Audio Episode

Happiness and Unhappiness

You feel content(ed) when you are satisfied with what you have. Content is not used before a noun. You can say ‘She is content/contented’ but only ‘a contented person’.

He’s very content with his life. He’s always been a contented person.

You feel grateful when someone has done something thoughtful for you. Note: You feel thankful if something bad that could have happened did not happen.

I’m really grateful to you for helping me with my project.

You feel delighted when something has happened that gives you great pleasure, when you hear news of someone’s good fortune, for instance.

I was delighted to hear you’re getting married!

You feel miserable when everything seems wrong in your life.

I felt miserable all day yesterday – maybe it was just the grey, cold weather.

You feel discontented when your life is not giving you satisfaction.

She’s very discontented with her job and is going to look for a new one.

You feel fed up / sick and tired when you have had enough of something disagreeable.

I’m fed up with Olivia’s rudeness, and sick (and tired) of her bad behavior.

You feel depressed when you are miserable over a long period of time. Depression is considered an illness in some severe cases.

I felt depressed after having ten job interviews and not getting a job.

You feel confused when you cannot make sense of different conflicting feelings or ideas.

I feel so confused – last week she said she loved me passionately; this week she said we were just good friends.

Excitement, Upset, Anger and Anxiety

I felt inspired after the concert. I’ve decided to take piano lessons.

Inspired: stimulated to do something positive or creative

The argument I had with Eva the other night really upset me.

Upset: made me feel unhappy

I was quite enthusiastic about my tennis lessons at first, but the teacher isn’t very good and now I just feel frustrated.

Enthusiastic: had very positive feelings

Frustrated: feeling unable to do something you really want to do

She was so thrilled when she got a job with a TV company. She’s always wanted to work in the media.

Thrilled: how you feel when something extremely exciting and pleasing happens

I was so nervous before the exam, and then I felt anxious before the results came out, but I passed with a high grade.

Nervous: feeling nervous is a bit like feeling excited but it is a negative feeling

Anxious: when you are afraid and uncertain

I was furious with the waiter. The service was slow and he spilt coffee on my shirt.

Furious: extremely angry

Language Note

Really can be used with all the adjectives above. Absolutely goes only with the words describing extreme states, i.e. delighted, fed up, sick and tired, thrilled, furious. With these words quite means absolutely, but with the other less extreme words quite means rather.

Exercises

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