Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Blossom]

I�ve been watching Friends and Joey and they often used say, �I�m good,� like, �How are you?� �I�m good.� Or they say, �Would you like another drink?� �No, I�m good.�

Can anyone explain the proper use of this expression. It sounds so strange.

Should I use it when speaking to someone? When should I use it? When should I not use it?

[toe]

it's sort of an all purpose term. it's very casual and
you can use it in friendly, non-formal situations. if you're
having an english test on proper grammar, i would not
use it. but in everyday conversation it's perfectly fine.
you use it when someone asks you if there's something
you need, but you really are fine without it.

"would you like a drink?"
"no, thanks, i'm good."
it's just slang for "i'm fine without a drink, nothing for me, thanks."
or "i'm good without it, thanks."

"how are you today?"
"i'm good."
this means "i'm fine, thanks." just a very casual and grammatically incorrect way to say it. "very well, thanks" is the proper way.

"would you like your receipt?"
"no, thanks, i'm good."

"would you like to buy a lottery ticket today?"
"no thanks, i'm good."

"more drinks at your table?"
"no, we're good."

hope it helps ^^
toe

[Blossom]

Many thanks. I'm good.

PS

Why do you use i instead of I? Why do you not put capitals at the beginning of a sentence? Are kids being taught this way now? Should I forget what my English teacher told me?

[Bob S.]

[toe]

Forgive me--it is lazy american syndrome. (No, really, my shift key does have something stuck underneath it. )

Trust me, American English teachers are not teaching this new way to students. It is a typical model, however, of American time-saving techniques. I will try to do better in future.

Toe