thanking someone

You thank someone when they have just done something for you or given you something. You say `Thank you' or, more casually, `Thanks'.

`I'll take over here.' —-`Thank you.'

`Don't worry, Caroline. I've given you a marvellous reference.' —-`Thank you, Mr Dillon.'

`There's your receipt.' —-`Thanks.'

`Would you tell her that Adrian phoned and that I'll phone at eight?' —-`OK.' —-`Thanks.'

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Some speakers of British and Australian English say `Cheers' to thank someone in a casual way. See entry at ↑ cheers - cheerio. Some British speakers also say `Ta' .

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If you need to indicate why you are thanking the other person, you say `Thank you for...' or `Thanks for...'.

Thank you for the earrings, Whitey.

Thank you for a delicious lunch.

Well, then, good-night, and thanks for the lift.

Thanks for helping out.

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◊ emphatic ways of thanking

People often add `very much' or `very much indeed' to be more emphatic.

`Here you are.' —-`Thank you very much.'

`I'll ring you tomorrow morning.' —-`OK. Thanks very much indeed.'

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Note that you can say `Thanks a lot', but you cannot say `Thank you a lot' or `Thanks lots'.

`All right, then?' —-`Yes, thanks a lot.'

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If you want to show that you are very grateful, you can say something like `That's very kind of you' or `That's very good of you'.

`Any night when you feel a need to talk, you will find me here.' —-`That's very kind of you.'

`Would you give this to her?' —-`Sure. When I happen to see her.' —-`That's very good of you, Rudolph.'

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You can also say something like `That's wonderful' or `Great'.

`I'll see if she can be with you on Monday.' —-`That's wonderful!'

`Do them as fast as you can.' —-`Yes. OK.' —-`Great.'

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Even more emphatic ways of thanking are shown below.

`All right, Sandra?' —-`Thank you so much, Mr Atkinson; you've been wonderful. I just can't thank you enough.'

`She's safe.' —-`I don't know how to thank you.'

I can't tell you how grateful I am to you for having listened to me.

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◊ more formal ways of thanking

People sometimes thank someone more formally by saying `I wanted to thank you for...' or `I'd like to thank you for...', especially when expressing thanks for something that was done or given a little while ago.

I wanted to thank you for the beautiful necklace.

I want to thank you all for coming.

We learned what you did for Ari and I want to tell you how grateful I am.

I'd like to thank you for your patience and your hard work.

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You can also express thanks more formally by saying things like `I'm very grateful to you' or `I really appreciate it'.

I'm grateful for the information you've given me on Mark Edwards.

I'm extremely grateful to you for rescuing me.

Thank you for coming to hear me play. I do appreciate it.

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◊ thanking someone for an offer

You can say `Thank you' or `Thanks' when accepting something that is offered.

`Have a cake.' —-`Thank you.'

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You say `No, thank you' or `No, thanks' when refusing something that is offered.

`There's one biscuit left. Do you want it?' —-`No, thanks.'

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Note that you do not refuse something by just saying `Thank you'.

See entry at ↑ Offers.

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◊ thanking someone for a present

When you have been given a present, you say `Thank you', or something like `It's lovely'.

`It's lovely. What is it?' —-`It's a shark tooth. The casing's silver.'

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People sometimes say `You shouldn't have' as a polite way of indicating that they are very grateful.

`Here. This is for you.' —-`Joyce, you shouldn't have.'

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◊ thanking someone for an enquiry

You also say `Thank you' or `Thanks' when replying to someone who has asked how you are or how a member of your family is, or if you have had a nice weekend or holiday.

`How are you?' —-`Fine, thank you.'

`How is Andrew today?' —-`Oh, Andrew's very well, thank you.'

`Did you have a nice weekend?' —-`Lovely, thank you.'

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◊ thanking someone in a letter

When thanking someone in a letter, you most commonly say `Thank you for...'. In a formal business letter, you can say `I am grateful for...'.

Dear Madam, Thank you for your letter replying to our advertisement for an assistant cashier.

I am grateful for your prompt reply to my request.

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If the letter is to a friend, you can say `Thanks for...'.

Thanks for writing.

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◊ replying to thanks

When someone thanks you for handing them something or doing a small service for them, it is acceptable not to say anything in reply in Britain.

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However, people in the United States, especially employees in shops, often say `You're welcome'.

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When someone thanks you for helping them or doing them a favour, you reply `That's all right' or `That's OK'.

`Thank you, Charles.' —-`That's all right, David.'

`Thanks. I really appreciate it.' —-`That's okay.'

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If you want to be both polite and friendly, you can say `It's a pleasure' or `Pleasure'.

`Thank you very much for talking to us about your research.' —-`It's a pleasure.'

`Thank you for the walk and the conversation.' —-`Pleasure.'

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`Any time' is more casual.

`Thanks for your help.' —-`Any time.'

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If someone thanks you in a very emphatic way, you can reply using the expressions below.

`He's immensely grateful for what you did for him.' —-`It was no trouble.'

`Thanks, Johnny. Thanks for your trouble.' —-`It was nothing.'

`I'm enormously grateful to you for telling me.' —-`Not at all.'

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`Don't mention it' is old-fashioned.

`Thanks. This really kind of you.' —-`Don't mention it.'

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