The results are in.
Some of you said, We do the same.
Others said, We’re different.
And one reader wrote that in her country, nobody says “Hello” to anybody.
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you can catch up with the conversation here.
CHATTY AMERICANS
In the US, everyone talks to everyone else.
All the time!
For me, it’s too much.
Example…
Many years ago, I was back in the US visiting family for Christmas.
One night, I was filling up my fathers’ car at a gas station.
It was in a small town.
It was late at night.
The convenience store was closed.
And it was just me out there.
Until a truck pulled up at the other island and some guy started filling up his truck.
But instead of doing this in silence, he felt the need to start a conversation.
“Is it cold enough for you?” he asked.
I’ve never known how to answer this question.
A) Yes. It is cold enough for me.
B) No. I wish it was colder.
What would you say?
STRANGE QUESTIONS
Have you ever heard a question in English that you didn’t know how to answer?
This week, let’s talk about how to answer these strange questions.
But first, answer this question in the comments:
Has someone ever asked you a question which you didn’t know how to answer?
Cheers,
Mr. Vig
Oh. yes, time to time I hear these strange questions for example:
You still work?
or
You still paint?
How can I answer at these questions?
Yes,I still work,and you ?
Nice thanks😃
I haven’t heard this kind of question,but I wouldn’t react on them much. Just answer them. The man who turned the question in a strange why maybe want to sound a bit cool instead of saying:oh god it’s very cools ,isn’t it….
The rest ; I have no comment.
Cold,I meant.
You can answer with a smile 🙂
Oh its fine outside. I feeling good with the weather.
What did you eat today?
What are you going to buy? (in supermarket)
Mr Vig – Why can’t people just stay out of other people’s business?
For me I always try to answer or I try to do some gestures.
I must say it´s a very strange question perhaps i would say something polite like yes it´s way too cold!
I don’t know if it’s the same in English, but in French, I always find this specific phone question very strange:
Ring, ring… I answer on my home phone.
My mother asks: ‘Are you at home?’
Me: ‘Hmm… wait! Let me think about that…
I would say “yes, it is enough cold for me “, I guess it was a night of Christmas, maybe the coldest time that day, and yes answer also means positive and friendly for the conversation.
Yeh, finally I would answer:
Aah,….it’s a little too hot, I wished it was colder!
In the past, when more people were living in villages and also working there, it was (and somewhere still is) common to greet the other person with a question – where are you going ? – what are you going to do there? I’ve learned recently that it was not just the politeness, but necessity for getting help in emergencies. F.E. If a woman went to the field ( or a man to the forest) – to work there, it was good to know to which field/forest, so in case a fire or other problems at home, people knew where to find her. The same if she didn’t come home soon enough – something may happend to her – they knew where she is. It was not just being nosy. Sometimes it would be useful to keep the habit nowadays too.
Yes.!I think there are many too people that make questions insignificant. It doesn’t make sense for me.
I have never heard these questions. They sound really very strange. I don’t know how to answer.
You know when you just get home and your mom sees you and asks, “Are you home already?” It’s the worst