English grammar
Reacting to big news: You don't say! / Good grief! / congratulate someone on… / congratulations vs well done
React to big news: show surprise, congratulate someone on something, and choose between congratulations and well done.
From the scene Congratulations!
In short
React with You don't say! or Good grief! Say congratulations for news and well done for effort.
Your turn
Which one goes with surprise, often with mock horror?
Options: we must congratulate him on the twins · Good grief! · You don't say!
Show answer
surprise, often with mock horror → Good grief!
How it works
You don't say! and Good heavens! react to surprising news; Good grief! often adds mock horror.
Good to know
You congratulate someone on + noun or -ing (congratulate him on the twins, on becoming a dad).
Good to know
Congratulations! is for news or a big life event; Well done! is for something someone achieved by effort.
surprise at news You don't say!
Elena
Twins? You don't say!
¿Gemelos? ¡No me digas!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Twins? (blank)!
Options: You don't say · Good grief · We must congratulate him on the twins
Show answer
Elena
Twins? You don't say!
¿Gemelos? ¡No me digas!
surprise, often with mock horror Good grief!
Your turn
What goes with Good grief!?
Options: congratulate + person + on + noun or -ing · surprise, often with mock horror · surprise at news
Show answer
Good grief! → surprise, often with mock horror
congratulate + person + on + noun or -ing we must congratulate him on the twins
Elena
Poor thing. We must congratulate him on the twins.
Pobrecito. Hay que darle la enhorabuena por los gemelos.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Poor thing. (blank).
Options: Good grief · We must congratulate him on the twins · You don't say
Show answer
Elena
Poor thing. We must congratulate him on the twins.
Pobrecito. Hay que darle la enhorabuena por los gemelos.
for news or a big life event Congratulations!
Ramón
Congratulations or well done? I never know which one fits.
¿Enhorabuena o «bien hecho»? Nunca sé cuál toca.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) or well done? I never know which one fits.
Options: Good grief · Congratulations · You don't say
Show answer
Ramón
Congratulations or well done? I never know which one fits.
¿Enhorabuena o «bien hecho»? Nunca sé cuál toca.
for an achievement you worked for Well done!
Nuria
Well done is for an achievement. For news like this, it's congratulations.
«Bien hecho» es para un logro. Con una noticia así, se dice enhorabuena.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) is for an achievement. For news like this, it's congratulations.
Options: Well done · You don't say · Good grief
Show answer
Nuria
Well done is for an achievement. For news like this, it's congratulations.
«Bien hecho» es para un logro. Con una noticia así, se dice enhorabuena.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| surprise at news | You don't say! |
|---|---|
| surprise, often with mock horror | Good grief! |
| congratulate + person + on + noun or -ing | we must congratulate him on the twins |
| for news or a big life event | Congratulations! |
| for an achievement you worked for | Well done! |
More lines from the story
- NuriaHe fainted. He's lying down in the kitchen.Se ha desmayado. Ahora está tumbado en la cocina.
- ElenaNot this time, dear. And that really is news!Esta vez no, cariño. ¡Y eso sí que es una noticia!