Congratulations

Functional English

Warm-Up – I Heard The Big News!

Work with a group and make a big list of reasons for congratulating people.

1. Saying Congratulations
Read the dialogue, and practice with a partner.

A: Congratulations! I hear your wife had the baby.

B: Thank you! Yes, Maxwell was born on Saturday.

A: I understand congratulations are in order.

B: Thanks. I wasn’t expecting this promotion.

A: Congratulations on your big win!

B: Thank you. It was a tough match.

3. Congratulations
(Informal)
2. Responding with Practice again. Imagine you are talking to
a close friend or colleague.
Congratulations
Read the dialogue, and practice with a partner. A: Congrats on the new wheels.

B: Thanks. I was really surprised to see it in

A: I got married this weekend. the driveway.
B: Congratulations! Who is the lucky lady?
A: Nice work on getting the sale!
A: We came in first place on Saturday. B: Thanks! I’m really happy about it.
B: Well done!

A: Kudos on the great presentation!

A: I got an A on my project. B: Oh, thanks. I’m so glad it’s over.
B: Good for you!

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 Congratulations
Functional English

4. Responding Modestly
Listed below are some ways of responding to congratulations in a modest manner. The word
“modest” is similar to “moderate”. A person who is modest doesn’t want to show off. Practice
congratulating your classmates on fictional achievements and awards.

Oh, it’s nothing special.! Thanks. I don’t really deserve it. ! Oh, it’s not that big of a deal.
Oh, thanks for saying so. Oh, I didn’t think anyone would notice. Oh, you’re too kind.

Student A: You won first place in the cooking contest! Congratulations!

Student B: Oh, it’s no big deal. There were only three contestants.

5. Choose the Best Response

Circe the best response for each question.

1 I won the writing contest. 4 I understand congratulations are in order.

a) I understand congratulations are in order. a) Yes, we had our baby today.

b) That’s wonderful! Congratulations. b) Congratulations!
c) Please send my congrats. c) Oh, really? Congrats!

2 Congratulations on your new job! 5 Kudos on the new house!

a) Kudos! Thank you. a) Congratulations.

b) No, but thanks anyway. b) I will, thank you!
c) Thanks. I wasn’t expecting a promotion. c) Thanks, but it’s nothing special.

3 Let me be the first to congratulate you.

a) Thanks. I appreciate it.

b) Nice job!
c) Good work.

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 Congratulations
Functional English

6. Pronunciation Practice
The /t/ in “congratulations” is pronounced like a /d/. The primary stress is on the fourth
syllable: /con gra du lA tions/. The secondary stress is on the second syllable. The short
form, “congrats”, is pronounced with the /t/ sound: /con grAts/.

Listen to your teacher read the following sentences out loud. Repeat the sentence.

1 Congratulations on your winning lottery ticket!

2 Let me be the first to congratulate you.

3 Congratulations on your graduation.

4 Please send your brother my congrats.

5 I understand congratulations are in order.

7. Role Play – Pair Activity

Choose one of the following prompts and work with a partner to create a short skit. Use at
least six sentences in your dialogue. Perform your skit for the class.

1 Congratulations on getting the promotion.

2 Congrats on your new baby!

3 Congratulations! You won the prize!

4 Nice job on coming in first place!

5 Kudos on the new position.

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 Congratulations
Functional English

Answer Key
Description:
Students review language and useful expressions for saying and responding to congratulations. They
practice informal ways of saying congratulations, and they practice pronunciation.

Tags: functional English, useful expressions, low-intermediate, congratulations, congratulating

Warm-Up: Put students in small groups, or work together as a class and write the ideas on the board.
Ideas: New baby, Graduation, New house, New car, Raise at work, New position at work, Good
mark, New opportunity, Winning ticket, Winning team...)

Exercise 1–3 – Dialogue practice (in pairs)

Exercise 4 – Help your students understand the meaning of modesty. Explain that accepting
congratulations in a modest way is common practice in many English-speaking countries.

Exercise 5 – Choose the Best Response

1. b
2. c
3. a
4. a
5. c

Exercise 6 – Practice the pronunciation of “congratulations” and “congrats”. Help your students
understand where to place the stress.

Exercise 7 – Role Play

Place students in pairs or small groups. Decide whether or not you want to see the dialogue in
writing. Invite students to perform their mini-skits in front of the class.

Spelling Note: This lesson shows the American spelling of the word Practice. Most other English-speaking countries
spell it this way: Practise (when used as a verb, Practice when used as a noun). Make it a challenge for your students
to find this word in the lesson and see if they know the alternate spelling.

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