congratulate someone on something/doing
Advanced Chunks – Category 7

Meaning

to express praise for an achievement or good fortune

Primary Function

conveys acknowledgment of success

Communicative Purpose

social bonding, showing support, celebrating accomplishments

Pattern

congratulate; on

Core Structure

congratulate; on

Função primária

conveys acknowledgment of success

Propósito comunicativo

social bonding, showing support, celebrating accomplishments

Situações de gatilho

promotions, awards, personal milestones

Contextos

social interactions, workplace settings

Padrão

congratulate; on

Estrutura central

congratulate; on

Slots de substituição

person; achievement or event; doing

Colocados típicos

  • warmly
  • heartily
  • sincerely

Substituições comuns

  • compliment on
  • praise for

Erros comuns

using *congratulate for; omitting 'on': *congratulate him his success; using *congratulate to

Similar / contraste

compliment on, praise for

Interferências

Spanish 'felicitar por' may cause learners to use *congratulate for; French 'féliciter pour' similar interference

Família do chunk

  • compliment on
  • praise for
  • commend for
  • toast to

Nuance

'congratulate on' is used for an achievement or event, not a possessed quality; 'compliment on' is for attributes

Efeito pragmático

maintains social harmony and positive rapport

Dica de memória

celebrate achievement with on

Nota

Ensure to use 'on' with 'congratulate' and specify the achievement or event.

Upgrade path

extend one's congratulations on

Frequência: HighFormulaicidade: Semi-fixedTipo de construção: Colligation (verb + object + preposition + noun/gerund)Prioridade de aquisição: Automatic productionPrioridade de output: BothTag de espaçamento: Immediate

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