Introducing yourself and asking about others
Introduce yourself in one natural line, answer the three questions everyone asks (name, where you're from, what you do), and ask them back.
WHY THIS MATTERS
The same three questions, every time
When you meet someone new in English, three questions arrive within two minutes: your name, where you're from, and what you do. A fourth often follows: what you do for fun. You can't predict most of a conversation, but you can predict this part. If your answers are ready, you start relaxed instead of frozen.
Think of it as your ten-second profile: "I'm Negar. I'm from Shiraz, in Iran. I'm a graphic designer."
Dan: Hi, I don't think we've met. I'm Dan.
Negar: Hi Dan, I'm Negar. Nice to meet you.
Dan: You too. So, how do you know Maryam?
Negar: We work together. I'm a graphic designer. What do you do?
Dan: I'm a nurse. Where are you from, Negar?
Negar: I'm from Iran, from Shiraz. How about you?Two strangers at a friend's party. In six lines they cover names, the link to the host, jobs and hometowns, and every answer ends by passing a question back."You too" is the short, natural reply to "Nice to meet you".
What do you do? /wʌt də jə ˈdu/
What is your job? (the normal, friendly way to ask)
So, what do you do? — I'm a nurse. I work at a children's hospital.
Check yourself
At a dinner, the person next to Omid smiles and asks, "So, what do you do?" Omid is an accountant. What should he say?
- I'm eating dinner.
- My job is accountant.
- Fine, thanks. And you?
- I'm an accountant. I work for a small company.
Show the answer
I'm an accountant. I work for a small company.
Yes. "What do you do?" means "What's your job?", and the natural answer is "I'm a/an…" plus one small detail.
Use "be" for jobs and age, and don't forget a/an
In English you are your job and you are your age. Jobs always take a or an: "an" before a vowel sound (an engineer, an artist), "a" before the rest (a teacher, a student). Persian has no word like this here, so it is the easiest thing to drop.
- I'm an engineer. / I'm a student.
- I'm engineer. / My job is engineer.
- I'm 28.
- I have 28 years.
Meet or see?
Nice to meet you
Only for the first time you meet someone. The reply is "You too" or "Nice to meet you too".
Good to see you
For someone you already know. Saying "Nice to meet you" the second time sounds like you forgot them.
Check yourself
Sara introduces herself on her first day at work. Choose the missing word.
Hi, I'm Sara. I'm ____ engineer on the software team.
Show the answer
an
I'm into… /aɪm ˈɪntu/
I like it a lot and spend time on it (said about hobbies and interests)
I'm really into hiking. There are great mountains near my city.
What do you do for fun?
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
- What which thing
- do you do the activity you usually do
- for fun to enjoy yourself, not for work
Check yourself
You're at Maryam's party and start talking to a stranger. Ask what their connection to Maryam is.
Show the answer
How do you know Maryam
Right. At any party or event, "How do you know + the host?" is the easiest first question there is.
| Level | Saying your name | Asking about work |
|---|---|---|
| Too formal | Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Negar Ahmadi. | What is your occupation? |
| Natural | Hi, I'm Negar. | What do you do? |
| Too blunt | I am Negar Ahmadi from Iran. | What is your job? How much do you earn? |
Check yourself
Match each question to the most natural answer
Show the answer
- What do you do? → I'm a pharmacist. I work near the city center.
- Where are you from? → Tabriz, in the northwest of Iran.
- What do you do for fun? → I'm really into cooking.
- How do you know Sara? → We went to university together.
Check yourself
Sara met her new coworker Tom yesterday. This morning she sees him at the door. What does she say?
- Hey Tom, good to see you.
- Nice to meet you, Tom.
- Hello. I am Sara. I have 27 years.
Show the answer
Hey Tom, good to see you.
Right. They have already met, so it's "see", not "meet".
Lesson recap
- Introduce yourself with "Hi, I'm…". Reply to "Nice to meet you" with "You too".
- "What do you do?" asks about your job. Answer "I'm a/an…" and never drop the a/an.
- You are your age in English: "I'm 28", not "I have 28 years".
- Talk about hobbies with "I'm into…" and ask "What do you do for fun?"
- Answer, add one detail, ask back. That keeps both people talking.