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Pamela81 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Isn´t this embarrassing?
Hi,
I don´t know if it is only my problem but I feel embarrassed and I do not know what to answer when my customers call me and ask "how are you". Here is an example:
Paul:Hi Pamela, it´s Paul, how are you?
me: Hi Paul, I am fine thank you
Should I then ask if he is fine as well??? Don´t you think that these kind of questions, during a phone call are not necessary? I think that the answer to the question "how are you" can be only "fine"because I cannot tell my customers my personal problems!!!
I´d rather go directly to the point instead of asking how are you and how did you sleep....!!!
Please you native speakers tell me what you think about it
Thanks
Pamela
I don´t know if it is only my problem but I feel embarrassed and I do not know what to answer when my customers call me and ask "how are you". Here is an example:
Paul:Hi Pamela, it´s Paul, how are you?
me: Hi Paul, I am fine thank you
Should I then ask if he is fine as well??? Don´t you think that these kind of questions, during a phone call are not necessary? I think that the answer to the question "how are you" can be only "fine"because I cannot tell my customers my personal problems!!!
I´d rather go directly to the point instead of asking how are you and how did you sleep....!!!
Please you native speakers tell me what you think about it
Thanks
Pamela
Top answer
I feel your pain, but we're all supposed to lie in those situations. No, you're not supposed to tell Paul that your back is killing you! "
- I feel your pain, but we're all supposed to lie in those situations.
- No, you're not supposed to tell Paul that your back is killing you!
- "
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13 Answers
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I feel your pain, but we're all supposed to lie in those situations.
No, you're not supposed to tell Paul that your back is killing you!
"How are you?" does not really mean "How are you?" It means "How are you!"
No, you're not supposed to tell Paul that your back is killing you!
"How are you?" does not really mean "How are you?" It means "How are you!"
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AvangiI feel your pain, but we're all supposed to lie in those situations.No, you're not supposed to tell Paul that your back is killing you!Hi Avangi,
are you talking seriously? Is this normal in business?
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Avangi "How are you?" does not really mean "How are you?" It means "How are you!"Sorry I don´t get it
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Business associates can develop close relationships, of course.
If you know Paul well enough to tell him that you had a bad night -- because you know he'd be interested -- then go for it!
If you know Paul well enough to tell him that you had a bad night -- because you know he'd be interested -- then go for it!
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Pamela81Sorry I don´t get it"How are you?" is simply a polite, cheerful greeting. It's not a question, in the true sense of the word.
It just means, "I wish you well," or something like that.
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Avangi Pamela81Sorry I don´t get it"How are you?" is simply a polite, cheerful greeting. It's not a question, in the true sense of the word.Isn´t it a question? hmmmm so what I should then answer after Paul says "how are you" ?
Sorry but it is quite complicated to get this. In Italian we ask the same and it is taken as question so we expect an answer
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Pamela81 In Italian we ask the same and it is taken as question so we expect an answer...Really? Think about it.
If you say, "Hi, Paul, How are you?"
And he replies, "Terrible!" I threw up all night long!"
Is that really what you expected?
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"Never better!"Pamela81what I should then answer after Paul says "how are you" ?
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Avangi Pamela81 In Italian we ask the same and it is taken as question so we expect an answer...Really? Think about it.If you say, "Hi, Paul, How are you?" And he replies, "Terrible!" I threw up all night long!"Is that really what you expected?Well, if he said something like this, I would be very very very very surprised. I do not share personal or private th
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