4.1. FEELINGS AND MOODS

 

4.1.1 Vocabulary

Here are some of the most common adjectives we use to describe the way we feel. Each one has a clue with it, to help you understand the mood, and to allow you to test yourself later. Some of the clues contain useful phrases about the weather. Have you ever had a year like this?

 

JAN

JUL

1 Another year gone, never to return. 7 I suppose none of us is getting any younger.     10 To think nearly half the world is white with snow today. 16 The snow never seems as white as it used to be. 23 Oh, for the spring! 31 Love Story on TV again tonight – super!	melancholic pensive thoughtful nostalgic full of longing sentimental
FEB
3 Another grey, cloudy day. 7 Yet another day of drizzle and fog. 12 Heavy storms and a few sunny periods. 13 Everyone got a rise in salary except me! 21 Why, oh why can’t I seem to do things right? 27 Another series of repeats on telly – oh no!	bored miserable moody resentful frustrated fed up
MAR
4 Showers and rainbows. 9 Umbrella or parasol? 14 Who am I? What am I? 17 Can I? Could I? Dare I? 24 Oh, sit still, will you! 30 I think the rain’s going to ease off.	confused uncertain introspective unsure of oneself restless hopeful
APR
2 Sleet and biting winds. 5 Frosty mornings and icy roads. 8 You won’t have any fingernails left. 9 OK, OK, don’t bite my head off! 16 I heard a cuckoo. Did you hear it? 25 The sun’s coming out.	edgy touchy nervous irritable alert cheerful
MAY
1 I think it’s going to clear up. 6 I’ve just booked the holiday, so you can’t say no. 11 Just six more weeks and we’ll be there. 19 How about a ten-mile walk tomorrow? 22 Oh, I loved it! Adored it! Fantastic! 26 You mean I’ve really won the Best Office Boy title?	optimistic positive excited active enthusiastic thrilled
JUN
5 UK Best Office Boy Competition? No problem! 13 Not a breath of wind. 16 A cool breeze, a cloudless sky. 19 I could lie here forever. 24 It’s too hot to move. 28 Oh yes, this is the life!	confident calm refreshed relaxed idle / lazy content
JUL
1 She smiled at me! She actually smiled at me! 4 She said she’d come to dinner! 7 Now I know how the winner must have felt. 10 Jumping for joy! 18 Pinch me to let me know I’m not dreaming. 28 Paradise must be like this.	exhilarated elated triumphant on top of the world up in the clouds ecstatic
AUG
2 I know I don’t know you, but you can still marry me! 6 It’s so close and heavy today, no air at all. 9 Sticky, thundery heat. 14 No energy, no emotion. 19 She’s gone. I’ve got nothing left. 24 And it was going to be so good!	wild / rash weary drained exhausted empty disappointed
SEP
1 And she was so, so nice! 4 That’s the last holiday romance I’ll ever have! 11 The days are closing in. 18 It’s going to be a long hard winter. 24 Why bother? Why care? 29 I just don’t understand.	heart broken disillusioned gloomy depressed disheartened bewildered
OCT
2 An overcast sky. 8 Why did you have to mention her name? 12 The rain’s set in for the day. 17 Why are there no new people to meet? 24 I don’t want any new faces round here, thank you! 30 Hailstorms and icy winds.	dejected easily upset distressed lonely hostile bitter
NOV
1 Redundant, maybe? And thrown out of my flat? All alone. 2 To be or not to be? 8 Nextdoor’s music is really getting on my nerves! 15 It’s brightening up. I don’t believe it. 16 It can’t be true. I don’t know what to say! 17 Come on, let’s fly to Paris for breakfast.	insecure suicidal easily annoyed astonished / amazed overwhelmed light-headed
DEC
6 Fancy dress parties and drinks round at our place. 9 Snowball fights. 12 I must be the happiest man alive. 18 Skating on frozen puddles and falling over laughing. 24 Champagne bubbles and laughter. 31 I haven’t done so badly this year after all!	sociable playful over the moon frivolous merry self-satisfied

 

4.1.2 Practice

A

There are six people in the Bracewell family:

grandfather, aged 86 Mr and Mrs Bracewell Jenny, their 21-year-old daughter Tommy, their 19-year-old son Timmy, their 14-year-old son

 

Imagine how each member of the family felt on these six days of a week at the end of last year. Write 2-3 adjectives to describe each person’s mood per day.

 

Example:

On Monday, Grandfather felt sad but pleased for his grandson. Mr Bracewell was depressed and easily annoyed.

 

Mon: Tommy announced he was going to Australia for a few years to find work.

Tues: It was the second anniversary of Grandmother’s death.

Wed: Mrs Bracewell came back from a shopping spree during which she had bought half the local fashion store’s stock.

Thur: Mr Bracewell admitted that he’d lost his job.

Fri: Timmy showed his (very bad) annual school report to the rest of the family.

Sat: Jenny announced that she was getting married.

 

Interaction

B

Discuss or write the answer to this question: How do the items below affect your moods?

 

* the weather and temperature

* your health

* work

* the world situation

* the time of day or week or year.

 

4.1.3 Preparation

A

Choose one of the words below as the title for this poem, and use the same word to fill the blanks. Do you like

 

 

Where would we be without  _________? It helps keep the brain occupied.               Doing doesn’t take your mind off things, I’ve tried. ________ is God’s gift to the nervous. Best if kept bottled up inside. I once knew a man who couldn’t care less. He died.

Do you like this poem? Why / Why not?

      

Roger McGough  

                                             

Word Form

B

What are the nouns which correspond to the following adjectives? Say when you might feel these emotions.

 

a. unfriendly b. inadequate c. guilty d. stubborn

e. serene f. impatient g. sensitive h. nervous

i. disappointed j. intimidated k. strong

 

Activate

C

Put an appropriate word or form of a word from part B in the blanks.

 

a. When I arrived at the house he didn’t even say hello to me. I thought he was very _____.

b. You have to be very careful with her. If she’s feeling _____ the slightest thing will make her cry.

c. As she approached her death she gradually became more peaceful. Everyone remarked on her _____.

d. When he asked for help again there was still nothing I could do and my feelings of _____ grew by the minute.

e. You mustn’t feel _____ just because he’s your boss.

f. Some men only buy their wives flowers when they are feeling ____ about something.

g. Once she’s made up her mind she won’t budge. She’s as _____ as a mule.

h. Of course he felt _____ when he failed to get a place at the language school.

                

Collocation

D

Which of the following phrases go with ‘mood’, which phrases go with ‘temper’, and which go with both? Tick the boxes.

 

	Mood	Temper
To be in a(n):                       good                       bad                       excellent                       foul
To keep your   To lose your

         

Speaking

E

Describe someone you met recently who was in a particular mood and nearly or completely lost their temper. What signs did they give of their mood or temper?

 

4.1.4  Metaphor and  Idiom

A

Read and translate these sentences:

 

Marina: It made me really mad.

Shiona: It really gives me a buzz.

Will: I was bowled over.

Chris: I’m really over the moon about this.

Roger: It got me down.

Tom: It took me completely by surprise.

Sarah: I was caught off balance.

 

B     Write the names of the speakers in the correct

columns:

 

 

 

4.1.5 Meaning

Put the words from 4.1.1 and the words from the box in the column which you think is most appropriate.

 

 

 

4.1.6  Related words

Study the list words in the box carefully. Try to arrange them into the groups. Mind the parts of speech and the ways these words are used.

 

Words:

a. The paintings were very gruesome. I was (appall)______.

b. This play is extremely (upset)_____. I don’t want to go on watching it.

c. He makes me feel very (inhibit)_____. I don’t feel able to express my feelings when he’s around.

d. The sight of an audience of 2,000 people as you get up to speak is very (intimidate)_____.

 

Rephrase

B

Re-write these sentences using exactly the word given.

 

a. I cannot believe the news you have just given me. (astonishing)

b. She felt her anger increasing with every word he uttered. (irritated)

c. When I burst the balloon the poor child leapt nearly three feet into the air. (frightening)

d. I can’t help being very worried about the future. (anxiety)

e. The puppet show made the children very happy. (delighted)

f. I think about you all the time and then I feel unhappy. (worry)

g. I am utterly shocked by his rude behaviour. (appalls)

h. My heart is full of joy at your arrival. (gladdens)

 

4.1.8 Practice

Use the words from the list, answering the questions:

 

How would you feel if …

             

1. … you heard the news of one more war in the world?

2. … you found out your sister was going to have a baby?

3. … you answered the door to find a man saying you had won the lottery?

4. … you learned your parents were divorcing?

5. … you made a silly mistake in front of the whole class?

6. … you were getting ready for your first trip to London?

7. … you had a row with your best friend?

8. … you were home and a robber broke into your house with a gun?

9. …you had to give a talk in front of TV news cameras?

10. … you stole a magazine from an old lady in the metro?

11. … you had to wait two hours at the dentist’s?

12. … your teacher said you cheated on an exam but you didn’t?

13. … you saw a UFO last night?

14. … you were sitting by someone who was drunk?

15. … you saw someone begging with two dirty children?

16. … your mother said you had to clean your room or you couldn’t go out with your friends?

17. … someone told your secrets to another person?

18. … you spoilt your friend’s favourite CD he had loaned you?

19. … someone gave you exactly what you wanted for your birthday?

 

4.1.9 Word Choice

Choose the word or phrase that best completes each sentence.

 

1. My first day at work was _______ because there were so many things to take in.

a. confused            b. puzzling            c. bewildering           d. mystifying

2. She’s usually very calm, so I must admit I’m rather ______ as to why she lost her temper like that.

a. confusing            b. puzzled            c. mixed up             d. bewildering

3. The thought of another world war is a _______ prospect.

a. scaring         b. dreading           c. frightened           d. terrifying

4. He didn’t really mean it. He only said it to ______ you.

a. dread              b. frighten          c. fear                         d. afraid

5.   I was absolutely ______. It took me ages to stop shaking.

a. dreaded              b. petrified            c. feared           d. scary

6. The children were _____ with the toys you sent. In fact they haven’t stopped playing with them!

a. satisfied          b. excited           c. thrilled         d. glad

7. He was clearly _______ to see her again.

a. delightful         b. delighted            c. cheerful           d. cheered

8. It’s very ______ that they’ve got so many problems, but I don’t know what I can do about it.

a. miserable            b. disappointing             c. sad           d. unhappy

9. He’s been rather ______ since his wife died.

a. alone        b. lone           c. lonely        d. solo

10. I was very ______ to receive your lovely letter.

a. reluctant            b. upset           c. emotional          d. touched

11. I’m not angry so much as ______. I don’t expect friends to deceive me and you have done.

a. moved           b. touched           c. hurt           d. depressed

12. He’s _______ his health, and takes dozens of vitamins every day.

a. obsessed in          b. fascinated by       c. fanatical about          d. enthusiastic about

13. She’s _______ with the idea that somebody is following her. I think she ought to see a psychiatrist.

a. obsessed        b. fascinated         c. enthusiastic       d. fanatical

14. It was a very ______ evening. Nothing really happened.

 a. dull             b. fed up           c. disinterested        d. bored

 

4.1.10 Style

A

In each of these pairs, one word is a more emphatic version of the other. Which one?

 

 

Practice

B

Look at the three answers to the question:

 

‘My brother’s just told me he’s getting married next week.’

‘Are you pleased?’

( - ) ‘Well, no, actually, I’m not.’

( +/- ) ‘Quite pleased, but he could have told me earlier.’

(+ + ) ‘I’m absolutely delighted.’

 

Which category do these answers go in: -, +/- or ++?

 

1. ‘Was she pleased?’ -  ‘Actually, she was a bit embarrassed.’

2. ‘Is he happy?’ -  ‘Quite happy, but he misses his family.’

3. ‘Was she worried?’ -  ‘She was frantic!’

4. ‘Are they unhappy?’ -  ‘They’re miserable.’

5. ‘Weren’t you afraid?’ -  ‘We were too busy to be afraid.’

6. ‘Is he uncomfortable?’ -  ‘Well, a bit, but I think he’ll get used to it.’

7. ‘Were you pleased?’-  ‘Well, no, I was a bit cross, actually.’

8. ‘Were you lonely?’ -  ‘Yes, very lonely. But what could I do?’

 

Interaction

C

Work with a partner. Use each of the sentence to begin a three-sentence dialogue:

                                          

a. announcement

b. question about feelings

c. answer ( - , +/-, ++)

 

Example:

‘My daughter doesn’t want to go on holiday with us this year.’ ‘Are you upset?’ ‘No, actually, I’m quite pleased.’

 

1. I have to give a speech in front of 1,ooo people tonight.

2. My boss has just said I have to work on New Year’s Day.

3. My cousin’s girlfriend has been transferred to New Delhi.

4. My mother has been named Businesswoman of the Year.

5. My sister is going to have a baby.

6. There was a robbery while I was in the bank this morning..

 

4.1.11 Translation

Translate the extracts below. Use the words from this lesson to expand the stories.

 

1. It’s no laughing matter. It’s bloody nerve-racking while you are hanging around, especially when you have to wait for others to make all the moves.

2. He still exuded enthusiastic energy although the lines on his face suggested that he had passed the age at which the Maker had fulfilled his contract.

3. He thought … he was blind. The prospect of blindness panicked him, and panic opened a door to understanding: he wasn’t blind, thank God, but he was passing out. He held desperately to consciousness. If he fainted, he might never wake. He balanced on the edge of a swoon.

4. Spencer was barely clearheaded enough to know that he should be alarmed. Nevertheless, he could muster only a mild concern.

5. A terrible hopelessness deformed his tortured voice and every aspect of his face to such an extent that she was struck speechless. It seemed foolish to continue to repeat meaningless reassurances to a man who appeared to have been granted a vision of the cankerous souls in Hades. He was scaring her witless.

6. Squinting, biting her lower lip, determined not to weep, she was at last forced to wipe her eyes with the heel of her hand.

 

4.1.12 Speaking

Make up a short situation using as many synonyms or related words as you can. Lexical diversity will be  especially appreciated.

 

4.1.13 Writing

What can make you feel the strongest emotions? Write about such events and people involved. Describe the feelings you had.