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Lesson Transcript

Welcome to EnglishClass101.com’s English in Three Minutes. The fastest, easiest, and most fun way to learn English.
Hey everyone, I’m Alisha!
In this series, we’re going to learn some easy ways to ask and answer common questions in English. It’s really useful, and it only takes three minutes!
In this lesson, you’re going to learn how to compliment someone on what they’re wearing. This is a great way to break the ice and to come across as friendly, interested and generous when meeting someone new.
If the conversation slows down a little, and you can’t think of anything to ask, a good way to get it restarted is to compliment the other person. If you don’t know them well yet, a safe way to do this is to say something nice about something they’re wearing, or something they have, like a bag or phone case.
The way to do this is to say:
“I love your bag/top/shoes/etc!”
This can sound a little bit feminine, so if you’re a guy, you could say:
“I really like your... [item].”
A normal response to this is just:
“Thanks!”
Or if you want to be modest:
“Oh really? Thanks!”
A great way to follow this up and keep the conversation going is to ask...
“Where did you get it?”
Or:
“Where did you buy it?”
This gives the other person a chance to talk about the store/country/situation in which they bought it, and from there the conversation can develop naturally. If you’re complimented and then asked this question, of course the reverse is true, and you have a chance to tell the other person more about the item and where you got it.
The usual answer to “Where did you get it?” or “Where did you buy it?” is something like:
“I got it at [store name], in [city name].”
This is appropriate if you bought the item in the country you’re currently in, so the other person may know of the store. If you bought it in a different country, though, it’s usual to say:
“I got it in [country name].”
You don’t need to say the name of the store unless it’s world-famous, as the other person probably won’t have heard of it anyway!
Now it’s time for Alisha’s Advice!
In some cultures it’s considered totally fine and even polite to ask how much something cost, but in most English-speaking countries like the UK, Australia and America, this is usually considered very rude, and is a question that can only be asked by very close friends (and even then it’s risky)! Remember not to say something like “It looks expensive!” or “How much was it?” when you’re complimenting something that someone else owns.
Have you ever met somebody that you wanted to meet again, but didn't know how to take that next step? In this next lesson you’ll learn how! See you next time!

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