what a shame?

[blouen]

"What a shame" or "that's a shame" is similar to "too bad", right?

[mykwyner]

Yes, but a few degrees stronger.

[blouen]

Yes, but a few degrees stronger.

What a shame. I doubted myself earlier.

Does it need to have an exclamation? ( ! )

[mykwyner]

The exclamation point is another determiner of degree.

"I lost fifty cents in that Coke machine."
"Too bad."
"I lost fifty dollars in a poker game."
"What a shame."
"I lost fifty thousand dollars on Enron stock."
"What a shame!"

[blouen]

The exclamation point is another determiner of degree.

"I lost fifty cents in that Coke machine."
"Too bad."
"I lost fifty dollars in a poker game."
"What a shame."
"I lost fifty thousand dollars on Enron stock."
"What a shame!"

Are there expressions opossite of "What a shame"? In a good way now.

[Barb_D]

I found a dollar on the street.
"That's great."

I won a fifty-dollar football pool
"That's great!"

I won a fifty thousand dollars in the lottery!
"Wow! That's terrific!"

The problem, at least in American English, is that some of the expressions, such as "Good for you!" and "That's just great!" can be said with great sarcasm, so you must be careful that you don't give the wrong impression.

[not a teacher]

[blouen]

I found a dollar on the street.
"That's great."

I won a fifty-dollar football pool
"That's great!"

I won a fifty thousand dollars in the lottery!
"Wow! That's terrific!"

The problem, at least in American English, is that some of the expressions, such as "Good for you!" and "That's just great!" can be said with great sarcasm, so you must be careful that you don't give the wrong impression.

[not a teacher]

Barb_D,

How about words like amazing, incredible, fantastic, etc...