English Village

pretty good

[How are you doing?] Pretty good.

'Pretty good' is a common but grammatically incorrect phrase that we use to say how we feel at the moment.  Notice the following:

1. Are you feeling pretty good now?
   
2. She was still pretty good after the game, despite running a lot.
   

introduce yourself

Could you please introduce yourself?

When you 'introduce yourself' you usually say your name and maybe some information about yourself.  Notice the following:

1. I don't think I've ever properly introduced myself.
   
2. At the beginning of the meeting we had to introduce ourselves.
   

good time

Did you have a good time?

If you have a 'good time' you enjoy yourself or have fun.  Notice the following:

1. We always have a good time at your house.
   
2. She never wants to go, but she always has a good time.
   

did the usual (Christmas) things

I saw old friends and family and did the usual Christmas things.

To do the 'usual things' is to do whatever is typically or traditionally done in a certain situation.  Notice the following:

1. What are the usual things your family does at Thanksgiving?
   
2. We did all the usually birthday things, but the kids still wanted more.
   

pretty close

My sister lives pretty close to this town.

If you live 'pretty close' to something the distance you have to travel to get there is not far.  We can also use this for something that is a short distance in the future.  Notice the following:

1. She is pretty close to graduating.
   
2. I live pretty close to the lake.