The moment

Two short conversations. In the first, Priya meets someone new at a friend's dinner. In the second, she runs into an old coworker outside a coffee shop. Listen for the difference: with a stranger the lines are complete and a little formal; with a friend they get shorter and warmer.

The conversation

TomPriya
  1. Tom
  2. Priya
  3. Tom
  4. Priya
  5. Tom
  6. Priya
  7. Tom
  8. Priya
  9. Tom
  10. Priya
  11. Tom
  12. Priya

Words to know

a polite way to introduce yourself to a stranger

the standard question at a party or a wedding

a light joke: you know embarrassing things about someone

the friend version of "how are you", for someone you haven't seen in a while

talk about everything that happened since you last met

Check yourself

1In the first conversation, how does Tom know Sara?
2Why does Priya say "Ask me after dessert"?
3What changed for Priya since she last saw Tom?

Practice · 4 min

Play each line and repeat it in the gap. Then take Tom's part with his lines muted. Notice how "Good to see you" and "How have you been" run together as one breath, not two sentences.

  1. TomHi, I don't think we've met. I'm Tom.
  2. PriyaPriya. Nice to meet you, Tom. Are you a friend of Sara's?
  3. TomWe work together, actually. How do you know her?
  4. PriyaWe were roommates in college, a long time ago.
  5. TomOh, so you have stories.
  6. PriyaA few. Ask me after dessert.
  7. TomPriya? Is that you?
  8. PriyaTom! Good to see you. How have you been?
  9. TomBusy, but good. You still at the same company?
  10. PriyaI moved last spring, actually. Same field, better commute.
  11. TomGood for you. We should catch up properly sometime.
  12. PriyaLet's. I'll text you this week.

Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.