Asking About the Birthday Person
You are talking to another guest who seems to know the birthday person well. You want to ask a light question about their connection or a fun fact about the birthday celebrant.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
close
'Close with' means having a good, friendly relationship with someone, like being best friends. Use it in casual talks to ask about connections, e.g., 'Are you close with her?'
roommates
People who share the same room or apartment, often students or young adults. It's common in stories about college life or friendships.
fun fact
An interesting or surprising piece of information that's not widely known. Use it to start light conversations, like sharing trivia about someone at a party.
humble
Modest and not bragging about achievements. In social settings, it compliments someone who doesn't show off their talents.
full of surprises
Having many unexpected or hidden qualities. It's a positive way to describe someone interesting in casual chats.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Are you close with Sarah? You seem to know a lot about her.
This is a polite way to ask about someone's relationship with another person. Use it at parties to start small talk. 'Close with' shows familiarity; 'seem to' expresses an observation based on appearance.
We've been friends since college. We were roommates for a few years, actually.
This explains a long-term friendship. 'Since college' indicates when it started; 'actually' adds emphasis or surprise. Useful for sharing background in conversations to build rapport.
What's one fun fact about Sarah that most people wouldn't know?
A great question to learn something new about the birthday person. 'Fun fact' makes it light-hearted; 'that most people wouldn't know' specifies it's unique. Use it to keep talk engaging without being too personal.
She's actually a fantastic painter in her free time.
This reveals a hidden talent. 'Actually' softens the surprise; 'in her free time' means as a hobby. Good for complimenting someone indirectly in social settings.
She's so humble; she never mentions it.
'Humble' praises modesty; the semicolon connects related ideas. Use this to show admiration when someone doesn't boast, common in friendly chats about others' qualities.
She's full of surprises. You should ask her about it sometime!
'Full of surprises' means unpredictable in a good way. 'You should... sometime' gives friendly advice casually. Perfect for ending a topic positively and encouraging more interaction at parties.