Page 237 - Basic English Usage

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Be and have can be used in this structure, even when they are not
auxiliary verbs.
| was tired. and so were the others.
‘| have a headache.’ ‘So have |.’
After a clause with no auxiliary verb, we use do/did.
‘| like whisky.’ ‘So do 1.’
> For the negative structure neither/nor am |, etc, see 217.

313 ‘social’ language

Every language has fixed expressions which are used on particular
social occasions — for example, when people meet, leave each other,
go on a journey, sit down to meals, and so on. English does not have
very many expressions of this kind: here are some of the most important.

1 Introductions
Common ways of introducing strangers to each other are:
John, do you know Helen?
Helen, this is my friend John.
Sally, | don’t think you’ve met Elaine.
| don't think you two know each other, do you?
Can/May | introduce John Willis? (more formal)
When people are introduced, they say Hello or How do you do? (more
formal). Note that How do you do? is not a question, and there is no
answer to it. (It does not mean the same as How are you?)
CELIA: | don’t think you two know each other, do you?
Alec Sinclair — Paul McGuire.
ALEC:
} How do you do?
PAUL:
People who are introduced often shake hands.
2 Greetings

Hello. — Hi. (very informal)
More formal greetings:
Good morning/afternoon/evening.
When leaving people:
Goodbye.
Bye. (informal)
Bye-bye. (often used to and by children)
See you. (informal) .
Cheers. (informal)
Good morning/atternoon/evening/night. (formal)