Differences between conversational reactions
A LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS
Similar but not identical conversational reaction phrases
Lesson Plan Content:
Differences between conversational reactions
Work together to explain how the pairs of phrases in each section are different from each other, for example:
- differences in meaning
- differences in connotation (being positive or negative, etc)
- examples of what they are responses to
They are all at least a little different, and some are very different.
Ask about any pairs which you aren’t sure about.
Match the pairs of phrases to the pairs of explanations. Some are already in the right order.
Check as a class or with the suggested answers.
Test each other on the same reaction phrases:
- Read out a phrase and an explanation and see if your partner can say if they match or not
- Choose a phrase, say a phrase which should get that reaction, and see if your partner responds in the way that you expected
- Choose a pair of phrases, say two different things which you think should get those two reactions, and see if your partner responds in the ways that you expected
- Choose four reactions each and see if you can use them naturally during small talk
--------------------
Conversational reactions with different meanings and uses
|
Got it! |
|
|
Understood. |
|
|
I understand. |
|
|
Understood. |
|
|
I see. |
|
|
Understood. |
|
|
Noted. |
|
|
Okay. Will do. |
|
|
I hear what you’re saying. |
|
|
I know what you mean. |
|
|
Eh? |
|
|
Oh? |
|
|
Huh? |
|
|
Uh huh. |
|
|
Good for you. |
|
|
That sounds good. |
|
|
That sounds lovely! |
|
|
That sounds nice. |
|
|
Lucky you! |
|
|
That was lucky! |
|
|
Congrats! |
|
|
Well done! |
|
|
That’s too bad. |
|
|
Oh well. |
|
|
No kidding. |
|
|
No way! |
|
|
You’re kidding! |
|
|
You’ve got to be kidding! |
|
|
Did he? |
|
|
He didn’t! |
|
|
I’m so pleased for you. |
|
|
That’s a relief! |
|
|
It’s funny you should say that,… |
|
|
That’s hilarious! |
|
-------------------
Mixed answers
Match the pairs of descriptions to the pairs of conversational reactions.
|
Got it! |
accepting a decision that has already been made and you can’t do anything about such as the cancellation of a project |
|
Understood. |
understanding something that might be missed or misunderstood such as a telephone number or a reason for someone’s decision |
|
I understand. |
accepting something that can’t be changed such as missing work for a dentist appointment |
|
Understood. |
showing understanding and sympathy for someone’s decision, e.g. why they decided to quit their job |
|
I see. |
accepting that something has to happen
|
|
Understood. |
showing surprise and often displeasure at a decision or action
|
|
Noted. |
accepting feedback (including criticism) or showing that you have received something that you don’t have to take action on such as an FYI email |
|
Okay. Will do. |
accepting a command/ an order/ some instructions
|
|
I hear what you’re saying. |
showing sympathy and/ or that you would react the same way, like “Makes sense” (but sometimes followed by disagreement) |
|
I know what you mean. |
showing that you understand the person’s feelings but disagreeing with them (usually followed by the disagreement), similar to “I can see where you are coming from” |
|
Eh? |
showing extreme surprise, as if you can’t believe that you heard them correctly |
|
Oh? |
showing surprise and asking them to explain more
|
|
Huh? |
showing surprise, for example at a bad decision
|
|
Uh huh. |
showing that you are following what they are saying and that they should continue speaking |
|
Good for you. |
congratulating someone on their good luck or on having made a good decision |
|
That sounds good. |
showing that you would like the thing that has been mentioned |
|
That sounds lovely! |
reacting politely to what someone did, sometimes really meaning that it doesn’t sound so great |
|
That sounds nice. |
reacting positively to what someone did |
|
Lucky you! |
reacting to something fortunate such as just avoiding an accident
|
|
That was lucky! |
reacting to something good that you would also want to happen to you, like “I envy you” or “I’m green with envy” |
|
Congrats |
an informal way to say “Congratulations”, used in a similar very general way |
|
Well done! |
congratulating someone on achieving something such as winning an award for good work or finishing a big project on time |
|
That’s too bad. |
responding to bad news by trying to help them accept the situation, like “Never mind” |
|
Oh well. |
responding to bad news with sympathy
|
|
No kidding. |
agreeing strongly with their description or decision, like a stronger form of “You don’t surprise me” |
|
No way! |
showing surprise at both good and bad news, like “I don’t believe it”
|
|
You’re kidding! |
showing surprise at both good and bad news
|
|
You’ve got to be kidding! |
showing surprise or disbelief in a negative way
|
|
Did he? |
showing mild or strong surprise but mostly encouraging the other person to speak more |
|
He didn’t! |
showing strong surprise
|
|
I’m so pleased for you. |
responding to a lack of expected bad news
|
|
That’s a relief! |
responding to good news |
|
It’s funny you should say that,… |
introducing a coincidence between what they said and a story of the listener |
|
That’s hilarious! |
responding to an amusing or ironic story |
-------------------
Suggested answers
|
Got it! |
understanding something that might be missed or misunderstood such as a telephone number or a reason for someone’s decision |
|
Understood. |
accepting a decision that has already been made and you can’t do anything about such as the cancellation of a project |
|
I understand. |
showing understanding and sympathy for someone’s decision, e.g. why they decided to quit their job |
|
Understood. |
accepting something that can’t be changed such as missing work for a dentist appointment |
|
I see. |
showing surprise and often displeasure at a decision or action
|
|
Understood. |
accepting that something has to happen
|
|
Noted. |
accepting feedback (including criticism) or showing that you have received something that you don’t have to take action on such as an FYI email |
|
Okay. Will do. |
accepting a command/ an order/ some instructions
|
|
I hear what you’re saying. |
showing that you understand the person’s feelings but disagreeing with them (usually followed by the disagreement), similar to “I can see where you are coming from” |
|
I know what you mean. |
showing sympathy and/ or that you would react the same way, like “Makes sense” (but sometimes followed by disagreement) |
|
Eh? |
showing extreme surprise, as if you can’t believe that you heard them correctly |
|
Oh? |
showing surprise and asking them to explain more
|
|
Huh? |
showing surprise, for example at a bad decision
|
|
Uh huh. |
showing that you are following what they are saying and that they should continue speaking |
|
Good for you. |
congratulating someone on their good luck or on having made a good decision |
|
That sounds good. |
showing that you would like the thing that has been mentioned |
|
That sounds lovely! |
reacting positively to what someone did |
|
That sounds nice. |
reacting politely to what someone did, sometimes really meaning that it doesn’t sound so great |
|
Lucky you! |
reacting to something good that you would also want to happen to you, like “I envy you” or “I’m green with envy” |
|
That was lucky! |
reacting to something fortunate such as just avoiding an accident
|
|
Congrats. |
an informal way to say “Congratulations”, used in a similar very general way |
|
Well done! |
congratulating someone on achieving something such as winning an award for good work or finishing a big project on time |
|
That’s too bad. |
responding to bad news with sympathy
|
|
Oh well. |
responding to bad news by trying to help them accept the situation, like “Never mind” |
|
No kidding. |
agreeing strongly with their description or decision, like a stronger form of “You don’t surprise me” |
|
No way! |
showing surprise at both good and bad news, like “I don’t believe it”
|
|
You’re kidding! |
showing surprise at both good and bad news
|
|
You’ve got to be kidding! |
showing surprise or disbelief in a negative way
|
|
Did he? |
showing mild or strong surprise but mostly encouraging the other person to speak more |
|
He didn’t! |
showing strong surprise
|
|
I’m so pleased for you. |
responding to good news
|
|
That’s a relief! |
responding to a lack of expected bad news
|
|
It’s funny you should say that,… |
introducing a coincidence between what they said and a story of the listener |
|
That’s hilarious! |
responding to an amusing or ironic story |
Terms of Use
Lesson plans & worksheets can be used by teachers without any fee in the classroom; however, please ensure you keep all copyright information and references to UsingEnglish.com in place.
You will need Adobe Reader to view these files.
