Welcome back to Go Natural English I'm your American English teacher Gabby and
today we're talking about this beautiful word congratulations that you may be
overusing I've noticed many of my English learners overusing this word
using it in inappropriate situations because in English we don't use this
word in the same way as you may use it in your native language so let's take a
look at some examples of how not to use it and how to use it correctly and
alternatives if you would like to sound more like a native English speaker then
let's go hey Vanessa how are you hi I'm well, Gabby. I
heard that you are subscribed to Go Natural English on YouTube
congratulations what congratulations
what do you mean congratulations you're subscribed right yeah but
congratulations no don't congratulate me we use
congratulations for big milestones lifetime achievements and while
subscribing to Go Natural English on YouTube is an excellent idea it is
something that you could really do anytime and hopefully you've already
done it so we wouldn't say congratulations you
know I wanted to tell you Vanessa congratulations because you're so
beautiful no we don't say that you mean the beautiful part or the
congratulations part the congratulations part I didn't a win a beauty pageant so I
went out this weekend and I met an Italian guy oh my gosh and he taught me
how to say "I love you" in Italian. Tell me how do you say it "Ti amo." Congratulations your Italian
is so good. No.
What do you mean, no? Your Italian is great but you can't congratulate me for
speaking good Italian that's weird we don't say congratulations for skills
that develop over time such as learning a language unless you won an award or
graduated from a program congratulations you're such a good dancer but I didn't win a
prize but congratulations you're a very skilled dancer that's really weird
again we don't say congratulations about skills so Vanessa you are such a good
English teacher congratulations about that thank you for the compliment but
you don't need to congratulate me for being a good English teacher oh wait
because you're modest because of congratulations because of
congratulations Oh. Even for wonderful teaching skills
we don't use congratulations so do you have any travel plans coming up I do I'm
going to Croatia soon and I'm so excited congratulations that's so exciting
congratulations I know it's exciting but don't congratulate me oh why not because
I'm going on a trip but I didn't win this trip oh I mean I know but I can't
say congratulations no don't say congratulations about travel plans
unless someone won a trip I heard it was your birthday last weekend
congratulations no no we don't even say congratulations
for birthdays now you may be wondering when do native English speakers use the
word congratulations it seems like there's a lot of situations when we
don't use it right but we do use congratulations often and it's
appropriate to use and you should use it for big milestones lifetime achievements
things like graduating from school getting married getting a new job or a
promotion winning a prize buying a new house having a baby there are many big
milestones and lifetime achievements that we can use this word for so let's
take a look at some examples so I have some news tell me I'm graduating soon
with my PhD oh really well congratulations thank you but
actually I already got my PhD and congratulations I just got a new job
Oh congratulations that's amazing you know I just won employee of the month at
my job really you did yeah well congratulations but I don't even need a
new job anymore because I just won the lottery
congratulations that's amazing well you know what I mean that's amazing and
everything but I am getting engaged that's great good for you
congratulations thank you thank you but I'm already married and we just bought a
new house congratulations that's wonderful congratulations on your
new house so well I'm sure it's amazing I have some more news though it's really
big news I'm pregnant congratulations but I have
even bigger news I'm pregnant as well but I'm pregnant with twins what are you
kidding are you really seriously I mean congratulations yeah wonderful
well actually I mean I'm gonna have to check with the doctor but we're pretty
sure I'm pregnant with quadruplets yeah yeah congratulations thank you so guess
what what I just won a trip to Croatia Wow congratulations
well I wasn't gonna tell anyone because it's not gonna happen for maybe a few
years but I just won a trip to the moon did you really yeah
congratulations thank you let's practice the pronunciation of congratulations
it's a beautiful word but it can be difficult to pronounce so there are two
key points that we need to focus on first in American English we don't
pronounce the T we do not say kind of grat tu lations we say congratulations
congratulations (2) pay attention to the stress congratulations congratulations
so it's important to get the stress right on that second syllable we really
stress and then we have a secondary stress on the lesions congratulations
now we can also shorten this word and many people simply say congrats Congrats
but be aware that this is slightly more casual for use with family or friends if
you want to be more formal more polite or respectful say the completes word
alternatives to saying congratulations include I'm so happy for you
or that's wonderful or well done now I've seen in some other English lessons
suggestions to use alternatives like nice job or nice or good job and these
could be interpreted as sarcasm if your tone is not right and they're a bit
casual so I highly suggest that you stick to the suggestions mentions here
well done I'm so happy for you that's wonderful
or simply the classic congratulations I would say
congrats for watching this lesson but I can't because that's not really a
huge lifetime achievement however I am sure that you do have some achievements
and I would love for you to share your achievements in the comments what's
something that you're proud of have you recently graduated or perhaps did you
get a new job what could we congratulate you for did
you take a test or did you pass a test recently let us know and let's
congratulate each other in the comments let's keep learning together click right
over here to watch don't say nice to meet you to learn when to use and when
not to use that common phrase and don't forget to subscribe here to Go Natural
English so you don't miss another lesson click right over here to subscribe right
now and I'll see you right over there and the nice to meet you lesson bye for
now