2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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…
5. 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.
6. 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)
7. TO REPLY TO SOMEONE’S CONGRATULATIONS, YOU
CAN SAY
Thank you (very much).
Thanks (a lot).
9. 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.
10. 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 Thanksgiving 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
