Three questions for natives.

Question

Hi guys,For starters, when a friend of yours tells you that he had bought some new product(or got something new for his birthday, for example), what do you tell him? Moreover, when you arrive in a birthday party, what do you tell the guy who holds the party(how do you greet him, and I'm not talking about a terse 'hi').Furthermore, the one who has birthday? How is he called? Let's say that  you sit in a restaurant, and the waitress inches towards you; She asks you what would you like to order, and you want to drink some carbonated drink, so:Is it possible to say: I would like to have a carbonated drink?Is it natural to say: I would like to have a light drink, let's say....Coke?Please answer all of my aformentioned questions ! Thank you in advance guys.

Goodman · Accepted Answer

WesternAmericanHi guys,
For starters, when a friend of yours tells you that he had bought some new product(or got something new for his birthday, for example), what do you tell him?
Moreover, when you arrive in a birthday party, what do you tell the guy who holds the party? The one who has birthday? How is he called? --I'm not talking about 'hi' .
Let's say that you sit in a restaurant, and the waitress inches towards you; She asks you what would you like to order, and you want to drink some carbonated drink, so:
Is it possible to say: I would like to have a carbonated drink?
Is it natural to say: I would like to have a light drink, let's say....Coke?

Please answer all of my aformentioned questions ! Thank you in advance guys.

This is what I would say depending on, of course, the host’s age, gender, personality:

If the host is a guy, greet him with a smile and shake his hand followed by a one-hand hug. You could say “happy birthday Robert” and from there you can say “I don’t know what you like, hope you like it” (if you bring a gift) “thanks for inviting me, lovely party”.

If the host is a girl, you could say “Hi Rosie, happy birthday” and proceed to give her a friendly hug, and continue on to compliment her “you look lovely today”, “thank you for inviting me, great party!”.

“

I don’t see anything embarrassing about ordering a “regular Coke”, “Perrier Water” or a “Club Soda”. I do that all the time.

WesternAmerican · Answer

Thanks Goodman.
Could you be kind to answer my other questions? Or is it kindAND answer?:P

Goodman · Answer

I thought I already answered your questions. I am not sure what you meant? by <<<Or is it kind AND answer?>>>:P[/

WesternAmerican · Answer

'Would you be kind enough to answer my questions' or 'would you be kidn enough and answer my questions'.
And you still haven't answered one question..let's say that you buy something for your best friend, he tells you thanks and you tell him 'have fun with it?'?

Goodman · Answer

WesternAmerican'Would you be kind enough to answer my questions' or 'would you be kidn enough and answer my questions'.
And you still haven't answered one question..let's say that you buy something for your best friend, he tells you thanks and you tell him 'have fun with it?'?

'Would you be kind enough to answer my questions.

You just made this one up! So what is the question? "have fun with it?" This sounds weird dude!

WesternAmerican · Answer

I know it sounds weird, Goodman, that's why I'm asking for an alternative!

Goodman · Answer

WesternAmerican
I know it sounds weird, Goodman, that's why I'm asking for an alternative!

I gave your the answer "Hope you like it / hope you can use it / hope it's your color" and so on. For real! when you pick out a birthday gift for someone, the chance of the person to like the gift and really can use it is 50/50 at best. When you say " have fun with it", the tone has that rude, unsincere and naughty element to it if you know what I mean. Just imagine -You are going to a lady's birday party and picked out one of those electric massaging gadget for her as gift, and tell her "have fun with it!"

WesternAmerican · Answer

Thanks, brother!
I understand now.
Hope you like it is clearly much more polite.

By the way, perhaps you could explain to me the phrase 'at best'? How can I use it? What exactly does it mean?

MrPedantic · Answer

Hello WA,

Some alternative answers:

1. For starters, when a friend of yours tells you that he ~~had~~ has bought some new product (or got something new for his birthday, for example), what do you tell him?

— If I'm interested, "Oh, really? I wouldn't mind having a look at that". If not, "Oh, really?"

2. Moreover, when you arrive in at a birthday party, what do you ~~tell~~ say to the guy who ~~holds~~ is giving the party (how do you greet him, and I'm not talking about a terse 'hi').

— "Happy birthday, old chap! Many happy returns of the day and all that!"

3. Furthermore, the one ~~who has~~ whose birthday it is? ~~How~~ What is he called?

— I'm not sure there is a word. (Some people would call him "birthday boy", I'm sorry to say. But that would probably embarrass him, and irritate everyone else.)

4. Let's say that you ~~sit~~ are sitting in a restaurant, and the waitress ~~inches towards you~~ comes over. She asks you what ~~would you~~ you would like to order, and you want to drink ~~some carbonated drink~~ something carbonated , so:
Is it possible to say: I would like to have a carbonated drink?
Is it natural to say: I would like to have a light drink, let's say....Coke?
— I'd like a soft drink, please. Do you have any Coke?

All the best,

MrP

Goodman · Answer

WesternAmericanThanks, brother!
I understand now.
Hope you like it is clearly much more polite.
By the way, perhaps you could explain to me the phrase 'at best'? How can I use it? What exactly does it mean?

It means " even with the best scenario" or "with the highest probability".

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