Cool MateGreat vs That's a terrific story
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Great
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
That's a terrific story
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Great
| Great | That's a terrific story | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɡreɪt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɡreɪt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðæts ə təˈrɪfɪk ˈstɔːri//🇺🇸 //ðæts ə təˈrɪfɪk ˈstɔri// |
| Meaning | very good or impressive | It's a great story. |
| Example | This pizza is great and very tasty! | After hearing her tale, I told her, 'That's a terrific story!' |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, feel, look, just, really, absolutely, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, really, truly, very, be, feel, look, just, really, absolutely, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, become, very, great big, no great | tell a story, great story, hear a story, share a story, exciting story |
| Antonyms | terrible, poor, bad | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'great' in a sarcastic way without context., Confusing 'great' with 'grate' when writing., Overusing 'great' instead of finding more specific adjectives. | Using 'terrific' incorrectly as negative (it means great), Confusing 'terrific' with 'terrible', Not using 'that's' when starting the phrase |
| Usage notes | Use 'great' to describe something positive or impressive. It's suitable in both spoken and written contexts. Avoid using it in a sarcastic tone, as it can change the meaning. | Use this phrase to express enjoyment or admiration for someone's story. It's appropriate in most conversational contexts but may sound overly enthusiastic in formal situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Great vs That's a terrific story
What's the difference between Great and That's a terrific story?
Great: very good or impressive That's a terrific story: It's a great story.
Which is more common: Great and That's a terrific story?
Great is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Great: This pizza is great and very tasty! That's a terrific story: After hearing her tale, I told her, 'That's a terrific story!'
Can I use Great and That's a terrific story interchangeably?
Not always. Great and That's a terrific story are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.