Feelings and opposites in English

Expressing feelings is one of the most needed skills in English; a child who can say “I'm tired” or “I'm scared” can explain themselves much better. Opposites make it easier to compare feelings and things too.

Feelings

happy, sad, angry, scared, tired, excited, bored, worried, surprised, calm, proud, nervous.

Talking about feelings

“How do you feel?” / “I feel happy.” / “I'm a bit nervous about the exam.” / “Why are you sad?” / “Because my friend is moving away.” Note that “bored” and “boring” differ: “I'm bored.” but “The film is boring.”

Opposites

big – small, hot – cold, fast – slow, happy – sad, old – new, old – young, easy – difficult, open – closed, full – empty, early – late.

A game idea

One person says a word and the other quickly says its opposite: “Big!” “Small!” With children, make feelings cards: show a facial expression, let the child name the feeling in English and say when they feel it.

To keep going, see Afraid to speak English? Five steps to feel less anxious and First English words for children: colours, numbers, animals, and the body.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between “bored” and “boring”? The “-ed” form describes how a person feels, the “-ing” form what causes it: “I'm bored.”, “The film is boring.”

Why does “old” have two opposites? Use “old – new” for things and “old – young” for people.