Vocabulary
pleasure a feeling of happiness or satisfaction that you get from an experience you enjoy
happiness a feeling of pleasure and contentment, for example because something good has happened to you
satisfaction a feeling of happiness or pleasure because you have achieved something or got what you wanted
joy great happiness and pleasure
delight a feeling of great pleasure and satisfaction, which usually does not last long
exultation (formal) a feeling of great happiness and pride, especially because you have succeeded in doing something
admiration a feeling of pleasure and respect, caused by a quality someone has or by something they have done
glad pleased and happy about something
thrilled very excited, happy and pleased
exhilarated extremely happy and excited
overjoyed extremely pleased or happy
impressed admiring someone or something because you notice how good, clever, successful, etc. they are
be bursting with to be full of a feeling
rejoice (literary) to feel or show that you are very happy
displeasure (formal) the feeling of being annoyed with someone because you do not approve of their behaviour
annoyance a feeling of slight anger and unhappiness
irritation a feeling of annoyance or impatience experienced over a long period, especially because of something that is done repeatedly
exasperation a feeling of great annoyance or impatience experienced over a long period, especially because of something that is done repeatedly
dissatisfaction the feeling of not being satisfied
disappointment a feeling of sadness caused by something that is not as good as you expected it to be, or has not happened in the way you hoped it would
anger a strong feeling of displeasure, when you want to harm, hurt, or criticise someone because they have done something unfair, cruel, offensive, etc.
fury | rage a feeling of extreme, often uncontrolled anger
indignation feelings of righteous anger and surprise because you feel insulted or unfairly treated
resentment a feeling of suppressed anger because something has happened that you think is unfair
disgust a very strong feeling of dislike that almost makes you sick, caused by something unpleasant
mad (informal) (esp. AmE) angry
furious extremely angry
wild feeling or expressing strong uncontrolled emotions, especially anger, happiness, or excitement
blurt out | blunder out to say something suddenly and without thinking, usually because you are nervous or excited
flare up/out | flame up/out | flash out | blaze up (1) to show sudden increased anger, activity, or violence
(2) to speak angrily
fire up to (cause to) increase in heat, anger, or violence
Surprise
|
| = John: I met Peter yesterday. Do you know what he’s now? The managing director of a large company!
|
|
| Mary: You don’t say so!
|
|
| = Mary expressed surprise at the news that Peter had become the managing director of a large company.
|
|
| = John: Peter’s just called. He said he’d won the race.
|
|
| Mary: Fancy that! Who could’ve expected that of him!
|
|
| = John told Mary (that) Peter had called to inform them of his winning the race. Mary was very surprised that he had managed to do it.
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|
| Mary was very surprised to learn that Peter had won the race, as no one, she thought, could have expected it of him.
|
Patterns
| John said in/with surprise/astonishment/amazement (that) he had heard nothing about it.
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|
| John expressed (his) surprise/astonishment/amazement at their approach to the problem.
|
|
| John was
| surprised
astonished
amazed
astounded
startled
shocked
dumbfounded
flabbergasted
| at the news/his arrival.
at hearing/learning the news.
to hear/learn the news.
(that) Peter didn’t object.
(that) Peter should object.
| |
| John was taken aback by her unexpected arrival.
|
| |
| It
| surprised
astonished
amazed
astounded
startled
shocked
| John
| to hear/learn the news/truth.
that the local team had won the game.
| |
| | | | | | | | |
Vocabulary
surprise the feeling you have when something unexpected or unusual happens
astonishment a feeling of complete surprise
amazement a feeling of great surprise, often mixed with extreme mental confusion
shocked feeling surprised and upset by something very unexpected and unpleasant
astounded very surprised or shocked
dumbfounded surprised or shocked to such an extent that you are very confused and cannot speak
flabbergasted (informal) extremely surprised or shocked
startled feeling surprised or slightly shocked
be taken aback to be very surprised or shocked by something
Worry
|
| = John: I’m worried about my son. He doesn’t do well at school.
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|
| = John was worried/anxious/upset about his son doing badly at school.
|
|
|
|
|
| = Peter: I don’t feel at all happy about my prospects in this company.
|
|
| = Peter expressed (his) anxiety about his prospects in the company.
|
Patterns
| John worried
| about Peter.
about Peter saying such things.
about/over trifles.
| |
| John
| was
felt
became
got
grew
| worried
| about something.
(that) his wife hadn’t called him yet.
| |
| John
| was
felt
became
got
grew
| anxious about/at the news.
alarmed at/by/over the latest news.
concerned about/over the latest news.
disturbed about/over/by/at the news.
perturbed by/at/about/over the news.
troubled to hear/learn about her problems.
|
|
| John
| was
felt
became
got
grew
| uneasy about/at the latest news.
upset about/by/over the tragic news.
upset with Peter (about his progress).
|
|
| John was
| concerned
disturbed
upset
| about what he heard.
to hear/learn of their failure.
that he wouldn’t see his friend.
| |
| John
| showed signs of worry
felt worry
felt uneasiness
| about/over the news.
| |
| The news caused John great worry.
|
| |
| John
| said it
listened to it
| in/with alarm.
with anxiety/ uneasiness.
| |
| It was
| alarming
disturbing
perturbing
worrying
| to hear/learn the news.
that so few people volunteered to help.
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Vocabulary
worried unhappy or anxious because you keep thinking about a problem
anxious very worried about something that may happen or may have happened, so that you think about it all the time
troubled worried or anxious
concerned worried about something
disturbed worried or slightly shocked
upset unhappy and worried because something unpleasant or disappointing has happened
alarmed frightened and worried
perturbed worried or annoyed because of something that has happened
uneasy nervous, anxious and unable to relax because you think something bad might happen
Fear
|
| = Mary: What a thunderstorm! It gives me the shivers even to look out.
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|
| = Mary was frightened of the thunderstorm raging outside.
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|
| = Jane: Stop them! They may beat one another to death.
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|
| = Jane was horrified by the sight of people fighting and wanted someone to stop them.
|
Patterns
| John
| said
cried (out)
exclaimed
screamed
shouted
yelled
| in/with
| fear
fright
dread
dismay
horror
terror
panic
| (that they were
doomed to die).
| |
| John said / cried (out) / exclaimed / screamed / shouted / yelled in a frightened voice (that they were doomed to die).
|
| |
| John said it out of/from fear.
|
| |
| John lied for fear
| of being dismissed.
that he would be dismissed.
| |
| John (said he) was afraid
| of the dark.
for his children/his job.
to open the door.
of falling down from that height.
that he would/might lose it.
| |
| John feared
| old age/death/defeat.
for Peter’s safety/life.
his friend(’s) getting into danger.
to tell Peter the truth.
that he would be late/miss the train.
| |
| The news aroused / inspired / instilled / kindled / allayed / dispelled fear in John.
|
|
| The news confirmed John’s fears.
|
|
| His words struck fear into John’s heart.
|
| |
| John gave Peter a (nasty/sudden) fright/scare by shouting at him.
|
|
| John
| was
got
grew
| appalled at/by
dismayed at/by
frightened at/of/about
horrified at/by
scared at/by
terrified at/of/by
petrified (with fear) at/by
| the tragic news.
what he heard.
| |
| John
| was
got
grew
| appalled
dismayed
frightened
horrified
scared
terrified
petrified (with fear)
| to hear of his death.
that he had been betrayed.
| |
| It horrified/scared John (to hear/learn) that he had been betrayed.
|
|
| John
| felt
expressed
| (his)
| dismay at/with
horror at/of
| the crime.
| |
| The news of the train crash filled John with dismay / horror / terror.
|
|
| John was filled with
| dismay
horror
terror
| by the news of the accident.
to hear/learn of it.
| |
| (Much) to John’s horror, Peter was at a loss for words.
|
|
| The news
| frightened
scared
terrified
| John
| to death/half to death.
out of his life/wits.
silly/stiff.
| |
| It was appalling
| to hear/learn the news.
that so many schoolchildren smoked.
| |
| John
| panicked
got panicky
was panic-stricken
got panic-stricken
| (at the news).
(at hearing/learning the news).
| |
| John
| felt panic
got into a panic
was thrown into (a) panic
| (at the news).
(when he realised what
had happened).
| |
| The news panicked John (into accepting Peter’s conditions).
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Vocabulary
afraid very frightened or worried about something
frightened feeling afraid
fear an unpleasant feeling of being frightened or worried that something bad is going to happen
fright sudden, usually momentary fear characterised by great agitation
dismay the worry, disappointment and unhappiness you feel when something unpleasant happens
dread strong fear of something in the future
horror a strong feeling which is a combination of shock, fear and repugnance
terror a feeling of extreme fear
scare a sudden feeling of fear
panic a sudden strong feeling of fear or nervousness that makes you unable to think clearly or behave sensibly
appalled very shocked by something bad or unpleasant
petrified extremely frightened, especially so frightened that you cannot move or think
Sorrow, pity and regret
|
| = John: I’m really sorry that all Peter’s plans have been frustrated.
|
|
| = John expressed (his) sorrow that Peter’s plans had been frustrated.
|
|
|
|
|
| = Peter: It’s a pity that I can’t do anything about it.
|
|
| = Peter wished he could do something about it.
|
|
| Peter expressed regret at being unable to do anything about it.
|
Patterns
I.
| John said with sorrow/sadness/melancholy (that) his plans had been frustrated.
|
|
| John said in despair/grief (that) his plans had been frustrated.
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|
| John said in a cheerless / sad / melancholy / gloomy / miserable/pathetic tone/voice (that) his plans had been frustrated.
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|
| John said sadly/gloomily/pathetically (that) his plans had been frustrated.
|
|
| John
| felt
showed
expressed
| (his)
| (deep)
(great)
(keen)
(profound)
| sorrow
| over that loss.
at her death.
for having let
him down.
| |
| John felt / showed / expressed (a) (deep / all-pervading) gloom about/over the situation.
|
|
| John felt/showed/expressed (deep/profound) sadness over the situation.
|
|
| John
| felt
showed
expressed
suffered
| (bitter)
(deep)
(inconsolable)
(profound)
(overwhelming)
| grief
| for his friend.
over her death.
at bad news.
| |
| The news of defeat
| drove John to despair.
filled John with despair.
| |
| It
| depressed
saddened
| John
| to hear/learn (the) bad news.
that he hadn’t heard from them for a
long time.
| |
| The thought of Peter’s arrival depressed John.
|
| |
| It was
| depressing
sad
pathetic
| to hear/learn about John’s failure.
that business was at a standstill.
| |
| John
| was
became
got
grew
| depressed
depressed
despondent
gloomy
unhappy
unhappy
unhappy
sad
sad
| at the news of the plane crash.
to hear/learn the news.
about/over/at his prospects.
about/over the future.
about/at/over the news.
to hear/learn the news.
that they wouldn’t come.
about the situation.
that they couldn’t come.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
II.
| John
| felt
showed
expressed
| (deep)
(keen)
| regret
| at/over/for his mistake.
at/over being unable to
do the job.
|
| John felt/showed pity for his friend.
|
|
| John
| had/took pity
took compassion
| on the orphan.
|
| John
| had
felt
expressed
| (deep)
(great)
(profound)
(little)
| sympathy for Peter.
|
| John lavished sympathy on the homeless family.
|
|
| John
| had
felt
showed
demonstrated
displayed
| (deep)
(profound)
(strong)
| compassion for Peter.
|
| John was filled with pity/compassion for his friend.
|
|
| John pitied his friend for his failure.
|
|
| John sympathised
| with his friend’s problems.
with his friend about his failure.
|
| The story
| moved her to tears (of sympathy).
moved her deeply/greatly/profoundly.
|
| Mary was moved
| to tears.
with pity/compassion.
by her friend’s sad story/entreaties.
|
| The story stirred her pity/sympathy.
|
|
| John was stirred to the depths by the tragic news.
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
III.
| John regretted
| his decision to leave his home town.
leaving/having left his home town.
his friend’s leaving his home town.
that he had failed to help his friend.
| |
| John regretted to say / tell / inform Peter (that) he was deeply in debt. (formal)
|
|
| John said/heard with regret (that) his friend was unwell.
|
|
| John wished (that)
| Peter had more common sense.
Peter hadn’t gone to Africa.
Peter could play chess.
the weather would clear up.
| |
| Much to his regret, John was unable to accept Peter’s invitation.
|
|
| John was / felt sympathetic / compassionate to / towards /with his friend.
|
|
| | | | |
Vocabulary
sadness unhappiness, especially because something unpleasant has happened to you or someone else
sorrow a feeling of great sadness, usually because someone has died or because something terrible has happened
melancholy (formal) a feeling of sadness for no particular reason, which is usually a lingering or habitual state of mind
gloom a feeling of great sadness and lack of hope
grief extreme sadness, especially because someone you love has died
despair a feeling that you have no hope at all for the future
depressed feeling very unhappy
despondent unhappy and not hopeful
sympathy the feeling of being sorry for someone who is in a bad situation and understanding how they feel
sympathise to feel sorry for someone because you understand their problems
pity sympathy for someone who is suffering or unhappy
compassion a strong feeling of sympathy for someone who is suffering, and a desire to help them
pathetic making you feel pity or sympathy
regret sadness that you feel about something because you wish it had not happened or that you had not done it
wish to want something to be true although you know it is either impossible or unlikely
move to make someone feel strong feelings, especially of sadness or sympathy
stir to make someone have a strong feeling or reaction
Consolation
|
| = John: My house has been broken into.
|
|
| Peter: I’m sorry to hear this. But try not to worry about it too much.
|
|
| = John told Peter (that) his house had been broken into. Peter said (that) he was sorry to hear that and tried to comfort his friend.
|
|
| = John: Don’t let it upset you. It might’ve been worse. Let me tell you what I did in a similar situation last year.
|
|
| = John tried to console and cheer up Peter.
|
Patterns
| John calmed (down)/comforted/consoled Peter after his defeat/failure.
|
|
| John comforted Peter for the tragic death of his friend.
| |
| John consoled Peter for/on the loss of his close friend.
| |
| John calmed (down)/comforted/consoled Peter by telling him the story of his own life.
|
|
| John comforted/consoled himself with the thought that it might have been worse.
|
|
| John offered Peter his consolation / a crumb of comfort (for/on the loss of his friend).
|
|
| John said/spoke a few words of consolation/comfort/a few comforting words to Peter.
|
|
| The news gave/brought John consolation/comfort.
|
| |
| The news gave/brought consolation/comfort to John.
|
| |
| John cheered (up) Peter.
|
| |
| John reassured Peter
| (about his support).
(that they wouldn’t be late).
| |
| Peter
| was
felt
| reassured
| (by John’s offer of support).
(after John had told him that he
would support him).
| |
| | | | | | |
Vocabulary
console to make someone feel better when they are feeling sad or disappointed
consolation someone or something that makes you feel better when you are sad or disappointed
comfort to make someone feel calmer and more hopeful by being kind and sympathetic to them when they are worried or unhappy
comfort (n.) a feeling of being more calm, cheerful, or hopeful after you have been worried or unhappy
calm (down) to make someone or something quiet after strong emotion or nervous activity
cheer (up) to make someone feel more hopeful when they are worried
reassure to make someone feel calmer and less worried or frightened about a problem or situation
Courage
|
| = John: I’m not afraid of you, sir. But I hate to continue working with you. I’ll hand in my resignation tomorrow.
|
|
| = John had the courage/plucked up all his courage to speak to his boss and inform him of his intention to resign.
|
|
|
|
|
| = Peter: You’ll never be able to intimidate me again. I’m through with my fear. And I’d like to tell you what I think of you.
|
|
| = Peter was bold/audacious/daring enough to tell John what he thought of him.
|
Patterns
| John boldly / bravely / courageously / audaciously / daringly / fearlessly / rashly / recklessly told Peter what he thought of him.
|
|
| John was bold / brave / courageous / audacious / daring / fearless / rash / reckless enough to speak to Peter about the matter.
|
|
| It was bold / brave / courageous / audacious / daring / fearless / rash / reckless of John to speak to Peter about the matter.
|
|
| John was so bold as to ask Peter about it.
|
| |
| John showed / demonstrated / displayed (dauntless / indomitable / remarkable / sheer) courage / audacity at hearing/learning the news | when he heard/learnt the news.
|
|
| John got up / mustered (up) / plucked up / screwed up / summoned up / worked up all his courage to speak to his boss.
|
|
| John took his courage in both hands and approached the manager about a pay rise.
|
|
| John screwed himself up to speak to the manager.
|
| |
| John had/lacked the courage/audacity to tell Peter what he thought of him.
|
|
| Reckless of danger/the consequences, John told Peter the whole truth.
|
|
| John hazarded a guess/remark.
|
|
| John ventured
| (to put forward) an opinion of his own.
to disagree with Peter.
to suggest that the idea wasn’t workable.
| |
| John had nerve enough/the nerve to say what he thought.
|
|
| John wanted to say what he thought but lost his nerve. When he regained his nerve there was no one to speak to.
|
|
| John didn’t dare (to) speak in her presence.
|
| |
| John had the guts to argue with his boss.
|
| |
| John didn’t have the heart to tell Peter the truth.
|
| |
| | | | |
Vocabulary
bold | courageous not afraid of taking risks and making difficult decisions
brave facing danger, pain, or difficult situations with courage and confidence
audacious brave, shocking and extremely confident when taking risks or saying impolite things
daring willing to do something that is dangerous or that involves a lot of risk
fearless not afraid of anything
nerve the ability to stay calm and confident in a dangerous, difficult or frightening situation
heart determination and strength of purpose
guts (informal) the courage and determination you need to do something difficult or unpleasant
dare to be brave enough or rude enough to do something dangerous, difficult, or unpleasant
reckless not caring or worrying about the possible bad or dangerous results of your actions
rash doing something too quickly, without thinking carefully about whether it is sensible or not
Functions of volition
Making a decision
|
| = John: I want to go into business. I’ve got no doubt about it.
|
|
| = John decided/made up his mind to go into business.
|
|
|
|
|
| = Peter: I’ve thought a lot about what university to apply to. And I know now.
|
|
| = John made up his mind about what university to apply to.
|
Patterns
| John
| decided
resolved
determined
settled
| to go into business.
on a trip to London.
on going to London.
that he/his son would go into business.
| |
| John
| was determined
was resolved
| to go into business.
| |
| John couldn’t
| decide
determine
settle
| what to do after graduation.
where the house would be built.
| |
| John couldn’t decide
| between two courses of action.
between two candidates.
between staying at home and leaving
for London.
| |
| John made up his mind
| about it.
between two courses of action.
to go into business.
(about) what to do next.
| |
| John changed his mind
| about Peter.
about it.
about coming with us.
| |
| John set his heart/mind
| on a holiday in Italy.
on going to Italy for a holiday.
| |
| John was set
| on his plans.
on going to Africa.
against their plans.
| |
| John was resolved/bent
| on the new job.
on accepting the offer.
| |
| John was decided about it.
|
| |
| John made / took (BrE) / arrived at / came to /reached a decision (about it/to do it).
|
|
| John took it into his head
| to go there.
that he was being maltreated.
| |
| John was going to ask Peter for help but thought better of (doing) it.
|
|
| John
| said it
answered
| resolutely/firmly/decisively.
in a resolute manner/tone/voice.
in a firm manner/tone/voice.
in a determined manner/tone/voice.
in a decisive manner/tone/voice.
| |
| John gave a resolute/firm/decisive answer.
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
