English - Lesson 79 of 139: Surprise

No way

Express strong surprise or disbelief informally

Meaning: Express strong surprise or disbelief informally.

When to use: Use when you hear something shocking or hard to believe.

Tip: Avoid using it in very formal situations; it's casual.

You won the trip? No way!

They finished that in one day? No way!

Are you serious?

Check if surprising information is serious

Meaning: Check if surprising information is serious.

When to use: Use when you want to make sure the other person is not joking.

Are you serious? You quit your job?

Are you serious—you're moving next week?

That's surprising.

Say that something is surprising

Meaning: Say that something is surprising.

When to use: Use for a neutral reaction when something is unexpected.

That's surprising, I thought he liked his job.

Oh—that's surprising news.

What a surprise!

React to an unexpected event or visit

Meaning: React to an unexpected event or visit.

When to use: Use when something or someone appears suddenly or an event is unexpected.

What a surprise—you're here!

What a surprise, the store is open today.

I didn't expect that.

Say something was not expected

Meaning: Say something was not expected.

When to use: Use to calmly state you did not expect that outcome.

I didn't expect that result.

She left? I didn't expect that.

Is that true?

Ask for confirmation of surprising information

Meaning: Ask for confirmation of surprising information.

When to use: Use when you want someone to confirm whether surprising news is true.

Is that true? You bought a house?

Is that true—you met her yesterday?

Wow, really?

React with surprise and invite confirmation

Meaning: React with surprise and invite confirmation.

When to use: Use to show surprise and encourage more detail.

Wow, really? Tell me more.

Wow, really? I want to hear how it happened.

That's hard to believe.

Express mild disbelief politely

Meaning: Express mild disbelief politely.

When to use: Use to show you find something hard to accept but want to stay polite.

Tip: Don't sound too harsh; it can seem rude if said angrily.

That's hard to believe—are you sure?

Honestly, that's hard to believe without proof.

You're kidding!

Reacting with disbelief to unexpected information

Meaning: Reacting with disbelief to unexpected information.

When to use: Use when you think the other person is joking or exaggerating.

You're kidding! You ran a marathon?

You're kidding—he's only ten?

That can't be right.

Expressing disbelief about a statement or situation

Meaning: Express disbelief about a statement or situation.

When to use: Use to say you think a statement is wrong or unlikely.

That can't be right; the time doesn't match.

He said he paid nothing? That can't be right.

How is that possible?

Asking for explanation after surprising information

Meaning: Ask for explanation after surprising information.

When to use: Use when something seems impossible and you want to know how it happened.

How is that possible? The project finished so fast.

How is that possible—there was no sign of damage.

I had no idea.

Showing surprise after learning new information

Meaning: Showing surprise after learning new information.

When to use: Use to say you were completely unaware of something.

I had no idea you could speak Japanese.

I had no idea the cafe closed so early.

Oh, I didn't know that.

Acknowledging surprising new information

Meaning: Acknowledging surprising new information politely.

When to use: Use for a softer, polite reaction when learning something new.

Oh, I didn't know that—thanks for telling me.

Oh, I didn't know that; that's useful to know.

English - Surprise

1. Reading + Listening Practice

2. Conversational Listening Practice

3. Guided Practice

Choose the natural reaction if a friend says they won a big prize.

You hear something unlikely and want a polite doubt—what do you say?

Choose the phrase to ask for confirmation after hearing surprising news.

Which phrase fits a pleasant, unexpected visit?

A: I got a new job starting next week. B: No way!

Hearing someone say they saw a celebrity, you say: "You're kidding!"

After learning the test was easy, you respond, "I didn't expect that."

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice