Impressions, Feelings
and Satirical News

A state or description

She might be tired. ◖))

modal + be + adjective
Keep be after the modal, even with he or she.

An action happening now

She might be waiting for a friend. ◖))

modal + be + verb-ing
The possible action is happening now.

Another verb

She might know the answer. ◖))

modal + base verb
Do not add to or an extra -s.

Deduction: what I conclude

He must be tired. ◖))

I have evidence. I strongly believe that he is tired.

Obligation: what a rule requires

You must wear a visitor badge. ◖))

This is a requirement. It does not describe how certain I feel.

One person / several people

He looks worried. They look worried. ◖))

Use looks/seems with he, she or it. Use look/seem with I, you, we or they.

Ask

Does she seem upset? ◖))

Does already marks the subject: use seem, not seems.

Make it negative

She doesn’t look worried. ◖))

This describes the appearance. It does not prove how she feels inside.

bored ◖)) / boring ◖))

I feel bored. ◖))

The talk is boring. ◖))

Bored describes a feeling. Boring describes something or someone that causes that feeling.

interested ◖)) / interesting ◖))

The visitors are interested. ◖))

The guide is interesting. ◖))

The visitors feel interest. The guide holds their attention. A person can be interesting.

excited ◖)) / exciting ◖))

The students are excited. ◖))

The project is exciting. ◖))

Excited describes their feeling. Exciting describes what creates excitement.

confused ◖)) / confusing ◖))

I am confused about the instructions. ◖))

The instructions are confusing. ◖))

A person may not understand because the information is difficult to follow.

surprised ◖)) / surprising ◖))

We were surprised by the result. ◖))

The result was surprising. ◖))

The first sentence describes our reaction. The second describes its cause.

embarrassed ◖)) / embarrassing ◖))

He felt embarrassed about the mistake. ◖))

The mistake was embarrassing. ◖))

Embarrassed is an uncomfortable social feeling. Embarrassing describes its cause.

One syllable, two syllables

Bored ends with /d/. Boring has two syllables. Do not add a new syllable to bored.

The final sound

Keep the /d/ in confused. In confusing, the final sound is /ŋ/, as in sing.

Not every -ed sounds the same

Excited ends with /ɪd/, surprised with /d/, and embarrassed with /t/. Hear the model rather than saying every ending the same way.

Maybe: one word

Maybe she is tired. ◖))

Maybe means perhaps. Put it before the complete idea she is tired.

May be: two words

She may be tired. ◖))

May is a modal. Be is the base verb after it.

Worried or nervous?

Worried: you think about a possible problem.

Nervous: you feel tense, often before an event. You can feel both.

Frustrated or disappointed?

Frustrated: an obstacle stops your progress.

Disappointed: a result does not meet your hopes.

A mood or a personality?

She feels nervous today: a current feeling.

She is usually confident: a more general description. One moment does not tell you everything about a person.

cheer up ◖))

Feel happier, or help someone feel happier.

Her friend cheered her up. ◖))

With a pronoun: cheer her up, not cheer up her.

calm down ◖))

Become less tense or upset.

He took a slow breath to calm down. ◖))

A direct order like Calm down! can sound impatient. Try a supportive suggestion.

open up ◖))

Talk more openly about your feelings.

She opened up to a close friend. ◖))

Use to before the person you talk to. Do not pressure someone to share.

fit in ◖))

Feel accepted as part of a group.

He wants to fit in with his new team. ◖))

Use with to name the group.

get along with ◖))

Have a friendly relationship with someone.

She gets along with her classmates. ◖))

Keep with before the person. Get on with is also common.

reach out to ◖))

Contact someone to offer or ask for help.

They reached out to a local charity. ◖))

Keep to before the person or organization.

stand up for ◖))

Defend or support someone or something.

She stands up for people who need help. ◖))

Keep the complete expression together.

look up to ◖))

Admire and respect someone.

I look up to my community teacher. ◖))

Look like describes resemblance. Look up to expresses admiration.

break the ice ◖))

Make a first meeting feel more comfortable.

A friendly question can break the ice. ◖))

Informal; no real ice is involved.

feel under the weather ◖))

Feel a little ill.

He feels under the weather today. ◖))

This is about health, not simply feeling sad.

be on cloud nine ◖))

Be extremely happy.

She is on cloud nine after hearing the news. ◖))

Informal; often a reaction to very good news.

have a heart of gold ◖))

Be very kind and generous.

Our neighbor has a heart of gold. ◖))

A warm compliment supported by the person’s actions.

Describe a helpful action

Listen without interrupting. Ask a friendly question. Offer help rather than assuming someone needs it.

She seems considerate because she listens carefully. ◖))

Describe a contribution

Use a concrete action to explain a positive opinion.

He organizes free classes, so I think he makes a difference. ◖))

Keep the opinion fair

Someone can be quiet and friendly at the same time.

Although he is quiet, he makes new students feel welcome. ◖))

Fictional teaching example · plain report

The community library has extended its evening opening hours.

Fictional teaching example · SATIRE

Library books demand overtime pay after the building stays open late.

Make the key word clear

She must be tired. She might be tired. She can’t be tired. ◖))

The modal changes the meaning. These are sound contrasts; choose one only when the situation supports it.

Keep the final consonant

She looks worried. She seems relieved. ◖))

Hear the /s/ in looks, /z/ in seems, and the final /d/ in worried and relieved.

Pause between meaningful groups

Although she looks nervous, she might simply be concentrating. ◖))

A short pause after nervous helps the listener follow the contrast.