Meaning
It is not at all surprising.
Primary Function
Exclamation of unsurprising realisation
Communicative Purpose
To express sudden understanding that something is perfectly logical, often with sympathy or mild surprise.
Pattern
No wonder
Core Structure
No wonder
Função primária
Exclamation of unsurprising realisation
Propósito comunicativo
To express sudden understanding that something is perfectly logical, often with sympathy or mild surprise.
Situações de gatilho
When someone makes a connection between cause and effect, revealing how natural or inevitable an outcome was.
Contextos
Everyday conversation, informal writing, casual interactions where the speaker wants to convey shared insight without over‑statement.
Padrão
No wonder
Estrutura central
No wonder
Slots de substituição
clause content (the reason or cause that makes it obvious).
Colocados típicos
- No wonder he’s tired
- No wonder it’s so expensive
- No wonder you’re confused.
Substituições comuns
- It’s no wonder
- Small wonder (more literary).
Erros comuns
Using negative verb forms like *No wonder he isn’t happy* → should be *No wonder he’s unhappy*. Avoid double negatives such as *No wonder it’s not no good*.
Similar / contraste
It’s hardly surprising, which is less emphatic than ‘no wonder’.
Interferências
May be misused in questions or when the speaker intends to express doubt rather than certainty.
Família do chunk
- unsurprising realisation frames
Nuance
Conveys casual sympathy or mild surprise, often with an undertone of acceptance that the situation was inevitable.
Efeito pragmático
Creates camaraderie by signalling shared realisation; signals understanding without overtly praising someone.
Dica de memória
“No wonder + clause”
Nota
This phrase is often used to show understanding or sympathy for someone's situation.
Upgrade path
More formal usage: "Little wonder the company folded given its mismanagement."
Log in to save chunks.