🎯 Learning Objectives
After studying this unit you will be able to:
- Begin and end conversations in the right way
- Understand the rules of etiquette and good manners
- Use correct greetings and farewells in formal and informal situations
- Understand informal expressions and vocabulary
- Use the Simple Present Tense (verb 'to be') correctly
1.1 What is Etiquette?
Have you ever wondered why we shake hands when we meet someone? Or why a man holds the door open for a woman? These actions are part of something called etiquette — and it plays a huge role in how we communicate every day.
📖 Key Definition
Etiquette means a set of rules for polite behaviour, especially among a particular group of people or in a particular profession. In simple words, etiquette tells us
how to behave well with others.
Most rules are based on one simple idea:
never hurt other people's feelings and never make things uncomfortable for others.
Origins of Etiquette — Where Did These Rules Come From?
| Custom | How It Started |
|---|
| Tipping / lifting hat | Knights in armour raised their helmet visors to show their face as a sign of peace |
| Shaking hands | Men held out their empty hand to show they were NOT holding a dagger |
| Man walks on outside of pavement | Old streets were muddy — the man walked outside so the woman wouldn't be splashed by carriages |
| Man helps woman across street | Women's skirts were so long they needed help walking across rough ground |
💡 Key Takeaway
Rules of formal etiquette are seldom needed in everyday life. What truly matters is
good taste, kindness, and sensitivity to other people's feelings.
1.2 Starting a Conversation — The 3-Step Formula
Starting a conversation with someone you don't know can be nerve-wracking! But it follows a simple 3-step formula:
1
👋 Greeting
Say Hello / Good Morning / Hi etc.
2
🙋 Introduce Yourself
Tell them who you are
3
❓ Ask After Them
"How are you?" / "How do you do?"
⚠️ Important Note
These greetings are
routine courtesies — fixed phrases that don't always have a deep literal meaning. We say 'Good morning' even if it is not a good morning! No one except close friends really wants to hear about your troubles when they ask 'How are you?' Keep it brief and polite.
Sample Dialogues: Formal vs Informal Introduction
Renu:
Have you met Gita? Gita, this is Ahmed, a friend of mine from the office.
Gita:
Hello Ahmed!
Ahmed:
Hello, nice to meet you.
Mukti:
Mr. Parikh, may I introduce you to my husband Subhash? Subhash, this is Mr. Parikh, our Manager.
Mr. Parikh:
How do you do?
Subhash:
How do you do?
📝 Self-Introduction Examples
"May I introduce myself? I'm Anju Sahgal from IGNOU."
"My name is Sunil Arora from Price Waters. I have an appointment with Director Ahuja at 3:30."
1.3 Formal vs Informal — Which Expression to Use?
The expression you choose always depends on 3 things: the situation, your relationship with the person, and the person's age.
| Situation | Relationship | Expression | Type |
|---|
| Office | Colleagues | "What a pleasure to see you, Mr. Sharma!" | Formal |
| College entrance | Student & Visitor | "Good morning. Welcome to Fergusson College, ma'am." | Formal |
| Neighbourhood | Strangers | "Hi! I'm Amrita Gill. We've just moved in." | Informal |
| Party | Friends | "Hi! Nice to see you again!" | Informal |
1.4 How to End a Conversation — The 2-Step Formula
Ending a conversation is just as important as starting one. Leaving abruptly is very rude!
STEP 1 — Signal the End
Let the person know the conversation is finishing:
"So long then!", "Well, I must be off.", "I'd better rush."
STEP 2 — Parting Salutation
Say goodbye properly:
"Bye!", "Take care.", "Good night!", "See you soon."
⚖️ Social Rules
- The older or more senior person normally signals the end of a conversation
- On the telephone, the caller signals the end
- Leaving a party without thanking the host is very rude
Farewell Dialogue Examples:
Anju:
Oh my gosh! It's already five. I'd better rush. Mum will be wondering what happened to me.
Preeti:
We must get together again soon.
Anju:
Yes, we must. Bye now!
Preeti:
Bye, Anju. Take care.
1.5 Vocabulary — Informal Expressions (Idioms)
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|
| Break the ice | Start a conversation with someone you don't know; make the situation comfortable |
| Seems lost | Appears confused or new to a place/group |
| Spread his wings | Become more confident; start doing things independently |
| So long then! | Goodbye (informal) |
| Fancy bumping into you! | What a surprise to meet you here! |
| Take care | Goodbye with a caring note — be safe |
1.6 Grammar — Simple Present Tense: Verb 'To Be'
📚 Two Types of Verbs
Action Verbs — describe what someone does: read, pass, run, talk
Stative Verbs — describe a state or condition:
is, am, are, have, like
The verbs
is, am, are are Simple Present forms of the stative verb 'be'. They do NOT describe an action — they describe a
condition or state.
| Subject | Verb 'To Be' | Example | Contraction |
|---|
| I | am | I am a student. | I'm |
| You | are | You are welcome. | You're |
| He / She / It | is | She is a doctor. | She's |
| We | are | We are classmates. | We're |
| They / These / Those | are | They are ready. | They're |
✂️ Contractions — Quick Reference
I am →
I'm | You are →
You're | He is →
He's | She is →
She's
We are →
We're | They are →
They're | It is →
It's
Rita is here →
Rita's here (informal)
Practice Questions & Answers
Q1. Are all rules of etiquette silly and pointless?
No! Most rules of etiquette are NOT silly. They are based on the idea that we should never hurt other people's feelings or make things uncomfortable for others. Some rules seem old-fashioned because they started hundreds of years ago (e.g., shaking hands = showing an empty, weapon-free hand), but the basic idea of kindness and respect is always valid.
Q2. Who should be introduced first — a younger person or an older person?
A younger person should always be introduced to an older person. Example: "Ms. Verma, may I introduce my friend Nita Kumar." — Here, the younger person (Nita) is being introduced to the older person (Ms. Verma).
Q3. What are the three steps to starting a conversation?
1. GREETING — Say hello / good morning / hi
2. INTRODUCING YOURSELF — Tell the person your name and who you are
3. ASKING ABOUT THEIR WELL-BEING — "How are you?" / "How do you do?"
Q4. How should you signal the end of a conversation?
- Body language — looking at your watch, moving feet, looking at the door
- Making an excuse — "Sorry, I've got another class after this"
- Apology — "I'm afraid I have to go now"
- Remember: The older/senior person should initiate the end. On the phone, the caller does so.
Q5. What is subject-verb concord in relation to 'to be'?
Subject-verb concord means the verb must agree with (match) its subject:
I → am | You → are | He/She/It → is | We/They → are
Using the wrong form (e.g. "I are" or "They is") is a grammatical error.
Q6. What is the difference between 'How do you do?' and 'How are you?'
'How do you do?' — FORMAL greeting used when meeting someone for the FIRST TIME. The correct reply is also 'How do you do?' — it is a ritual, not a real health question.
'How are you?' — More casual, used with people you already know. Reply: 'Fine, thanks. And you?'
Q7. How did the custom of shaking hands begin?
Long ago, men held out their empty hand to show they were NOT holding a dagger or weapon. This was a gesture of peace and trust. Over time, this became the common greeting of shaking hands.
Q8. Fill in the blank: Hindustan Times ___ the paper. (is/are)
Hindustan Times IS the paper. Even though 'Times' sounds plural, the newspaper is treated as ONE unit (singular) — so we use 'is'.
Q9. Write these sentences with contractions: a) We are all very busy. b) Rita is here already. c) I am sorry, indeed.
a) We're all very busy.
b) Rita's here already.
c) I'm sorry, indeed.
Q10. What is the correct way to introduce yourself in a formal meeting?
"May I introduce myself? I'm [Your Name] from [Organisation]."
Or: "My name is [Name] and I'm from [Company]. I have an appointment with [Person] at [Time]."
Always be polite, clear, and professional. Avoid being too casual in a formal setting.
Let Us Sum Up — Quick Revision
- Starting a conversation = 3 steps: Greeting → Introduce yourself → Ask about well-being
- Ending a conversation = 2 steps: Signal the end → Parting salutation
- Formal situations: 'How do you do?', 'May I introduce...', 'Good morning/evening'
- Informal situations: 'Hi!', 'Hey!', 'Fancy bumping into you!', 'Bye now!'
- Introductions rule: Always introduce the YOUNGER person to the OLDER person
- Ending rule: OLDER/SENIOR person signals end. On phone, the CALLER ends it.
- Grammar: I am / You are / He-She-It is / We-They are — use the correct form!
- Contractions: I'm / You're / He's / She's / We're / They're — used in informal speech