Happy and sad only take you so far. Real conversations need nervous, relieved, fed up, grumpy — the words that say exactly how the day is going. Learn these eight and people will know how you really feel.
1. Before the Interview
Cara: You're quiet this morning.
Dan: I'm nervous about the interview.
Cara: You'll be fine. You know the job.
Dan: My hands are shaking, look.
Cara: That's normal. Everyone gets like that.
Dan: Wish me luck.
2. The Results Came In
Bea: Well? What did they say?
Amir: I passed. I'm so relieved.
Bea: See? All that worrying for nothing.
Amir: I didn't sleep at all last night.
Bea: Go and celebrate.
Amir: I'll sleep first.
3. Something's Wrong
Elin: Are you all right? You look upset.
Josh: I'm upset about the phone call, that's all.
Elin: Do you want to talk about it?
Josh: Not really. Maybe later.
Elin: I'm here if you change your mind.
Josh: Thanks. That helps.
4. Good News at Last
Rosa: Guess who's moving to the coast.
Finn: No way. You got the house?
Rosa: We did. I'm thrilled.
Finn: You've wanted that for years.
Rosa: Six years. I still can't believe it.
Finn: I'm really happy for you.
5. Enough Is Enough
Zeb: The train's late again.
Iris: Third time this week. I'm fed up with it.
Zeb: Have you complained?
Iris: Twice. Nothing changes.
Zeb: I'd give up too.
Iris: I'm close to it.
6. Staying Calm
Nora: The kitchen's on fire!
Paolo: Stay calm. Where exactly?
Nora: The pan. It's just the pan.
Paolo: Lid on top, gas off. Don't touch the water.
Nora: Done. It's out.
Paolo: Good. You handled that well.
7. Missing Home
Yuki: How's the new city?
Marco: Busy. A bit lonely, if I'm honest.
Yuki: Homesick?
Marco: Very. Mostly for my mother's cooking.
Yuki: That's the hardest part.
Marco: It gets easier, they say.
8. Not a Morning Person
Kofi: Morning. You're grumpy today.
Vera: I'm always grumpy before coffee.
Kofi: Should I come back in ten minutes?
Vera: Please do.
Kofi: Right. Ten minutes.
Vera: Sorry. I'll be human by then.
Words to know
| nervous | worried about something that is going to happen I'm nervous about the interview. |
| relieved | glad because a worry has gone I passed. I'm so relieved. |
| upset | unhappy or hurt about something I'm upset about the phone call. |
| thrilled | extremely pleased We got the house. I'm thrilled. |
| fed up | tired of something annoying that keeps happening Third time this week. I'm fed up with it. |
| calm | not worried; in control of yourself Stay calm. Where exactly? |
| homesick | sad because you are away from home Homesick? Very. |
| grumpy | in a bad mood; easily annoyed I'm always grumpy before coffee. |
Quick practice
Complete each sentence with an expression from the lessons.
1. A: You're quiet this morning.
B: I'm ________ about the interview.
2. A: Well? What did they say?
B: I passed. I'm so ________.
3. A: Are you all right? You look ________.
B: It's the phone call, that's all.
4. A: You got the house?
B: We did. I'm ________.
5. A: The train's late again.
B: Third time this week. I'm ________ with it.
6. A: You're ________ today.
B: I'm always like this before coffee.
Show the answers
1. nervous 2. relieved 3. upset 4. thrilled 5. fed up 6. grumpy
Common mistakes
Not: I'm nervous of the interview.
Say: I'm nervous about the interview.
Nervous takes about. Of is for fear of a thing: afraid of dogs.
Not: She was upset with the news.
Say: She was upset about the news.
Use about for a thing that upset you. Upset with is for a person: upset with me.
Not: I'm relieved of it's over.
Say: I'm relieved it's over.
Nothing goes between relieved and the sentence that follows. You can add that, but never of.
Your turn
Think about your last seven days. Say these five things aloud, using the words from this lesson.
- Name one thing that made you nervous this month, and say why.
- Finish this out loud: I was so relieved when...
- Say one thing you're fed up with, using I'm fed up with.
- Describe the last time you felt thrilled about something small.
- Say what makes you grumpy in the morning, in one sentence.
Quick review
Eight words, eight different days. Before you sleep tonight, pick the one word that fits how today went — nervous, relieved, upset, thrilled, fed up, calm, homesick, grumpy — and say the whole sentence out loud: I'm fed up with the train. Do that for a week and the right word will come to you without thinking.