Mecanica

Unit 1.2: Responding to "How have you been?"
As you can see in Unit 1.1, when we greet someone we know, we usually will ask the question "how are you" or "how have you been?"  Below are some useful responses.
• Expressing You're Healthy and Fine 
o I'm fine.
o Great.
o Couldn't be better.
o (I) can't complain.
 
• Expressing You'reBusy
o (I've) been busy.
o I'm snowed under.  (Meaning:  I'm very busy)
o Very busy.  There aren't enough hours in the day.
 
• Expressing You Have Been Doing OK (Neutral)
o So-so.
o Same as always.
o Same as usual.
o Plugging along.  (informal)
 
• Expressing You Have Not Been Doing Wello Not too great.
o Not so good.
o Not too well.
o Could be better.
o Lousy.  (Meaning:  very bad) (slang)

Unit 2.1: Getting Someone's Attention

When you want to start a conversation, you need to first get the other person's attention.  There are many ways to do that.  Below are some common expressions that you can use.
• Starting an InformalConversation
• Listen (to this).
• Listen up.
• Get a load of this.
• Get this.
• Guess what?
• Guess what I just found out.
• Have you heard the latest?
• Did you hear the news?
• Starting a More Formal Conversation
• Can I talk to you?
• Do you have a minute?
• Let's sit down and talk.
• May I have a word with you? 
  Examples:
 
Dialog 1:  (between 2 friends) 
• Ann:  Guess what?  
• Jim:  What?
• Ann:  I'm getting married next month.
• Jim:  Congratulations!  Who's the lucky guy?
 
Dialog 2:  (between 2 coworkers) 
• Ken:  Hey, did you hear the news?
• Joe:  No.  What news?
• Ken: Tom has got the sack.  (*to get the sack = to get fired) 
Dialog 3:  (between a boss and his employee) 
• Boss:  Jim, do you have a minute?
• Jim:    Yes.
• Boss:  Let's sit down and talk.
• Jim:   Sure.
 
Dialog 4:  (between a boss and his employee) 
• Jim:    Mr. Tanaka.  Do you have a minute?
• Boss: Yes.
• Jim:   May I have a word with you?
• Boss: Sure.  Come in,sit down.

Unit 3.1: Making, Accepting, and Declining an Invitation

Do you know how to invite someone to your house for dinner or party?  Or, do you know what to say in English when someone invites you?  Here are some common expressions you can use.
• Inviting Someone to Come to Your House for Dinner (Informal)
• Wanna come over for dinner tonight? (Wanna = want to)
• Wanna popover for a quick dinner?
• How about coming over for dinner tonight?
• Care to come over for dinner tonight?
• Inviting Someone to Come to Your House for Dinner (More formal)
• Would you like to come over for dinner tonight?
• Would you care to join us for dinner at our house tonight?
• I was just wondering if you would like to come over for dinner tonight.
•Please come over for dinner tonight.
• We'd be delighted to have you over for dinner tonight.
• Accepting an Invitation (Informal)
• Sure.  What time?
• Why not?  When do you want me to be there?
• Sure.  When should I be there?
• Yes!  Want me to bring something?
• I'd love to.  I'll bring dessert.
• Accepting an Invitation (More formal)
• Thank you! I'd love to.  Would you like me to bring anything?
• Thank you very much!  I'd be delighted to.  What time should I be there?
• Oh, certainly!  Thank you.  Do I need to bring anything?
• Declining an Invitation (Informal)
• I can't.  I have to work.
• Tonight's no good.  I have an appointment.
• I'm busy tonight.  Can I take a raincheck on that? 
(*raincheck: if...