The way we say 'goodbye' is different depending on the place where we live, who we say it to, if we see the person every day or if we won't see each other for a long time. 

In this lesson, you will read short dialogues between people saying 'goodbye'. Pay attention to each scenario and the words used. 
​
Do the task at the end of the lesson to practise what you have learned. 

Let's focus on some GOODBYE SCENARIOS. 

INFORMAL CONVERSATIONS 

(1) You are old friends. You haven't seen each other for years now. One of you is travelling to the other person's country and has been staying with him/her for a few days. You are at the airport. Thank your friend for putting you up. (= letting you stay at their home) 

Kevin: It was great seeing you again after so long. Thanks so much for having me to stay. 
Rachel: Don't mention it. You can come back any time. 
Kevin: I'd love to. But next time you must come and visit me. 
Rachel: Oh, that'd be great! Well, I've got some vacation coming up. I might come for a week. 
Kevin: Fantastic! 
Rachel: Your flight's being called. You should really make a move. 
Kevin: Oh, yeah. Thanks for having me and showing me around. 
Rachel: It was nothing, really. Don't forget to let me know you got there OK. 
Kevin: I will do. I'll text. 
Rachel: Now get going before you miss your flight. Take care and see you again soon. Bye! 
Kevin: Thanks. Bye, Rachel. 

Ways to say 'You're welcome': 

• No worries. 
• No problem. 
• My pleasure. 
• Don't mention it. 
• It was nothing. 

(2) You are best friends from school. One of you is going to Japan for a year. The other is staying at home to finish their studies. Promise each other to keep in touch. 

Karen: We haven't been apart for so long. I'll miss you. 
Emily: Yeah, I'll miss you, too. It's only a year. I promise we'll keep in touch. We can make video calls every week. I'll send you pictures, too. I can't wait to go there already. 
Karen: I'm so happy and excited for you! 
Emily: Maybe you can come and visit me while I'm there. 
Karen: I wish I could, but you know I need to finish my studies. 
Emily: Yeah, right. 
Karen: We'll be in touch for sure. 
Emily: Definitely! Well, I have to go now. I need to pack my bags and get ready. 
Karen: Sure. It will be a long flight. Text me when you get there. 
Emily: Will do. 
Karen: Take care. Bye for now. 
Emily: Bye, Karen. 

(3) You are ending a Skype call with a language exchange friend. 

Hana: Nice talking to you. 
Linh: Yeah. Maybe we can chat again sometime soon? 
Hana: I'll be online at the weekend, probably. 
Linh: OK, I'll check around this time to see if you're online. 
Hana: OK, great. 
Linh: Bye for now. 

Common ways to say "Nice talking to you": 

• It was great chatting with you. 
• Good to chat with you. 
• It was great to talk to you. 
• Nice to talk to you again. 
• Nice talking to you. 

Note: We say "chat with" and "talk to". 


​FORMAL CONVERSATIONS 

(4) You meet a colleague at a company event. You have a small talk but then one of you leaves. 

Harry: Happy to see you here, Anna. Back for another company event? 
Anna: Oh, Harry, lovely to see you here. 
Harry: How are things? 
Anna: I've been quite busy with work lately. And you? 
Harry: Well, I just came back from holiday. I was away for two weeks and now I'm falling behind on tasks. I'm trying to get myself organised again. 
Anna: Yeah, that must be tough. 
Harry: So, Anna, um, would you like a drink? 
Anna: No, I'm fine thanks. 
Harry: Well, it's been nice talking to you, Anna. You don't mind if I go and get myself a coffee? See you later. 
Anna: Sure. See you. 

Ways to end a conversation: 

• See you later. 
• Look, I have to go. Catch you later. 
• It's been nice talking to you. 
• You don't mind if I go and get myself (a coffee)? 

​(5) You are workmates saying goodbye on Friday, at the end of the week. One of you is celebrating your promotion with a drink after work. The other has to stay to finish some work. 

John: OK, I'm off now. 
Mark: Have a nice weekend. See you on Monday. 
John: Oh, Mark. I almost forgot. I'm taking colleagues out for drinks to celebrate my promotion. We're going to a bar in about an hour.
Mark: That's great news. Congratulations! 
John: Thanks. Will you join us? 
Mark: That'd be great, but I have a deadline to meet and I need to work overtime to finish the task. 
John: It's OK. Well, see you next week then. Bye now! 
Mark: Bye. 

(6) The last moments with your boss on your last day at work. 

Chris: We're sorry to see you go. Thank you for all your hard work. 
Kevin: It was great working with all of you. 
Chris: Oh, this is for you, Kevin - just a little something from us. 
Kevin: Oh, that's very thoughtful of you. You needn't have done that. 
Chris: It's nothing really. Best of luck in your future endeavours. 
Kevin: Thank you. 


TASK: 
Write two dialogues in full using the goodbye scenarios below. The first one needs to be an informal conversation and the second one formal. 

1. You are flatmates. One of you is going out for an hour or two to do some shopping. The person going out asks whether their flatmate wants anything from the shops. 
2. You are colleagues at a dinner party. One of you is the host. The other decides to leave even though it is still early. The early leaver needs to make a decent excuse. 

Other lessons:
10 Ways to Say that Something is Good  
10 Ways to Say that Something is Bad 
English Lesson: 5 Types of Lifestyle 

English conversation lessons: 
English Conversation: Travel opinions 
English Conversation: Travel experience 
English Conversation: Travelling in Europe and Asia 
English Conversation: Buying sunscreen products at a store 

Business English lessons: 
English Lesson: Jobs and Skills 
Business English: Working in an office 
Business English: How to Talk about Your Job Responsibilities 


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In this lesson, you will learn about 5 types of lifestyle and the way people live. Each of these lifestyles is possible as a result of certain factors or personal preference. 

We can also talk about a lifestyle that is healthy, unhealthy, active, busy or hectic, etc. 

For the purpose of this lesson, we will focus on five lifestyles only. 


AN EXTRAVAGANT LIFESTYLE / A LAVISH LIFESTYLE 

Wealthy people tend to spend a lot of money on personal property and expensive toys. You may have heard that billionaires are the new celebrity. Just like celebrities, many new money billionaires are not afraid to be seen extravagant, and they want grand toys like yachts, private jets, supercars, etc. They are drunk on their self-importance. The super rich have status anxiety, and that's why they compete with each other. For example, who has the biggest yacht, the most expensive handbags, the prettier wife, whose children go to the best schools, and things like that. What sets the hyper rich apart is their ability to have a yacht specifically designed and built for them. Of course, employing yacht designers doesn't come cheap. On average, having a yacht built for you comes at a cost of 1 million euros per meter. The interior design also adds up to the astronomical price. You can imagine that the price of a yacht is eye-watering. It's a fact that people don't really need to have a yacht, but it's a way for the rich to show off. It's not all fun and games being a billionaire. On the plus side, they have access to the most fabulous toys that money can buy like underwater aeroplanes, expensive art, theme parks, and many more. A whole industry caters for their demands whether that be party planners or gourmet deliveries. 

VOCABULARY 

• new money billionaires | the new rich (American English) - people who have recently become very rich compared to people whose families have already been rich 
• drunk on/with something - so excited that you behave in a strange way 
• the super rich | the hyper rich 
• status anxiety - tension or fear of being perceived as "unsuccessful" by the society 
• compete (with/against someone) (for something) - to try to be more successful or better than somebody else who is trying to do the same as you  
• set someone/something apart (from someone/something) (phrasal verb) - to make someone/
  something different from or better than others
• not come cheap (phrase) - If you say that something does not come cheap, you mean that it is of good quality and is therefore expensive. 
• add up (informal) (phrasal verb) - to calculate the total of two or more numbers 
• an astronomical price | an astronomical amount of money (collocations) 
• eye-watering - so high that it is difficult to think about it 
• show off (informal) (phrasal verb) - to try to impress others by talking about your possessions or abilities 
• on the plus side (idiom) - used when speaking about advantages of something 
• cater for someone (phrasal verb) - to provide the things that a particular person needs or wants

​
A NOMADIC LIFESTYLE 

Some people like the comfort of home and planning for a secure future while others don't want to be settled, have a steady job and a usual routine. Those who live a nomadic lifestyle like being on the road, not having too many responsibilities and having a different routine all the time. Of course, there are reasons why people enjoy this type of lifestyle. Living like this seems to slow down time and people have more experiences compared to "a going to work and coming home" routine. Being a nomad also means that you're not tied to one specific place and you can easily travel and spend time with your family, even stay and live with them for some time. Adopting a nomadic lifestyle gives people a lot of freedom of owning less. In general, people who live in an apartment or a house tend to accumulate more, especially unnecessary stuff. Another reason for moving from one place to another is having less stress and also having more energy to do the things you love. Last but not least, this lifestyle gives people the freedom to go and explore new places. 

VOCABULARY 

• the comfort of something (collocation) - the comfort of the hotel room 
• plan for something (collocation) - make plans for something that you expect to happen 
• plan for the future (phrase) - You need to plan for the future and think about what you are going to do after graduation. 
• be settled (collocation) - comfortable and happy with you home, job, way of life, etc. 
• a steady job (collocation) - a job that is likely to continue 
• a usual routine (collocation) 
• live a nomadic lifestyle (collocation) - moving from one place to another 
• adopt a ... lifestyle (collocation) - start having one 
• be tied to something - to be restricted by a situation, job, etc., so that you cannot do exactly what you want. (e.g. When you own a house, you're tied to it. You cannot live wherever you want. ) 
• sometime (also some time) (adverb) - at a time that you do not know exactly or has not been decided yet 
• freedom of something - freedom of owning less (stuff) 

A COMFORTABLE LIFESTYLE 
 
People don't need to be rich to live comfortably. In fact, having a comfortable lifestyle means that you have enough money to buy things you need and want. Those who earn enough money are able to cover their expenses and save money at the same time. The key is to have enough to pay for your necessities and non-essentials, but also build up your savings. You need to consider the cost of living in your city and whether your income is sufficient. 
​
VOCABULARY 

• live comfortably | live well (collocations) 
• a comfortable lifestyle (collocation) - with enough money 
• necessities - things that you must have and cannot manage without (e.g. rent, utilities, food, transport and health care) 
• non-essentials - things that are not completely necessary 
• build up savings | have savings (collocations)  
• the cost of living (collocation) - the amount of money you need to pay for food, clothes, etc. 

A SIMPLE LIFESTYLE 

If you're satisfied with what you have rather than what you want, you'll be able to live a simple lifestyle. Simple living is a voluntary choice and it doesn't mean that you force yourself to live in poverty. In fact, there are a number of reasons why people choose this type of lifestyle. For example, they can spend quality time with family and friends, have a better work-life balance, and reduce stress. Some people reduce their consumption by spending less on goods and services and saving more so that they can be financially independent. And because people don't need a lot of money, they can reduce the time spent earning money, which means they have extra time for their interests and creative activities such as art and crafts. It is also believed that the key to a simple life is to start producing and growing your own food. As a result, some people eat a simplified diet, for example, a vegan diet. 

VOCABULARY 

• live/lead a simple lifestyle (collocation) - live with few possessions or modern technologies 
• choose a lifestyle (collocation) 
• spend time (collocation) 
• reduce stress | relieve stress (collocations) 
• reduce consumption | lower consumption | cut consumption (collocations) 
• eat a diet | have a diet (collocations) 

A SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE 

People who have a sedentary lifestyle or job tend to sit down a lot of the time and don't usually do exercises or physical activities. Those living this kind of lifestyle are often sitting or lying down while doing an activity such as reading, watching TV, using a smartphone, laptop or any other device for long hours. These days most people spend a lot of time looking at a screen which may have a negative impact on their health and overall well-being. People who have a lack of physical activity are at risk of various diseases or even premature death. 

VOCABULARY

• do an activity | take part in an activity | be involved in an activity (collocations) 
• have a negative impact on someone/something (collocation) 
• well-being = general health and happiness (e.g. emotional/physical/psychological well-being) 
• at risk of something (collocation) 

Note: Check the pronunciation of the word 'sedentary' in an audio dictionary and practise. 


​Other lessons: 
Commonly Used Phrases in Spoken English 
10 Ways to Say that Something is Good 
10 Ways to Say that Something is Bad 

English conversation lessons: 
English Conversation: Socialising with people and working in coffee shops 
English Conversation: Buying sunscreen products at a store 

Click below to read some of our IELTS related lessons: 
Discourse Markers for IELTS Speaking and Everyday English 
Causes and Effects of Migration from Rural Areas to Cities 
IELTS: Advantages and Disadvantages of Using the Internet 


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(You don't have to, but if you do, that would be so nice of you.) 

We usually use the adjective 'bad' to say that something is badly made, of bad quality or harmful. 

It's also very common to describe films, books, food, products, events, experiences, weather, and so on, as being bad. 
​
In this lesson, you will learn how to use 10 different adjectives and a verb phrase that can replace the word 'bad'. 

Let's look at the example sentences below. Look up the pronunciation of new words and practise. 

AWFUL (spoken; informal) (meaning: very bad or unpleasant) 

• We went on holiday in May but the weather was absolutely awful. It was raining all day. 
• Going there in summer was a really awful experience. The streets were busy with tourists and the weather was very humid. 
• Traffic in this area is awful. 
• 'Do you like this colour?' 'No, I think it's awful.' 

Note: Awful is not used with 'very'. You can use absolutely or really instead. 

TERRIBLE (meaning: very bad) 

• The journey was terrible – it took us eight hours to get there by train. 
• The food there is good but the service is terrible. 
• Can you write it down for me, please? I have a terrible memory. 
• Have you ever noticed how terrible doctors' handwriting can be? Much of what is written on prescriptions is impossible to read. 
• I have a terrible headache. 

​
Note: Terrible is not used with 'very'. You can use absolutely instead. 

APPALLING (meaning: very bad, unpleasant and shocking) 

• The weather was absolutely appalling. (= very bad) 
• Your handwriting is appalling. I can barely understand anything. 
• It's important to raise awareness about Indian women working on tea plantations in the northeast part of the country. Plantation workers on tea gardens in Assam earn between $1.50 and $2 per day and live in appalling conditions. Workers' houses are old and have no access to sanitation facilities. Their children do not receive proper education and health care. 

Note: You can also use appalling ​when you talk about situation, crime, injury, etc. 

NEGATIVE (meaning: harmful, unpleasant) (used about effects or people's reaction to something) 

• Social media can have a negative effect on your mental health without you even realising. 
• Overexposure to sunlight can have negative effects on your skin such as sunburn and skin cancer. Don't forget to protect your skin from the sun. 
• Travelling helps you grow as a person and boosts your confidence but, on the negative side, it costs a lot. 
• There was a lot of negative feedback from viewers when the new TV show came out. 
• Globalisation has a negative impact on wages on developing countries. 

DETRIMENTAL (formal) (meaning: harmful) 

• People's reliance on social media can have a detrimental effect on their mental health. Those who use them too frequently can feel increasingly unhappy and isolated from others. 
• Air pollution can be detrimental to health. 

SERIOUS (meaning: very bad or dangerous) 

• Obesity is a serious problem in many Western countries. 
• Too much stress can have serious consequences for people's health. You cannot eliminate all stress from your life, but you can relieve some of it by doing exercises, meditation, or trying breathing exercises to help you relax. 
• Floods are considered one of the most expensive natural disasters. They can cause serious damage to crops, private property (including homes and businesses), public infrastructure like roads, rail networks, and many more. 

Note: Serious is used to talk about illnesses, problems, accidents, crimes, etc. You can use this word in more formal English.

POOR (meaning: not as good as it could be; a quality that is low or lower than expected) 

• Personally, I don't like driving when it's raining heavily because the visibility is really poor. 
• Checking social media platforms before bed can lead to poor quality of sleep. 
• Stress and lack of sleep are some of the main reasons for poor health. 
• A poor diet can affect people's health. 
• I decided not to buy that T-shirt because it was of very poor quality. (= not made well or not made of good materials) 
• It is extremely important for people to wash their hands frequently, especially before having a meal, because poor personal hygiene can lead to many diseases caused my germs. 

Note: Poor is more formal than bad. 
​
UNPLEASANT (meaning: not pleasant or enjoyable) 

• Going to the dentist is a bit scary and I find it an unpleasant experience. 
• Replying to emails on a daily basis can be an unpleasant task. 
• Some people may feel unhappy at work and some of the reasons for that can be related to pay, colleagues, flexibility, chances for promotion, and so on. There will always be unpleasant circumstances, but the key is to find work rewarding enough. 

​
BE A NIGHTMARE [verb phrase] (spoken; informal) (meaning: it is used to talk about an extremely bad experience or situation) 

• Filling in different forms in public institutions is a complete nightmare. 
• My neighbours are always noisy at the weekend and it's a real nightmare for me when I need to study or work at home. 
• Our holiday was a nightmare - our flights were delayed for hours, and stayed in hotels without any Wi-Fi. 

DESPERATE (meaning: a desperate situation is very bad; If you are desperate, it means you want or need something very much.) 

• ​We were in desperate need for money. 
• I was in a desperate situation with very little money. 
• Water pollution is becoming a serious problem around the world and some countries face a desperate shortage of clean water. 

Other lessons: 
10 Ways to Say that Something is Good 
English Lesson: Describing a Friend 
English Lesson: Talking about Childhood 
Commonly Used Phrases in Spoken English 

English conversation lessons: 
English Conversation: Socialising with people and working in coffee shops 
English Conversation: Buying sunscreen products at a store 

Click below to read some of our IELTS related lessons: 
IELTS Speaking Test: Means of Transport 
IELTS Speaking Test: Arriving Early and Being Patient 
IELTS Speaking Test: Places That Tourists Visit and Being a Tourist 
IELTS: Advantages and Disadvantages of Using the Internet 
​

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We usually use the adjective 'good' to say that something is well made or of high quality, that we enjoy or like it very much. We can also use adjectives to say that something is extremely good in a very exciting way. 

In this lesson, you will learn how to use 10 different adjectives that can replace the word 'good', which can make you sound like a better English speaker. 

Let's look at the example sentences below. 

NICE (meaning: pleasant, attractive, or enjoyable) 

• Fort Collins in Colorado is a nice place to live. It is considered one of the best cities in the U.S. It's a college town with a great atmosphere and lots of open spaces and outdoor activities to choose from. 
• My friend's a really nice guy. (= kind, friendly) 
• Oh, you have such a nice house. 
• What a nice surprise! I didn't expect to see you here. 

POSITIVE (meaning: good or useful) 

• Whenever you feel sad, take some time to write down all the positive things about your life.
• I've had the chance to live abroad and I must say that it has been a very positive experience for me. 
• There are positive aspects to being a freelancer, but negative ones too. 
• Doing exercises has a positive effect on health. 
• Some parents prefer living in the countryside because they think the rural environment has a positive effect on their children's health. 
• In the beginning, going to the gym was kind of painful and my body hurt but, on the positive side, I feel physically fine now. (in the beginning = at first) 

BENEFICIAL (meaning: having a good effect) 

• Drinking plenty of water has a beneficial effect on your skin. 
• I always drink this tea in winter because it has a beneficial effect on my immune system. 
• Cycling is highly beneficial to health and the environment. (beneficial to/for) 

​FINE (meaning: very good or of a very high standard) 

• When you get at the top of the hill, you get fine views of the city and the river.  
• They enjoy good food and fine wines. 

​
FIRST-CLASS (meaning: of very good quality, and much better than other things of the same type) 

• I love going to that restaurant because their food is always first-class.
• I bought this car because it was in first-class condition. 
• This company has always made first-class cars. 

​
Note: You can use the adjective first-class to talk about a product or service that is much better than most others. 

EXCELLENT (meaning: extremely good or of very high quality) 

• I bought a second-hand car in excellent condition. 
• Your English pronunciation is excellent. 

PERFECT (meaning: so good that it could not be made any better) 

• It was a perfect day out.
• We had a perfect holiday. 
• The weather was perfect during the trip. | We had perfect weather during the trip. 
• I think you would be a perfect match for this position. (= job) 

AMAZING/INCREDIBLE (meaning: extremely good, in a surprising and exciting way) 

• Sydney is an amazing place. 
• It's the most amazing film I've ever seen. ('see a film' - at the cinema) 
• The food at that restaurant is amazing value for money. 
• The view is just incredible. 
• My grandmother always has incredible stories to tell. I love staying with her every holiday. 

BRILLIANT (spoken; informal) (extremely good) 

• Our trip was absolutely brilliant. 
• The film was absolutely brilliant. 
• She's brilliant at dealing with difficult customers. 

Other lessons:
English Lesson: Describing a Friend 
Confusing words: Come vs. Go 
Confusing words in English: Famous vs. Popular 
Commonly Used Phrases in Spoken English 
10 Ways to Say that Something is Bad 

English conversation lessons:
English Conversation: Socialising with people and working in coffee shops 
English Conversation: Buying sunscreen products at a store

Click below to read some of our IELTS related lessons: 
IELTS Speaking Test: Means of Transport 
IELTS Speaking Test: Arriving Early and Being Patient 
IELTS Speaking Test: Places That Tourists Visit and Being a Tourist 
IELTS: Advantages and Disadvantages of Using the Internet 
​

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(You don't have to, but if you do, that would be very nice of you.)