Greetings and Introductions For Formal and Informal Situations

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The topic is divided into two groups: formal and informal situations.

A. Introduce myself

1. Informal situation
Just say Hi, or Hello, or My name is and give your name.
For example:
• hi, I am Nirwan
• Hello, my name is …
• Hi, Nirwan, and you?

2. Formal situation 
Formal situation is little longer than informal situation, let us listen some examples.
• May I introduce myself, my name is Nirwan
• Hello, I don’t think we’ve met, my name is …
• Good morning/ good afternoon/ good evening, allow me to introduce myself, my name is …

B. Introduce someone else

1. Informal Situation
• Dimas, this my friend, Maria.
• This is my classmate, Tia
• She  is my friend, Maria (while pointing the friend)
• This is my friend from my village, Maria.

2. Formal Situation 
• May I introduce my assistant, Dewi.
• Allow me to introduce my colleague, Arif Maulana.
• Allow me to introduce our speakers today, first speaker is Mr Nurdin, Second speaker is Mr Maskur and the third or last is Mrs. Cut Nyak Dhien.
• I would like you to meet my boss/ classmate/ partner etc.

Okay, let have a look at what to say after introduction.

1. Informal situation
• Hi, Nirwan, nice to meet you. (respond) Nice to meet you too.
Or we can use another expression, such as: happy, lovely.
• Hello Nirwan, I am happy to meet you, (respond) lovely to meet you too.

2. Formal situation 
• How do you do … (respond) how do you do … (formal synonym of formal situation).
• It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dimas. (respond) I am very pleased to meet you too.

How to greet someone you know.

1. Informal situation
• Hi Dimas, how are you? fine, thanks, and you?
• Hello Dimas, how are you doing? great, thanks, how about you?

2. Formal situation
• Good afternoon Miss Maria, how are you today? I am very well, thank you, and you?
• Hello Miss Maria, its nice to see you again, its nice to see you again too (but we have a special words to return the complement, so we can just say) ‘and you’.

How to say goodbye

1.Informal situation
• I must go. Catch you later  Okay, see you later, bye/ speak to you later, …
• I will be off now. Speak to you later  sure, take care.
• Sorry I have to go, see u ASAP  that is fine, okay see then

2.Formal situation
• Goodbye, it has been a pleasure meeting you  the pleasure is mine. I hope to see you again soon.
• I must be on my way. It was nice to see you again  likewise; I look forward to seeing you again soon.

Practice I:  Conversation (informal)

Dimas : Hello. I am Dimas
Maria : Hi Dimas, My name is Maria
Dimas : Nice to meet you, Maria
Maria : Nice to meet you, too
Dimas : Owh.. this is my friend Arman.
Maria : Nice to see you, Arman.
Arman : Me too
Maria : How are you doing?
Arman : I am fresh
Maria : Oh, I must go now, speak to you later guys.
Dimas : Ok, See you later.

Practice II:  Conversation (formal)

Dimas : Good morning, I don’t think we’ve met. Let me introduce myself. My name is Dimas Setiawan
Maria : How do you do. My name is Maria Sukma
Dimas : how do you do, Miss Maria. Allow me to introduce my classmate, Arman
Maria : well, actually we have already met. Hello miss Rose, how are you?
Arman : Very well, thank you. It’s nice to see you again.
Maria : and you
Dimas : well, we must be on our way. It has been a pleasure meeting you here, Miss Maria. I hope to see you again soon.
Maria : Likewise, I look forward to seeing you both.

Practice III:  Conversation (formal)

Maria : Aren’t you Dimas from Fajar Harapan School?
Dimas : Yes, that’s right
Maria : I believe we met at Debate Competition in Jakarta last year. I am Maria
Dimas : Oh yes, I remember. How have you been?
Maria : Just fine. And you?
Dimas :  very well.