Goal
You’ll be able to greet someone appropriately, introduce yourself, and respond to a basic introduction — the genuine first building block of any real conversation.
Learn
English has several common greetings, and choosing the right one depends partly on the time of day and partly on how formal the situation is:
Hello. (neutral, works anytime) Hi. (casual, common with friends) Good morning. (before noon) Good afternoon. (afternoon) Good evening. (evening)
To introduce yourself: My name is Sarah. or the slightly more casual I’m Sarah. To ask someone else’s name: What’s your name?
A genuinely important, easy-to-miss detail: Good night is not a greeting the way Good evening is — it’s specifically used when leaving or going to bed, never when arriving or meeting someone. Using Good night to greet someone arriving in the evening is a common, noticeable mistake.
A typical short exchange:
A: Hello, my name is Tom. What’s your name?
B: Hi, I’m Anna. Nice to meet you.
Decision Task
Someone arrives at a party at 8pm and you want to greet them as they walk in. Before reading on: would Good evening or Good night be the correct greeting?
Show Answer
Good evening — this is a genuine greeting used when meeting or arriving, matching the time of day. Good night is specifically used when leaving or going to bed, never as a greeting for someone arriving, even in the evening.
Common Mistake
Using Good night as a greeting when meeting someone in the evening, confusing it with Good evening. Good night is specifically a farewell, used only when someone is leaving or going to sleep — using it to greet an arriving guest is a noticeable, common mistake.
Practice Questions
1. What would you say to greet someone before noon?
Show Answer
Good morning.
2. Write a casual way to introduce yourself, if your name is Alex.
Show Answer
I’m Alex. (or My name is Alex.)
3. What question would you ask to find out someone else’s name?
Show Answer
What’s your name?
4. Why is Good night not appropriate for greeting someone arriving at a party in the evening?
Show Answer
Good night is specifically used when leaving or going to bed, not as a greeting for meeting or arriving.
5. What is a neutral greeting that works at any time of day?
Show Answer
Hello.
Try It Yourself
Without looking back, write a short two-line exchange where one person introduces themselves and asks the other person’s name, and the other person responds.
Show Answer
For example: A: Hi, my name is Ben. What’s your name? / B: I’m Lily. Nice to meet you.
Quick Check
1. What greeting works at any time of day?
Show Answer
Hello.
2. What greeting is used specifically in the evening when meeting someone?
Show Answer
Good evening.
3. When is Good night used?
Show Answer
When leaving or going to bed — not as a greeting.
4. How do you introduce yourself if your name is Maria?
Show Answer
My name is Maria. (or I’m Maria.)
5. How do you ask for someone’s name?
Show Answer
What’s your name?