English grammar
Sarcasm: how very… of you!, oh, great!, that's all we needed!
Recognise and use sarcasm: how very… of you!, oh, great!, that's all we needed!.
From the scene How very punctual of you!
In short
Sarcasm says the opposite in a flat tone: How very punctual of you! to someone who's late.
Your turn
Which one goes with greeting bad news?
Options: how very punctual of you! · that's all we needed! · oh, great!
Show answer
greeting bad news → oh, great!
How it works
Sarcasm says the opposite of what you mean, and the flat tone and the situation give it away: how very punctual of you! to someone an hour late.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Yes, of course, Don Ramón. That's (blank) it's irony.
Options: why · what · who
Show answer
Yes, of course, Don Ramón. That's why it's irony.
Ya, claro, Don Ramón. Por eso es ironía.
Good to know
Oh, great! and that's all we needed! greet bad news.
Good to know
The British use it constantly, so if you mean something sincerely, you sometimes have to add and this time I mean it.
sarcastic praise for someone who is late how very punctual of you!
Ramón
How very punctual of you!
¡Qué puntual, hombre!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank)!
Options: How very punctual of you · Oh, great · That's all we needed
Show answer
Ramón
How very punctual of you!
¡Qué puntual, hombre!
greeting bad news oh, great!
Ramón
Oh, great! That's all we needed! The whole book?
¡Lo que faltaba! ¿Todo el libro?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank)! That's all we needed! The whole book?
Options: What a lovely day · Oh, great · How very punctual of you
Show answer
Ramón
Oh, great! That's all we needed! The whole book?
¡Lo que faltaba! ¿Todo el libro?
one more problem on top of the others that's all we needed!
Ramón
Oh, great! That's all we needed! The whole book?
¡Lo que faltaba! ¿Todo el libro?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Oh, great! (blank)! The whole book?
Options: What a lovely day · That's all we needed · How very punctual of you
Show answer
Ramón
Oh, great! That's all we needed! The whole book?
¡Lo que faltaba! ¿Todo el libro?
the opposite of the weather you have what a lovely day!
Ramón
What a lovely day! And this time I mean it.
¡Qué día más bonito! Y esta vez lo digo en serio.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank)! And this time I mean it.
Options: Oh, great · What a lovely day · How very punctual of you
Show answer
Ramón
What a lovely day! And this time I mean it.
¡Qué día más bonito! Y esta vez lo digo en serio.
showing you're NOT being sarcastic and this time I mean it
Ramón
What a lovely day! And this time I mean it.
¡Qué día más bonito! Y esta vez lo digo en serio.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
What a lovely day! (blank).
Options: Oh, great · And this time I mean it · How very punctual of you
Show answer
Ramón
What a lovely day! And this time I mean it.
¡Qué día más bonito! Y esta vez lo digo en serio.
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
| sarcastic praise for someone who is late | how very punctual of you! |
|---|---|
| greeting bad news | oh, great! |
| one more problem on top of the others | that's all we needed! |
| the opposite of the weather you have | what a lovely day! |
| showing you're NOT being sarcastic | and this time I mean it |
More lines from the story
- NuriaYes, of course, Don Ramón. That's why it's irony.Ya, claro, Don Ramón. Por eso es ironía.
- JaviSorry! I've brought the book's proofs. Only an hour late.¡Perdón! Traigo las pruebas del libro. Solo una hora tarde.
- JaviNo, just chapter three. You can't read a word of it.No, solo el capítulo tres. Ya no se lee nada.