New here? This is lesson 87 of a free 240-lesson English course.
Small everyday reactions in English
Tasha sends Ana a long phone message about a busy morning at the bakery. By the time she tells it at the diner, the small busy morning sounds huge.
Ana reacts with short, warm lines. You will hear No way, For real, and That's wild.
These lines show surprise, not a joke at Tasha. Totally means you agree. Oh nice is for good news. Fair enough accepts a reason.
By the end of this lesson
React briefly and softly to what someone just said.
- No way.You say this when you are very surprised.
- Totally.You say this when you agree completely.
- For real?You ask this to check if something is true.
- Oh nice.You say this when you hear something good.
- That's wild.You say this when something sounds very surprising.
- Fair enough.You say this when you accept someone's reason.
Scene — the story grows
Monday afternoon at the Blue Plate. Ana sits in a booth with her phone. Tasha walks in from the bakery, still in her green jacket.
Dee refills the coffee without asking. Murray sits on two stools at the end of the counter. The jukebox by the door stays quiet.
Learn — short warm reactions
Six short lines help you react when someone tells news.
You will show surprise, agree, check a story, and accept a reason.
No way.
You say this when you are very surprised.
When to use it: Use this when news surprises you a lot.
Learn it as one piece when you feel surprise.
Totally.
You say this when you agree completely.
When to use it: Use this when you agree with all of it.
This one word means you agree all the way.
Say it: The stress is on the first part.
For real?
You ask this to check if something is true.
When to use it: Ask this when you want to check the story.
Learn it as one piece when you check the story.
Say it: For and real can link.
Oh nice.
You say this when you hear something good.
When to use it: Use this when you hear good news.
Oh and nice stay together as one short line.
That's wild.
You say this when something sounds very surprising.
When to use it: Use this when a story sounds very surprising.
That's is a contraction, so learn it as one piece.
Say it: Say That's as one piece, with stress on wild.
Fair enough.
You say this when you accept someone's reason.
When to use it: Use this when you accept their reason.
You accept the reason, even if you wanted more.
Story — a bakery rush
Watch Tasha tell her bakery story at the booth. Ana reacts with short, warm lines.
The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.
- Tasha slides into the booth. Flour is still on her jacket.
AnaHow was your weekend?Ask about Saturday and Sunday
TashaSo, the bakery was a total disaster this morning.She says the bakery morning went very badly.- AnaNo way.You say this when you are very surprised.
- TashaWell, a small rush. Then I dropped a tray.First it was a small busy time, then she dropped a tray.
- AnaFor real?You ask this to check if something is true.
- TashaTotally. Flour on the floor, and the mixer stopped.She agrees, then says flour fell and the mixer stopped.
- AnaThat's wild. Did a wild animal walk in?She thinks wild means an animal.
- TashaNo. That's wild just means surprising.Tasha says it means surprising, not an animal.
- Tasha grins. She knows she stretched it.
- TashaWe still sold every pastry, you know.They sold all the baked food.
- AnaOh nice. Like what?She likes the good news, then asks for an example.
- TashaThe cinnamon rolls sold out first. I made it sound huge.The cinnamon rolls sold first. She made the story sound bigger.
- AnaFair enough.You say this when you accept someone's reason.
Practice — surprise or agree
Nine quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.
They stay small, so the round moves fast.
0 of 9 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
English
No way.Drop the Simple English hereTotally.Drop the Simple English hereFor real?Drop the Simple English hereOh nice.Drop the Simple English hereSimple English
What do you say?
What do you say?
You already said hi. Now ask Tasha about Saturday and Sunday.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
That's wild.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
You say this when you accept someone's reason.
Fair ____.
Build the line
Build the line
You ask this to check if something is true.
?
Tap the words in order.
Pick the reply
Tasha says:
Pick the reply
I agree. The bigger story is more fun.
She agrees that a bigger story is more fun.
And you reply with:
Swap the word
Swap the word
Tasha says they sold every pastry. React with a short, warm line.
Oh ____.
True or false?
True or false?
This line asks for an example.
Say it — say it back
Now you're Ana in the booth with Tasha. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.
Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.
- TashaThe bakery was a total disaster this morning.She says the bakery morning went very badly.
- Ana (you)Show you are very surprised.
Show you are very surprised.
No way.
You say this when you are very surprised.
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| English | Simple English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| No way. | You say this when you are very surprised. | |
| Totally. | You say this when you agree completely. | |
| For real? | You ask this to check if something is true. | |
| Oh nice. | You say this when you hear something good. | |
| That's wild. | You say this when something sounds very surprising. | |
| Fair enough. | You say this when you accept someone's reason. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
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A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps these reactions ready.
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