English: Emotions & Feelings

Level: A2. Talking about how you feel is one of the warmest things you can do in a new language. English builds it from a simple pattern — the verb be plus a feeling word — and asks about it with ‘why’. The one real trap is the -ed and -ing pair, and this lesson makes it clear.

By the end of this page you can…

…say how you feel, ask someone why they feel that way, answer with ‘because’, and choose correctly between the -ed and -ing form of a feeling adjective.

The basic pattern: be + feeling

English describes a feeling with the verb be and an adjective. The pattern is subject + be + feeling: I am happy, she is tired, they are excited.

Note that English uses be, not have, for most feelings and states. Many languages say the equivalent of I have hunger or I have cold; English says I am hungry and I am cold.

• I am happy today.
• She is a bit nervous.
• We are really excited.

Common feeling adjectives

Here are the feelings you will use most, grouped from good to difficult.

Two everyday states sit alongside these: tired (you need rest) and bored (you have nothing interesting to do).

The big trap: -ed vs -ing

This is the mistake almost every learner makes, so slow down here. Many feeling adjectives come in a pair, one ending in -ed and one in -ing.

• The -ed form describes the person who feels it: I am bored. She is interested.
• The -ing form describes the thing that causes the feeling: The lesson is boring. The book is interesting.

Asking and answering: why + because

To ask about a feeling, use How do you feel? or, for the reason, Why are you …? The answer almost always starts with because.

• Why are you sad? — Because I failed my test.
• Why is he so happy? — Because he got the job.

Making a feeling stronger or softer

You can turn the volume up or down with a small word before the adjective.

• Softer: a bit, a little, slightly — I’m a bit nervous.
• Stronger: really, very, so — I’m really angry.
• Strongest: absolutely with extreme adjectives — I’m absolutely terrified.

Note that some adjectives are already extreme and do not take very: say absolutely terrified, not very terrified; terrified already means very scared.

A short conversation

Ana: You look worried. What’s wrong? Leo: I have a job interview tomorrow. I’m really nervous. Ana: Why are you nervous? You’re perfect for it. Leo: Because I always forget my words when I’m stressed. Ana: Take a deep breath. You’ll be fine — I’m sure you’ll be great. Leo: Thanks. I feel a bit calmer now.

Example sentences

Play each line and say it aloud with the right feeling in your voice.

1. I am very happy today.
   The basic pattern: be + feeling.
2. She is tired after work.
   Tired describes the person.
3. We are really excited about the trip.
   Excited (person) with a strong 'really'.
4. He is a bit nervous before the test.
   'A bit' softens the feeling.
5. They are worried about the weather.
   Worried + about for the cause.
6. I am scared of big dogs.
   Scared + of for what frightens you.
7. My sister is proud of her work.
   Proud + of for the reason.
8. I feel calm now.
   'Feel' plus a feeling adjective.
9. Why are you sad?
   Asking for the reason behind a feeling.
10. Because I lost my keys.
    A reason answer starting with 'because'.
11. The film was boring.
    The thing is boring (-ing).
12. I was bored during the film.
    The person is bored (-ed).
13. This book is really interesting.
    The thing is interesting (-ing).
14. I am interested in history.
    The person is interested (-ed) + in.
15. The long journey was tiring.
    The cause is tiring (-ing).
16. I am grateful for your help.
    Grateful + for for the reason.
17. He gets angry very quickly.
    A feeling that can change fast.
18. I'm absolutely terrified of heights.
    An extreme adjective with 'absolutely'.
19. Don't worry, everything is fine.
    Reassuring someone who feels bad.
20. I feel much better now, thank you.
    Saying a feeling has improved.

Quick recap before you practise.

Usage notes

• be, not have: English says I am hungry, I am thirsty, I am afraid, I am cold, never I have hungry. This differs from many other languages.
• feel + adjective: you can replace be with feel for a feeling: I feel happy, I feel sick, I feel nervous. After feel you still use an adjective, not an adverb.
• prepositions stick to feelings: worried about, scared of, proud of, interested in, grateful for. Learn each pair as a chunk.
• upset is flexible: upset can mean sad, hurt or a little angry, depending on the situation — it is softer and more polite than angry.

Practice

Practice

Emotions and feelings practice

Try each one, then press Check. No sign-up, nothing is sent anywhere — it all runs in your browser.

1 Which verb describes feelings in English?

I have happy. I am happy. I do happy. I make happy.

Check

Show answer

I am happy. — Feelings use the verb be: I am happy, not I have happy.

2 The lesson had nothing fun in it. The lesson was…

bored boring bore to bore

Check

Show answer

boring — The thing that causes the feeling takes -ing: the lesson was boring.

3 Describe the person: 'During the lesson, I was ____.' (-ed form of bore)

Check

Hint: the person who feels it

Show answer

bored — The person takes the -ed form: I was bored.

4 Start a reason: 'Why are you happy?' — '____ I passed my exam.' (one word)

Check

Hint: the word for a reason

Show answer

Because — A reason answer starts with 'because'.

5 Put the words in order to ask about a feeling.

youWhynervousare

CheckReset

Show answer

Why are you nervous — Why-questions put 'why' first, then the verb: Why are you nervous?

6 Match each feeling to its preposition.

• worried Match for worried — choose — aboutinof
• scared Match for scared — choose — aboutinof
• proud Match for proud — choose — aboutinof
• interested Match for interested — choose — aboutinof

Check

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• worried → about
• scared → of
• proud → of
• interested → in

Feeling adjectives take fixed prepositions: worried about, scared of, proud of, interested in.

How to say it

A few feeling words trip up English learners — copy the audio, not the spelling.

• nervous sounds like “NER-vuss”, with the stress on the first part.
• anxious sounds like “ANK-shuss” — the x becomes a ksh sound.
• bored is one syllable, “bord”, and rhymes with “ward”; don’t add an extra -ed beat.
• tired has two soft beats: “TY-urd”, not “ty-red”.

Quiz

Check yourself

Emotions and feelings quiz

8 questions · pick an answer and you'll see straight away if it's right.

0/8 0 answered

1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

   A I have cold. B I am cold. C I do cold. D I make cold.
   Show answer

   I am cold. — English uses be for states and feelings: I am cold.

2. 2The film had nothing interesting in it. It was…

   A bored B boring C bore D a bore to me
   Show answer

   boring — The cause takes -ing: the film was boring.

3. 3You watched that film and felt nothing fun. You were…

   A boring B bored C a boring D bore
   Show answer

   bored — The person takes -ed: you were bored.

4. 4Complete: 'This topic is really ___. I want to learn more.'

   A interested B interesting C interest D interestingly
   Show answer

   interesting — The thing that causes interest is interesting (-ing).

5. 5Complete: 'I am ___ in learning English.'

   A interesting B interested C interest D interests
   Show answer

   interested — The person takes -ed and the preposition 'in': interested in.

6. 6Which answer gives a reason?

   A Because I failed the test. B Very sad today. C Yes, I am. D In the morning.
   Show answer

   Because I failed the test. — A reason answer starts with 'because'.

7. 7Which word makes a feeling softer?

   A really B very C a bit D so
   Show answer

   a bit — 'A bit' softens: I'm a bit nervous. 'Really/very/so' make it stronger.

8. 8Pick the natural question.

   A Why you are tired? B Why are you tired? C Why you tired? D Are why you tired?
   Show answer

   Why are you tired? — Why-questions use 'why' + verb + subject: Why are you tired?

Recap cheat-sheet

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