Formal greetings at the office entrance
CEFR: A2
Read/Listen first
At the main reception, a visitor arrives for a meeting. The receptionist smiles and says, “Hello, welcome to our offices.” The visitor replies, “Nice to meet you.” The receptionist introduces herself and adds, “I’m the front desk assistant. Are you here to see the project team?” The visitor explains, “Yes, I am from a partner company, and I have a ten‑o’clock meeting.” The receptionist checks the list, confirms the name, and says, “Great, please wait a moment.” She calls upstairs and then returns. “They are ready for you. Please take the elevator to the fifth floor. Enjoy your visit and have a good meeting.” The visitor thanks her and says, “It’s nice to meet you too.” Before leaving, the receptionist says, “If you need anything, I can introduce you to the team assistant.” They shake hands politely, and the visitor walks toward the lifts, feeling confident and welcomed by the clear, formal greeting at the entrance.⚡ Learning goals
- Introduce yourself politely at a company reception.
- Respond to formal greetings and confirm a meeting.
- Ask and answer basic questions about purpose and company.
✨ Key language
- Hello, I’m + name “Hello, I’m Taylor Reed.”
- Welcome to + place “Welcome to our offices.”
- Nice to meet you “Nice to meet you too.”
⚙️ Rules & Grammar — 4 Structures
1️⃣ Present simple of be (am/is/are) in introductions
Rule: Use am/is/are to state names and roles in the present.Examples: I am the front desk assistant; You are the visitor; They are ready for you
Common pitfall + fix: Omitting the verb be — Always include am/is/are in complete sentences.
Choose the correct sentence for an introduction.
Tip: Remember: I + am for first person.
Fill with the best answer: __ you here to see the project team?
Tip: Use are with you in questions.
2️⃣ Introducing yourself with I’m/I am + name or role
Rule: Start with Hello/Hi, then give I’m/I am + your name or role.Examples: Hello, I’m Dana Kim; I am the receptionist; I’m from a partner company
Common pitfall + fix: Using my name is too often — Prefer I’m + name in quick introductions.
Pick the best introduction in a formal setting.
Tip: Greet + I’m + full name.
Fill with the best answer: Nice to ____ you.
Tip: Meet is the verb used after nice to.
3️⃣ Welcome to + company/place
Rule: Use Welcome to + noun to politely greet a visitor to a place.Examples: Welcome to our offices; Welcome to the conference; Welcome to Hutch Industries
Common pitfall + fix: Saying welcome in to — Do not add in: say Welcome to + place.
Complete: ______ our offices.
Tip: Use to after welcome.
Fill with the best answer: Please ____ a moment.
Tip: Wait is common after please.
4️⃣ Polite imperatives for directions
Rule: Use please + base verb to give polite instructions.Examples: Please take the elevator; Please wait here; Please sign in
Common pitfall + fix: Forgetting please — Add please to soften the instruction.
Which is the most polite instruction?
Tip: Please + verb makes it polite.
Fill with the best answer: _____ enjoy your visit.
Tip: Capitalize Please at the start.
✍️ Vocabulary
reception
Meaning: front area where visitors check inSynonyms: front desk, lobby
Chunk/Idiom: at reception
Example: Please wait at reception.
Morphology: noun
Self-practice: Say: I’ll meet you at reception
introduce
Meaning: to present yourself or another personSynonyms: present, make known
Chunk/Idiom: introduce yourself
Example: Please introduce yourself to the team.
Morphology: verb
Self-practice: Practice: Hello, I’m + name
colleague
Meaning: a person you work withSynonyms: coworker, teammate
Chunk/Idiom: new colleague
Example: I met a new colleague today.
Morphology: noun
Self-practice: Name two colleagues you greet daily
welcome
Meaning: to greet someone arrivingSynonyms: receive, greet
Chunk/Idiom: welcome to
Example: Welcome to our office.
Morphology: verb
Self-practice: Say welcome to + your company
meeting
Meaning: an event where people discuss workSynonyms: appointment, session
Chunk/Idiom: have a meeting
Example: I have a meeting at ten.
Morphology: noun
Self-practice: State when your next meeting is
assistant
Meaning: a person who helps in a roleSynonyms: helper, aide
Chunk/Idiom: front desk assistant
Example: Ask the assistant for help.
Morphology: noun
Self-practice: Say: I’m the assistant today
☁️ Examples (+ audio)
Please wait at reception for five minutes.
Hello, I’m here for the project meeting.
They are ready for you upstairs.
Welcome to our offices today.
✏️ Exercises
Grammar
Choose the correct reply to: Hello, I’m Jordan Lee.
Tip: Use Nice to meet you when someone introduces themselves.
Complete: _____ to TechSquare.
Tip: Welcome + to + place.
Fill with the best answer:
I ___ the front desk assistant.Tip: I + am in the present simple.
Fill with the best answer:
Please ____ the elevator to the fifth floor.Tip: Use base verb after please.
Vocabulary & Comprehension
Which word means the place where visitors check in?
Tip: Front desk = reception.
Choose the best chunk: ______ yourself to the team.
Tip: Introduce yourself is the collocation.
Fill with the best answer:
She is my new ______ at work.Tip: Person you work with = colleague.
Fill with the best answer:
We have a ______ at ten.Tip: Common collocation: have a meeting.
✅ Guided practice
Mini-dialogue:
A: Hello, I’m the front desk assistant. How can I help you?B: Nice to meet you. I’m here for a meeting with the project team.
A: Great. Welcome to our offices. Please wait here a moment.
Why this matters:
First impressions matter in business. Clear greetings reduce confusion and delays. Polite language builds trust quickly.Verb & Adjective Pack:
greet — “Hello, I’m Sara.”welcome — “Welcome to our offices.”
introduce — “I’m from Delta Labs.”
confirm — “They are ready for you.”
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Try & compare:
Fill with the best answer: Please ____ your name at reception.
Tip: Use a verb meaning say clearly.
Self-correction: Fix the sentence: I receptionist at the desk.
Tip: Include am with I.
Practice aloud: Listen, repeat, then type the sentence.
Welcome to our offices. Please take the elevator to the fifth floor.
Tip: Chunk the sentence into phrases.