice to meet you, too.”
   Anna’s mom: “So, you’re Anna’s friend Natasha? Nice to meet you.”
   Natasha: “Nice to meet you too, Aunty...”

2. (Informal setting)
   

9

Good morning

“Good morning” is a common greeting used during the morning time of the day.

It conveys courtesy, initiates a conversation, or acknowledges a person.

Saying “Good morning” can set a positive tone for your interaction.

The most common reply to “Good morning” is the phrase itself.

“Good morning” is mostly used to greet someone politely at the start of their day, whether casually or formally. You may use it to greet someone you don’t know. “Good morning! Do you know when the bus arrives?”

It can also be used to initiate conversations.

The phrase may be followed by the other person’s name and a polite inquiry. For example, “Good morning, Pam. Did you sleep well?” or “Good morning, Jeff. How are you doing?”

You say “Good morning” only during the morning time, between sunrise (6:00 AM) and noon (12:00 PM). The phrase is not used throughout the day. Instead, it changes depending on the time of the day.

After noon, until evening (12:00 to 06:00 PM), you say “Good afternoon.” At the time of evening (usually 06:00 to 09:00 PM) until bedtime, you say “Good evening.”

However, “Good night” is not a greeting. Instead, it is used as a goodbye in most interactions. “Good night, Mike. Let’s meet again tomorrow.”

We say “Good night” to loved ones just before sleeping or when leaving them to sleep. “Sleep well, honey. You have school tomorrow. Good night.”

Polite, warm, neutral, formal, informal, casual, professional.

Suitable for all settings.

“Morning” is a casual version, while “Good morning!” fits all situations, including professional.

1. (Casual setting)
   

   “Morning, Dad! When did you wake up?
   “Good morning, Mr. Smith. I thought you were on leave today.”
   “Good morning, Mam. Have a nice day!”
   “Good evening! It’s so nice to see you here.”

2. (Formal setting)
   

3. (Formal setting)
   

4. (Informal setting)
   

5. Good afternoon! Can I get directions?

6. Good morning! I hope this email finds you well.

10

Thank you.

“Thank you” is a polite and standard way of responding to someone’s help.

It expresses gratitude, politeness, and appreciation for someone’s help, kindness, gesture, or compliment.

You can say “Thank you” to respond to someone’s help, kindness, and compliments and express your gratitude and politeness toward them.

The phrase can also be used to close formal or even informal interactions. For example, “Thank you for your time during the meeting, Sir.” and “Thank you for coming to the party, Albert. Your presence means a lot.”

“Thank you very much” is a politer version of the phrase, expressing much gratitude.

Polite, warm, courteous, neutral.

Accepted universally, suitable for all settings (formal, informal, casual).

1. Thank you for the lovely gift!

2. Thank you so much for your help.

3. Thank you for helping me carry the bags.

4. Aww, thank you for the compliment!

5. Thank you for your time and attention.

11

You are welcome.

“You are welcome” is a polite and standard response to reciprocate a kind gesture.

It conveys that you’re glad to help, or there’s no need to thank you further.

Saying “You are welcome” if someone thanks you for something is a way to acknowledge that person’s thankfulness.

It is widely used to reply to gestures like “Thank you.”

Mostly used in response to "Thank you" in casual and formal conversations.

‘’You’re welcome” is a neutral response to any kind gesture, suitable for all situations.

Polite, warm, courteous, friendly, neutral.

Accepted universally, suitable for all settings (formal, informal, casual).

1. “Thank you for helping me with the homework!”
   

   “You’re welcome.”
   “You’re always welcome.”
   

2. “Thank you for the ride, brother.”
   

12

It’s my pleasure.

Like “You’re welcome,” "It’s my pleasure" is a polite and gracious response to acknowledge gratitude.

It expresses that you are genuinely happy to help or do something for someone.

It’s similar to saying "You’re welcome" but adds warmth and sincerity.

Used to reciprocate thank-you(s) and similar gestures.

Saying “It’s my pleasure” or “It would be my pleasure” to someone who asks for your assistance is a way to show your eagerness to help them.

It can be used formally to express courtesy.

“My pleasure” is a more informal and casual version.

Warm, polite, friendly, neutral, formal, informal.

More formal than “Happy to help.”

1. “Thank you for helping me with the cooking."
   

   "Oh, it’s my pleasure."
   “Of course, it’s my pleasure.”
   

2. “Can you help me finish writing this document?”
   

3. “It is my pleasure to be a part of this ceremony.”

13

I am sorry.

"I am sorry" is the most common way to express apology, regret, or sympathy.

It’s used to acknowledge mistakes, show empathy, or convey remorse for an action or situation.

If you ever need to apologize for a mistake, you can say, “I am sorry.”

It is also a common expression of sympathy. For example, if you hear about someone’s loss — a loved one died, or the person themselves ran into an accident, or they suffered a material loss — you could say, “I am sorry to hear about your loss,” or “I’m sorry you had to go through this tragedy/problem” which means that you feel sad about their situation.

You may say, “I am sorry that you had a bad day,” if you know someone had a bad day.

The phrase is also used to politely respond in situations where you might have made an error. For example, if you couldn’t hear someone speak, you can say, “I’m sorry, could you repeat that?” or "Sorry, I didn’t catch what you said."

For informal interactions, "Sorry" works fine.

Polite, sincere, formal, informal, casual.

Universally accepted.

1. I am deeply sorry for the inconvenience caused.

2. Sorry, I forgot to bring the snacks.

3. Sorry, I didn’t mean to come this late.

4. Aww, honey, I’m sorry for your loss.

14

Excuse me,

"Excuse me" is a polite expression used in various situations, such as to get attention, seek permission, apologize, or navigate a situation without offending others.

“Excuse me” is a versatile phrase, like “I am sorry.” It is widely used in different contexts, mostly to sound polite and professional.

You can say, “Excuse me,” to get someone’s attention before asking them what you have to ask. For example, “Excuse me, Sir. Can we please talk for a moment?” “Excuse me, get aside, please.”

It can be used as a light apology when interrupting someone. "Excuse me for interrupting you, but I have a quick question."

Another use of the phrase is apologizing for a minor mistake or incident. “Ah, excuse me for that. I didn’t mean to bump into you.”

The phrase is commonly used to navigate through a crowded place. "Excuse me, could I get through?"

Polite, respectful, neutral, formal, informal.

1. Excuse me, is this your seat?

2. Excuse me, I’d like to clarify a point from earlier.

15

Can you help me?

"Can you help me?" is a direct yet polite way to ask someone for assistance or support. It expresses a request for help in a specific or general situation.

If you’re unsure how to ask someone for help, “Can you help me?” works fine in all situations.

The phrase has several uses, such as asking someone to help you, seeking guidance, or expressing dependency on someone.

A more formal and polite version is “Could you help me?” Add a “please” at the end for further politeness.

If you need help urgently, you can say, “I need help!” or “Help me, please!”

Neutral, polite, formal, informal, casual.

Versatile. Suitable for all settings.

Less formal and polite than “Could you help me?”

More formal than “Can you give me a hand?”

1. (Formal setting)
   

   "Can you help me prepare the presentation for tomorrow’s meeting?"
   "Can you help me find my keys?”
   "Excuse me, can you help me with my order?"
   "Can you help me understand this topic, Mom?”

2. (Casual setting)
   

3. (Formal setting, customer service)
   

4. (Casual setting)
   

16

What time is it?

The most common and standard way to ask someone about the current time is by saying, “What time is it?”

It’s a general inquiry about the exact time of the day.

“What time is it?” is widely used to ask about the time of the day at the time of asking.

In formal settings, it’s more appropriate to bend the phrase a bit with polite gestures. “Excuse me, could you kindly tell me what time it is?”

In casual settings, alternatives like “What’s the time?” works fine.

Neutral, fairly polite, formal, informal, casual, direct.

Suitable for almost all settings.

More formal than “What’s the time?” and “Got the time?”

Less formal than “Could you tell me the time, please?”

1. (Formal setting)
   

   “Excuse me, Mr. Sam, could you tell me what time it is?
   Paro, what time is it right now? My phone is dead.

2. “Hello! Sorry to interrupt you, but could you please tell me what time it is?”

3. (Casual setting)
   

17

I think…,

The phrase "I think" is used when expressing personal opinions, ideas, beliefs, or uncertainties. It introduces your perspective on a topic and can convey varying levels of confidence.

Using the sentence adds more context and politeness to your opinion as opposed to speaking directly. In other words, when you say “I think” before saying something, you signal to others that what you’re about to say is more like a personal opinion/perspective than something assertive they need to know/follow/understand.

Using “I think” is also a great way to give suggestions and express beliefs and viewpoints.

Another use of “I think” is expressing doubt or uncertainty. “I think the meeting usually starts at 9 o’Clock, but I’m not sure.”

The phrase is also used to initiate conversations. “I think I saw you at the mall yesterday. You were dressed in red, right?”

“I don’t think” is a negative version used to express disagreement.

Very polite, indirect, tentative, formal, informal, casual.

Suitable for all settings.

Less formal than “In my opinion…” and “In my point of view…”

1. I think we’ve met each other before.

2. I don’t think that’s the right way to negotiate with the client. Let’s try a different approach.

3. I don’t think I can believe this piece of information.

4. I think we should always seek advice before attempting something new in life.

5. I think we can all agree that lying is bad.

18

I appreciate it.

“I really appreciate it.” expresses your gratitude and acknowledgment toward someone’s help, kindness, or effort.

It conveys that you value what the other person has done for you.

“I appreciate it.” is used to express your gratitude in general when someone does something helpful or thoughtful for you, regardless of how small the help may be.

It can be used to acknowledge someone’s favor toward you, regardless of how small it may be.

You can use the phrase to politely say no to something. “I am not in a position to accept your offer right now, but I appreciate it. Thank you.”

The phrase is also used in formal settings to sound more polite and professional when thanking others. “Thank you for arranging this meeting. I appreciate it.”

A more polite and warm version is “I really appreciate it” (with “really”).

Neutral, polite, warm, informal, emphatic, formal, fairly casual.

More formal than “Much appreciated” and “Thanks!”

1. You didn’t have to pick that up for me, but I appreciate it.

2. Thank you for getting this done so quickly. I appreciate it.

3. Thanks for grabbing coffee for me. I appreciate it!

4. You’re always so kind. I really appreciate your sentiment toward me and my family.

19

How was your day?

"How was your day?" is a friendly and caring question used to inquire about someone’s day.

It shows a general interest in their experiences, emotions, or activities over the course of the day.

“How was your day?” is used to inquire about someone’s state of affairs or well-being throughout the day.

The phrase can be used as a casual inquiry to connect with people you care about. “Hi Amina, how was your day? Did something happen today?”

“How was your day?” can also be used to show care or interest in others’ lives. “Hey, how was your day at college? You seemed a little stressed earlier.”

It can be used to start a conversation or keep it going. “So, tell me. How was your day? How’s your job going?”

The response to the phrase may vary with respect to factors like your relationship with the person, cultural norms, and the context of the conversation. For example, a colleague might say to the other, “How was your day?” as a general inquiry. Here, a generic and concise reply is expected. “It was okay. Nothing special.”

However, in another situation, a mother may ask her child the same question, inquiring about their day at school. In this case, a rather detailed reply is expected.

Friendly, warm, caring, casual, informal.

Can be used in formal settings.

More formal than “How did your day go?” and “What did you do today?”

1. Good evening! How was your day?

2. How was your day? Did the meeting go well?

3. Hi, how was your day? Did anything exciting happen?

20

Can I ask you something?

“Can I ask you something?” is a polite and indirect way to seek someone’s approval before asking them a question.

It shows that you are about to bring up a topic or inquire about something from the person.

The phrase is used to sound more polite and professional.

It is used to understand whether the other person is willing to engage in a conversation.

The phrase should especially be used (to seek the other person’s permission) if the inquiry or topic is personal or important to them. “Can I ask you something, Eddie? It might be a bit personal to you.”

Similarly, the phrase can be used to signal to the other person that the topic/question you’re about to ask is important or personal to you. “Can I ask you something? I’ve been thinking about a career change.”

“Can I ask you something?” softens the directness of a question, making the speaker sound considerate. “Can I ask you something? Are you free to help me later?”

It’s often used when the speaker wants to approach a potentially delicate or awkward subject. "Can I ask you something? Did I say something wrong earlier?"

You may want to add “If you don’t mind,” “If it’s okay with you,” or “I hope you don’t mind” after the phrase to sound more polite and considerate, especially when you’re not well-acquainted with the other person.

Polite, considerate, indirect, fairly formal, casual, personal, respectful.

Less formal than “May I ask you something?” “Could I ask you a question?” and “I have a question, if I may.”

More formal and polite than “I want to ask you something.”

1. Can I ask you something? I never asked you about your age.

2. “Can I ask you about something personal? If you don’t mind.”

3. Can I ask you something? How do you stay so positive all the time?

4. Can I ask you something? How much did your jacket cost? It looks amazing!