When you need this
"How was your day?" comes at the end of every workday, at dinner tables and on phone calls all over the world. Unlike "How are you?", this one often wants a real answer. A family member or a roommate is asking for the story, even a short one.
A good answer has two parts: a general word, then one detail. "Long. I had four meetings." "Pretty good, actually. I finished the report." The general word tells them the mood; the detail gives them something to ask about. Without the detail, the conversation stops.
Use the right tense. While the day is still happening, say "How's your day going?" and answer in the present: "It's going well." In the evening, the day is over, so it's "How was your day?" and "It was fine."
Phrases
asked while the day is still happening
asked in the evening, when the day is over
a positive answer during the day
tiring, with a lot of hours or work
things went well
a lot to do, not good or bad
an ordinary day, nothing to report
a gentle way to say the day was bad
time went fast, usually because you were busy
very tired
hands the question back; always ask it
Say it out loud
Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.
Starting badly and ending well gives the listener a small story.
Practice · 3 min
Answer the question. Situation on the left, one natural line on the right.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Say it today
Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.