2.

4 Ending a convo
[00:00:00] Ending a conversation

[00:00:02] The previous lecture showed you the best, most common ways to start talking to
someone. Now, you’re going to learn how to show that you are ending a conversation, then say
goodbye, and if you need to, how to politely escape from a conversation!

[00:00:16] Let’s start with how English speakers demonstrate that they are trying to end
[00:00:20] a conversation, because it’s rude just to say goodbye without transitioning first.These
can be gestures, like looking at your watch, but filler words like okay, alright and well are the
most important!

[00:00:32] You see, there comes a point in every conversation where you are getting ready for it
to end. Maybe you’re busy, maybe the person is [00:00:40] boring, or for whatever reason
someone is ready to end it. When that time arrives, okay, alright, and well, are super helpful!

[00:00:48] Let’s start with okay

[00:00:51] Okay has two main uses in a conversation. The first one I think you already know. It’s
used to show you understand something or agree with something. [00:01:00] But when a chat is
finishing, we use okay a lot as a sign that the person is trying to exit, this is common in person,
on the phone and online. If the person notices it, they will probably say something similar and
you will soon be saying goodbye. However, if you need to be more direct, after you say okay
give an [00:01:20] excuse to end the conversation, like that you need to do something else or
are busy. We often put ‘but’ before or after okay when we do this. Here are some examples.

[00:01:30] OH! And another thing, did you hear what that politician did?

[00:01:34] No I didn’t. But, okay I really need to go now! Tell me later.

[00:01:38] Look Sara’s here! Let’s go [00:01:40] talk to her

[00:01:40] Ah okay, but I’m supposed to get back to work. Just say hi to her for me. I’ll see you
later.

[00:01:45] Alright

[00:01:47] Alright is used just like okay. And you might also hear “alright then” and “okay then”,
to mean the same thing. Often a conversation will slow down after a while and you don’t have
anything left to talk [00:02:00] about. When this happens, often times one speaker will say
“alright” to show that they are finished. And the other speaker will repeat “alright” to show that
they basically agree, and then we say goodbye. We can do the same exact thing with “okay”.

[00:02:14] Yeah… and that’s what happened. Alright...

[00:02:18] Alright, [00:02:20] well talk to you tomorrow?

[00:02:21] Yeah, talk to you later!

[00:02:23] But… that’s pretty much all I did today

[00:02:26] Okay.

[00:02:28] Okay. Well let’s talk later

[00:02:30] Well

[00:02:31] Well has a specific pronunciation when used to end a conversation. When we use
well as a filler word to show we are thinking, [00:02:40] it sounds like this. Well…

[00:02:42] That means we’re searching for a response and has a falling intonation. But, when we
use well to show that we are done talking, we use rising intonation, like this

[00:02:52] Well!

[00:02:53] This is my favorite for showing that I’m done, or would like to end the conversation.
You can use this in person, [00:03:00] on the phone or online.

[00:03:02] Do not be afraid to interrupt someone, to stop them, if you really want to or need to
end the talk. Just use “well” or “okay” and then give an excuse or say directly that you have to
go.

[00:03:13] Here are a few examples with well. Pause and tell me if I’m using falling or rising
intonation. Remember, [00:03:20] falling intonation means I’m thinking or showing interest, and
still committed to the conversation. Rising intonation means I’m done, finished and trying to end
the talk.

[00:03:29] What do you think?

[00:03:31] Well, that’s a good question!

[00:03:35] This is falling. Means I am interested!

[00:03:38] Anyways, what did you think?

[00:03:39] [00:03:40] Well! I’m a bit busy right now. Maybe later?

[00:03:45] This is rising, means I’m finished!

[00:03:47] I have to tell you what happened!

[00:03:50] Well! I’d love to. But not now!

[00:03:55] This is rising, I can’t talk!

[00:03:57] I have to tell you what happened!

[00:03:58] Well, [00:04:00] let’s talk about it then

[00:04:03] This is falling, I’m ready to talk!

[00:04:06] If you’re with someone else, we also say, ‘Well! we should get going’ and “well! Shall
we?” To show that we are preparing to leave. On the phone, you can say, “Well, I gotta go.” Or
‘well, I should get going”

[00:04:18]