SHANNON: What a fantastic performance! Thank you for inviting
me to the musical.
ELENA: You are welcome. I’m happy you enjoyed the show.
The choreography of the dancers was incredible. It
reminds me of when I used to dance.
SHANNON: I know! You were such a talented ballerina. Do you
miss dancing?
ELENA: Oh, that’s very kind of you, Shannon. I do miss it
sometimes. But I will always be a fan of the arts. That’s
why I love going to musicals because it’s the perfect
combination of song, dance and theater.
SHANNON: Absolutely! I’m glad you are still an art fan too. Thank
you for the invitation. It’s always a pleasure to attend
an arts event with you and learn something new
LANGUAGE NOTES
• You are welcome. Elena replies “You are welcome” in this dialogue. She could also say,
“Don’t mention it,” which is an example of downgrading. Downgrading a compliment
varies with culture. When in doubt, just say “You are welcome.”
• When getting a compliment to someone (for example: “You were such a talented
ballerina”), you can either accept the compliment (“That’s very kind of you”) or
downplay the compliment (“Oh, I wasn’t that good”).
• Giving compliments in English often includes using superlatives (“the most …,” “the
best …”). This is the best musical playing on Broadway! / What’s the most entertaining
movie you’ve seen? However, compliments can also be given by using the construction
“I’m a fan of …”: I’m a fan of the arts. / I’m a big fan of theater. / I’m a huge fan of this
band. Notice the use of adjectives