Conversation Lesson 8:

Compliments and/or
Congratulations
Nora: Hi, Mary, I think you did a good job delivering your
report.
Mary: Thank you. To tell you the truth, I rehearsed my talk a
couple of times last night.
Nora: But you sounded really natural.
Mary: Thanks, I’m very glad to hear that. You know I’m
going to do another report and I’d like to know how to
improve my performance.
Nora: Well, the only thing I can say is that I think it would be
better if you looked at the audience more while you were
talking.
Mary: I see. I guess I get so nervous sometimes.
Nora: Oh yeah, it’s normal to feel that way. Anyway, you did
a great job.
Mary: Thank you again. I appreciate your telling me this and
I’ll try to pay attention to that next time.
 Culture Note
• Americans may compliment a friend,
someone they just met, or even a
stranger.
• Some Westerners do not understand the
idea of rejecting compliments, as an
expression of self-denial and modesty, in
Chinese culture.
• Instead, Americans consider it more polite
to accept compliments as recognition of
their efforts.
To compliment someone you
can say
I’d like to compliment you on . . .
What a nice/beautiful. . . !
Those are/That is a (really) nice/beautiful. . .
I really like your. . .
You have a (really) nice/beautiful. . .
(I think) your. . . are/is really nice/beautiful…
 To reply to someone’s
compliment, you can say
It’s nice of you to say so.
Thank you (very much). How kind of you to
say so.
I’m flattered.
Thanks (a lot). I’m glad you like them/it.
I’m glad to hear that.
Thank you.
 To congratulate someone,
you can say
I’d like to offer my congratulations (on). . .
Congratulations!
Congratulations on . . .
I’m very happy for you.
That’s great! (wonderful, terrific, fantastic)
 To reply to someone’s
congratulations, you can say

Thank you (very much).

Thanks (a lot).
Practice Compliments and/or
Congratulations
• Work in pairs.
• Read each of the following situations and
practice compliments and congratulations.
Compliments and Congratulations -
Situation 1

You and your American classmate.

You are studying at the University of

California, Berkeley. Today in class you give a
presentation. After class your classmate tells
you that he/she really liked your presentation.
He/she tells you that your presentation
seemed well-prepared, informative, and that
while giving it you didn’t seem nervous. You
reply to your classmate’s compliment.
Compliments and Congratulations -
Situation 2
You and your American colleague.

You and your American colleague have

worked together for almost a year in an
American company in China. Your American
colleague invites you to a Christmas party at
his/her apartment. Before you leave the
party, you compliment your colleague on how
nicely furnished and decorated the apartment
is, and tell your colleague how much you
enjoyed the party and express your thanks.
Compliments and Congratulations -
Situation 3
You and your classmate.

You and your classmate are close friends

and both of you are going to graduate next
year. Your classmate tells you that because
he/she has passed both the TOEFL and
GRE, he/she will go to America to study.
You congratulate him/her and ask how
he/she did it.
Compliments and Congratulations -
Situation 4
You and your friend.

Your close friend tells you that he/she has

just got a big promotion at work. After
hearing the news, you feel happy about it
and congratulate him/her. Your friend is so
excited that he/she invites you to an
expensive restaurant for dinner.