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Lesson 91 of 240

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Wow, really? in English

Danny is sure the jukebox will play tomorrow. Ana's eyes go wide, and she checks if he means it.

Dee does not even look up from the coffee pot. She has heard this story before.

You will react to a surprise. First you cannot believe it. Then you are happy.

Wow, really? checks the news. You're kidding! thinks it is a joke. What a surprise! is for a happy moment with no plan.

By the end of this lesson

React when something surprises you, from not believing it to feeling happy.

  • Wow, really?You are surprised and want to check it is true.
  • Are you serious?You check if they really mean it.
  • You're kidding!You think they must be making a joke.
  • How is that possible?You cannot see how that can be true.
  • What a surprise!You are happy this was not planned.
  • I didn't expect that.This was not what you thought would happen.

Scene — he does not look up

Afternoon at the Blue Plate. Danny leans on the counter with a dish towel on his shoulder. Dee pours coffee and does not look up.

Ana sits on a stool. Murray is at the end of the counter with an unfinished cup. The jukebox by the door stays quiet.

Ana sits at the counter while Danny leans nearby and Dee pours coffee beside the quiet jukebox.

Learn — wow, really

Six lines help you react when news is hard to believe, or when a happy thing was not planned.

You will check the truth, name a joke, and say you did not see it coming.

  1. Ana turns toward Danny with surprised interest and raises a hand to check the news.

    Wow, really?

    You are surprised and want to check it is true.

    When to use it: Say this when news surprises you and you want to check it.

    Really here checks if the surprising news is true.

    Say it: The stress is on really.

  2. Ana leans toward Danny to check whether the unexpected claim is earnest.

    Are you serious?

    You check if they really mean it.

    When to use it: Use this when you cannot believe what they just said.

    Serious here means they truly mean it.

  3. Ana looks along the stools as though searching for children while Murray sits quietly beside an unfinished cup.

    You're kidding!

    You think they must be making a joke.

    When to use it: Say this when you think they are joking.

    You're is you are said as one piece.

    Say it: Stress the word kidding.

  4. Ana leans over the counter in quiet disbelief, still unable to accept the news.

    How is that possible?

    You cannot see how that can be true.

    When to use it: Use this when a fact does not make sense to you.

    Possible means it can happen or be true.

  5. Tasha enters with a bakery box as Ana turns toward the welcome surprise.

    What a surprise!

    You are happy this was not planned.

    When to use it: Say this when a good thing happens with no plan.

    Learn it as one piece for a happy shock.

  6. Ana welcomes Tasha beside the counter, delighted by an arrival that was not expected.

    I didn't expect that.

    This was not what you thought would happen.

    When to use it: Say this after something happens that you did not plan.

    Didn't is did not in the past tense, as one piece.

Story — tomorrow, he says

Watch Ana at the counter when Danny talks about tomorrow. Her eyes go wide.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Afternoon at the Blue Plate. Danny leans on the counter. Dee pours coffee and does not look up.
  2. DannyB7 is gonna play tomorrow.He says the empty slot will play the next day.
  3. AnaWow, really?You are surprised and want to check it is true.
  4. DannyYeah. I'm sure of it.He believes this will happen.
  5. AnaAre you serious?You check if they really mean it.
  6. DannyI am. I really think so.He says he means it and believes it.
  7. DeeEvery week, hon. Same story.She has heard this many times.
  8. AnaYou're kidding! I don't see kids.She thinks it is a joke, and she looks for children.
  9. DannyNo, not kids. "You're kidding" means you think I'm joking.He explains that the phrase means you think someone is joking.
  10. AnaHow is that possible?You cannot see how that can be true.
  11. DannyYou'll see.He says she will find out later.
  12. The door opens. Tasha walks in with a bakery box. Dee still does not look up.
  13. AnaWhat a surprise!You are happy this was not planned.
  14. TashaI got off early.She finished work sooner than usual.
  15. AnaI didn't expect that.This was not what you thought would happen.
  16. DannyDid you hear about B7? It's gonna play tomorrow.He asks if she knows, then says the empty slot will play the next day.
  17. TashaNo. Wow, really?She has not heard, and she wants to check it is true.
  18. DannySee you tomorrow.You will see them the next day.

Practice — check the surprise

Ten quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    Wow, really?Drop the Simple English here
    Are you serious?Drop the Simple English here
    You're kidding!Drop the Simple English here
    What a surprise!Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

    Drag a Simple English line onto its English, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    A friend says the jukebox will play by itself tomorrow. You think it is a joke.

  4. What does it mean?

    Are you serious?

  5. What do you say?

    Danny says the empty jukebox will play by itself. You cannot see how that can be true.

  6. Build the line

    This was not what you thought would happen.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Pick the reply

    Tasha says:

    I got off early. I brought cake.

    She finished work sooner and brought a treat.

    And you reply with:

  8. True or false?

    This line asks if someone already knows some news.

  9. Swap the word

    Danny shares surprising news. You want to check it is true.

    Wow, ____?

  10. Pick the reply

    Danny says:

    I'm heading back to the truck. See you tomorrow at the diner.

    He is going to his food truck and will see you at the diner the next day.

    And you reply with:

Say it — say it back

Now you're Ana at the Blue Plate. 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.

  1. DannyB7 is going to play tomorrow.He says the jukebox will play the next day.
  2. Ana (you)You are surprised. Check if it is true.

    Wow, really?

    You are surprised and want to check it is true.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
Wow, really?You are surprised and want to check it is true.
Are you serious?You check if they really mean it.
You're kidding!You think they must be making a joke.
How is that possible?You cannot see how that can be true.
What a surprise!You are happy this was not planned.
I didn't expect that.This was not what you thought would happen.
Next: lesson 92Agree and go along

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