Reacting to bad news in English | Learn English with Cambridge

Good morning.

My name’s George,

and today we’re going to learn how to react to bad news.

Are you okay?

My… hamster… died last night.

Oh, that sucks!

You’re fired.

When reacting to extremely bad news, for example, divorce,

sickness, or death,

it can sound quite rude or unsympathetic to say,

that sucks, or that’s a bummer.

Particularly in a formal situation.

It’s much better to say, oh, I’m so sorry to hear that.

Or ah, that’s awful.

Or, ah, that’s terrible, I’m so sorry to hear that.

Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that.

To… to hear… to hear that.

I’m so sorry to hear that.

I’m so sorry to hear that.

My… hamster… died last night.

Oh, that’s terrible.

I’m so sorry to hear that.

Thank you.

You’re invited to the funeral.

That sucks or that’s a bummer,

are only used when reacting to annoying or inconvenient news.

For example,

if Justin Bieber cancelled his concert,

you might say, oh, that sucks.

Or if your friend’s

train is delayed, you might say, oh,

that’s a bummer.

We only use these expressions in informal situations.

If you use them in a formal situation,

for example, to a boss, it can sound quite rude.

So, it’s better to say, oh, that’s a shame.

Ah, that’s a shame.

Shame.

That’s a… Ah, that’s a shame.

Agh, I spilt lemonade on my moustache.

Ah, that’s a shame.

That’s all we have time for today.

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