COMPLIMENTS

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 classmate.

You are studying at STIEB Perdana Mandiri

Purwakarta. 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 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 TOEIC, he/she will go to
America to study. You congratulate
him/her and ask how he/she did it.
 COMPLIMENTS AND
CONGRATULATIONS - SITUATION 3

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.