comedy vs. tragedy

English as a Second Language English Teacher Explanations (ESL Tests)
1

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #44 [color=blue]“Speaking: At the Theatre”, question 10

The reason for this is possibly that you thought it was a … but in fact it is a tragedy.

(a) comic
(b) comedy
(c) comedian
(d) comely

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #44 [color=blue]“Speaking: At the Theatre”, answer 10

The reason for this is possibly that you thought it was a comedy but in fact it is a tragedy.

Correct answer: (b) comedy

Your answer was: [color=green]correct
[size=200]_________________________[/size]

What does this sentence mean?

2

Which words do you not understand, Zhangbaixiang? There are no idioms in the sentence.

3

Sorry, what I felt confused about this is that does the speaker mean the audience can’t tell a tragedy from a comedy? And if it is a tragedy why received so much laughter? Maybe I just thought too much that is unmeaningful.

thanks.

4

I see. Yes, for some reason, “you” (the listener) was perhaps confused about which the sort of play it was, a comedy or a tragedy.