16. Compliments
The following phrases can be used to compliment people on their personal qualities or abilities:
You are with strong stress on are and the following adjective or noun.
You are so
You are such a
How you are!
I wish I had your
On possessions:
Youve got a nice/ lovely/ beautiful/ wonderful
What a nice/ lovely/ beautiful/ wonderful youve got!
I wish Id got a like yours.
On clothes and appearance:
Thats a nice/ lovely/ beautiful/ wonderful (you are wearing)
What a nice/ lovely/ beautiful/ wonderful (you are wearing)
You do look nice/ smart in/with that
I (do) like your do (stressed) makes the statement more emphatic.
On achievements: The form used here usually depends on the type of achievement. However, the general verbs be and do can be used in various situations:
You were wonderful/ superb/ magnificent!
You were great! - More colloquial
You did very well!
To compliment somebody on something he has made, mended, etc, we can say:
What a nice (-looking)/ convenient/ delicious
Youve done a wonderful job.
Youve done wonders with the
A compliment can be introduced by I must say.
If you consider the compliment to be deserved you can simply say Thank you, but this may sound self-satisfied or immodest. Here are some modest responses:
To compliment on personal qualities and abilities:
Do you really think so?
(Oh) I wouldnt say that.
(Oh) I dont think Im (any) better/ more than anybody else.
(Oh) I dont think Im better than you/ anybody else.
Youre too (yourself).
On possessions, clothes:
Do you like it (them)?
Im glad you like it.
Yes, Im quite/ rather pleased with it (myself).
Its not bad, is it? - usually an understatement, used out of modesty (real or assumed)
On appearance, clothes:
Do I?
Does it?
Do you like it?
On achievements: Here either echo question or one of the responses given above can be used, depending on the situation and the form of the compliment.