More sophisticated emotions D Broadening your vocabulary Many of the words which express emotions in English are synonyms and used interchangeably (e.g. pleased / happy, incensed / irate), and you'll ind very similar definitions for ther in a dictionary. However, it's important to be aware of diferent shades of meaning, differences in register and usage, and common collocations. 4 ADJECTIVES TO DESCRIBE EMOTIONS Happiness Mild happiness amused contented gratified pleased Happiness cheerful glad satisfied upbeat Intense happiness ecstatic elated exhilarated islareti _overiayed a Circle the correct adjective, or tick (/) if both are possible. 1 They were absolutely ecstatic / overjoyed when, after years in ‘opposition, their party finally won the election. 2. Are you pleased / elated with your new bag? | spent ages choosing it. 3. Now I've retired, m quite contented / satisfied with my lf. | feel relaxed and | don't miss working at al 4. Aftera wonderful morning sking, | felt totaly exhilarated / gratified 5. Andrea had been really struggling with the problem, but after discussing it with her colleague, she feta litle more upbeat / gla. Sadness Mild sadness low upset wistful Sadness dejected discouraged dispirited gloomy Intense sadness devastated gutted miserable inconsolable b Cross out one option in each group that isn’t possible. Lily's feeling a bit better today, but she’s still rather tired and devastated low / listless. 2 After Sacha stormed out of the room, we all sat there in a gutted / miserable / gloomy silence. 3 Don't be discouraged / dispirited / wistful. f you keep on practising, you're sure to pass your test next time. 4 Poppy was devoted to that dog. When it died, she was listless / devastated / inconsolable. 5 The match was 2 disaster. We lost 7-0. I'm upset / devastated gutted. incensed ‘think ca ae meaning. Then aia dothe exercises. : Anger Mild anger leased frustrated peeved Anger exasperated offended resentful indignant Intense anger irate livid outraged rele the best adjective in each group. Decide whether the other two are possible, and cross-out any you think are wrong, 1 Dad will be absolutely cross / livid / exasperated when he realizes that you've failed all your A levels. 2 | was a bit peeved / indignant / outraged that nobody had told me about the party. 3. She's stl feeling rather offended / livid / resentful at having been left out of the team, She thinks it was really unfair 4 Tony spent hours trying unsuccessfully to fix the TV— he got so peeved / frustrated / displeased he almost threw it out of the window 5 The shop was full of incensed / irate / cross customers, all shouting at the unfortunate shop assistants.fear and anxiety ld fear and anxiety prehensive disconcerted uneasy wary "weori y aghast sijust/ filled with dread panic-stricken Complete the sentences with the best word from the list. Sometimes more than one answer may be possible, aghast _panic-stricken rattled uneasy wary 1 After hours of desperate searching by her Parents, they found the child asleep under a tree, 2 The suspectwas clearly ___by the police officer's questions ~ he couldn't stop fidgeting, 3 When the inspectors arrived at the refugee centre, they were at the awful conditions. 4 Bob suggested we go into business together, but | was___of getting involved. | didn’t quite trust him, 5 Everything looked calm and orderly, but something made Marcel fee! © 5.1 Listen and check your answers to a-d. tense anger’. Btry to remember the four adjectives VATION Test a partner. A say a category, e.g m the group. Swap roles. 2 IDIOMS TO DESCRIBE EMOTIONS a Look at some idioms that describe feelings. For each one, decide which feeling it describes and write A (anger), F (fear), H (happiness), or $ (sadness) You ean.. 1S be down in the dumps 2 © be in the depths of despair 3 be ontop of the world 4 be over the moon 5 be scared to death ‘ 7 8 ge to pieces have a sinking feeling (nearly) jump out of your skin 9 shake like a leaf 10 © throw a wobbly Something or someone can.. 11 © break your heart 12 | make your blood boil 13. © scare the living daylights out of you 14 make your day b @5.2 Listen and check. With a partner, decide whether they refer to mild or intense feelings. ACTIVATION With a partner, choose five idioms and describe a time when you felt like this. suddenly somebody knocked on the door - | nearly, |lwas alone in the house watching a horror film when jumped out of my skin! Op.46 VOCABULARY BANK