Excusing yourself

I’m sorry 

You can use this expression after you have in some fashion offended an individual (by stepping on his or her toes, bumping into the person, or saying the wrong thing). “I’m sorry” can be used for the most trivial or the most serious offense. Your tone and expression will indicate the depth and sincerity of your feeling.

Excuse me

You can use the expression when you approach a stranger for assistance; to warn people that might inconvenience them (when fighting your way through a crowd, for example); or after you have made some minor blunder that does not necessarily offended an individual (such as burping). If you pronounce the phrase as a question (i.e., you use rising intonation), then it means “please, repeat.”

Pardon me?

Use this expression when you don’t understand what someone just said.

Farewells

Well, I have to go now - 

This is a common way to end a conversation without making excuses. “Well” here indicates a summing up, a reaching for a conclusion, but is otherwise meaningless.

See you later - 

Usually you only say this when you want to convey that you intent to see people later day rarely after that. Note that this expression is truncated for “I’ll see you later,” which is not only slightly more formal, but expresses a greater degree of certainty about meeting later the same day.

Bye - 

This is quite informal, but also very friendly.

Good night - 

This farewell is used when you are taking your leave at night ( or you’re signaling that you’re going to sleep ).

Good bye - This is a more formal farewell.

Asking and answering - How are You -

How are you? - 

You can add “today,” if you haven’t seen the person for a few days or want to appear especially cheerful. This is a formulaic question, that asks for a formulaic answer, such as “Fine, thanks,” “Pretty good,” “OK” or “All right.”

Fine, thanks. - 

This is a good way to answer the question “How are you?” You can also answer “I’m fine, thanks.” or “I’m fine, thank you.” The latter would be somewhat formal than other two. If you want to return the question, simply add “and you?”

And you? - 

This can easily be tagged on to any response as a way to ask the same question back. “How are you?” “Fine, and you?”

How’s it going? - 

This is a formulaic question, that asks for a formulaic answer, such as “Pretty good,” “OK” or “All right.” It is more familiar than “How are you?” Note the contraction of “how is” to “how’s.” Contractions are very common in the English language.

I’m all right. - 

This is a very casual response to “How are you?” It too, can be followed by “and you?” Note the contraction of “I am” to “I’m.”

OK. - 

This is a casual way to answer “How are you?” or “How’s it going?” You can also say “I’m OK.”

Pretty good. - 

This is a good way to answer the question “How’s it going?”

What’s up? - 

This is a formulaic question, that asks for a formulaic answer, such as “Nothing much.” It is very casual. Note the contraction of “what is” to “what’s.”

Nothing much. - 

This is a very informal response, that can be used to answer “What’s up?” (But not: “How are you?”

Greetings

Good morning - 
The answer to this greeting can be “Hi, Hello or Good morning.”

Hi - 
This is the most common way to greet somebody. You might want to use “Hi there” if you already know the person. The answer to this greeting can be “Hi, Hello or depending on the time of day, “Good morning or Good evening.”

Hello - 
This greeting is appropriate under any circumstances, even on the phone. The answer to this greeting can be “Hi, Hello or depending on the time of day, “Good morning or Good evening.”

Good evening - 
Use this after about six in the evening and only if you want to appear a bit more formal than usual. The answer to this greeting can be “Hi, Hello or Good evening.”

Forms of Address

Mr - 

Use this for adult men and in conjunction with the last name. Sometimes you may hear “Mister!” used by itself as a call after a man whose name is not known. “Mister! you forgot your wallet.”

Mrs - 

Use this to address women older than 18. Some unmarried women may correct you to “miss”, others, married or not, might prefer to be addressed by “Ms.”

Ms - 

This is a form of address used for woman of all ages together with a last name.

Miss - 

This form of address is used for younger women, primarily. Nowadays it is more common in the southern part of the United States, where it is used either without a name, with a first name or with the last name.

Ma’am - 

This is a common form of address for women in the southern parts of the United States. It is used without a name as a sign of respect.

Sir - 

This is a common form of address for men, particularly in the military and in the southern part of the United States. It is used without a name as a respectful form of address.