Lesson summary
Video transcript
What’s up guys? My name is Shane and this is part one of the Basic Phrases For Conversation Series.
This ten part series will teach you some basic phrases that you need to know to have a conversation in English. You will also learn how to answer those phrases like a native speaker.
Are you ready? Let’s go!
Today’s phrase is ‘What is your name?’ This is the most basic way to ask someone their name. This phrase can be used in any situation, formal and informal.
But if you want to say it like a native speaker, you don’t have to say ‘what is’, you can join them together and say ‘what’s’. ‘What’s your name?’
But if someone says this to you, how can you answer? The most common way is ‘My name is …’ and then you say your name. For me, ‘My name is Shane.’
But if you want to say it like a native speaker, you don’t have to say ‘name is’, you can join them together to say ‘name’s’.
So for me, I would say ‘My name’s Shane.’ Another way you can answer this question is to say ‘I’m …’ and then you say your name. So for me, I would say ‘I’m Shane. I’m Shane.’
What about if someone asks you your name but then you want to ask their name back. What you can do is add ‘and you’ at the end of ‘I’m …’ So for example, I would say ‘I’m Shane. And you?’ I’m Shane. And you?’
And note how here with the ‘you’, it’s a rising intonation. ‘And you?’ Don’t say ‘and you.’ No. ‘And you?’ Yes.
If you forget someone’s name and it happens all the time, you can say ‘Sorry, what was your name again?’ ‘Sorry, what was your name again?’
This is a very polite way to ask someone’s name again.
Some common mistakes I hear with this phrase are students saying ‘What your name?’ No. You need to say ‘What is your name?’ or ‘What’s your name?’ Also, sometimes students like to say ‘My name John. My name Fred.’
But remember, you need to say ‘is’. So for me, ‘My name is Shane.’ Or ‘My name’s Shane.’
That is the end of part one of the Basic Phrases For Conversation Series. And I will see you in part two.
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