A. Congratulations

Congratulation is an expression that we use to give the congratulation utterance when he/she success in doing something.

When do we give congratulations?

• Passes an exam

• Wins a race or contest

• Graduates from school

• Gets a new job

• Gets a job promotion

• Gets married

• Has a new baby

• Wins an election

These are the examples of congratulation expressions and responses. 

• Congratulations!

• I'm very happy of you!

• That's wonderful!

• Good for you!

• Best of luck!

• Well done!

• Fantastic job!

• You must be very happy with your achievement.

• I'd like to congratulate you on your accomplishment!

• Please accept my warmest congratulation

• I must congratulate you on your success!

• Happy Birthday

• Happy New Year

• Happy Eid Mubarak

• Happy Anniversary

• Let me congratulate you

• I would be the first to congratulate you on...

• I would like to congratulate you on

• Please accept my warmest congratulations.

• May I congratulate you.

• It was great to hear about...

• Well done!

Responses for congratulating:

• It's very good of you to say so

• Thank you, I can't forget your help to me

• How nice of you to say so

• Thank you very much for saying so

• I'm glad you think so

• Oh, actually it's nothing special

• Oh, I have a lot to learn yet

• Oh, not really

• Oh, nothing to it, actually

• Oh thanks'

  In congratulating, people may make more than one move, for example, “Congratulations! You deserved it, Man.” Similarly, in responding to congratulating expressions, people do not only make one move, like, “Thank you very much.” Usually they also say something else, such as, “This is because you’re always with me.” Those expressions are called as extended congratulations/ responses to congratulations.  

e.g: Congratulation Cards

Besides expressing congratulations directly, we can also congratulate someone by sending a congratulation cards. Congratulations cards belong to greeting cards. A greeting card is an ilustrated card featuring an expression of friendship or others. It is usually given on special occasion. A greeting card is also defined as a piece of paper or folded paper with text or images on the front and massage inside. A congratulation card consists of the name of the receiver, the congratulation massage, and the writer or the sender. 

B. Compliments

People usually add compliments when they congratulate someone. Compliment is an expression to appreciate or praise other people. Compliment is useful to give encouragement so that people will keep on doing their best and even improve their performance. 

Social function of Giving Compliment

• To improve relationship between people.

• To give compliment or encouragement.

• Complimenting someone

• Compliment on success

• Compliments on possessions

• Compliments on skills

• Compliments on appearance

When to express compliment:

• On daily basis,

• When someone has done his/her best,

• When you visit someone’s house for the first time,

• If you notice something new about someone’s appearance.

Language Features of giving compliment   Giving Compliment

• I’d like to compliment you on ...

• I think your (dress) is very nice

• I just love your (hair)

• The (soup) is delicious

• I really like your (hair)

• That’s nice

• That’s neat

• That’s not bad

• Terrific

• Pretty good

• OK!

• All right

Responds to compliment

• Thank you. It’s nice of you to say so.

• Thank you, but it really isn’t anything special.

• Thank you. Yours is even nicer

• I’m glad to like it.

• Thankyou.

• Thanks.

Structure of Giving Compliment

• Noun phrase + is/look + (really) +  adjective

Example: 

Your dress is beautiful    

Your dress look beautiful

• I + (really) + like/ love + noun phrase

Example : 

I really like your dress

I really love your dress

• Pronoun + is + (really) + noun phrase

Example : 

That is really nice painting 

That is really beautiful painting

• You + are + (so/really/very) + adjective

Example : 

You are so beautiful 

You are so beautiful You are really beautiful

• What + noun phrase!

Example : 

What a nice dress! 

What a beautiful dress!

• How + adjective + S + be!

Example : How beautiful she is!