How You Feel: States — B1 Essential Words
Ten essential B1 words (Feelings) with the complete apparatus: pronunciation, simple definitions, natural American examples, collocations, family, the common mistake and spoken usage — plus a 15-question practice quiz. Mark your status on every word.
interested /ˈɪntrəstɪd/ adjective B1 Feelings
Meaning: Wanting to know or learn more about something; giving it your attention.
Example: She's interested in astronomy.
Another example: Are you interested in the trip?
Collocations: interested in · very interested · interested to hear
Synonyms: curious, keen, fascinated (stronger)
Antonyms: bored, uninterested
Word family: interest (n/v) · interesting (adj — the thing)
⚠ Common mistake: Interested (me) in things that are interesting (them) — the -ed/-ing rule's poster pair. Always 'interested IN' something.
🗣 In spoken American English: Dating profiles list it more than any other virtue.
Register: Neutral — feelings essential.
scared /skeərd/ adjective B1 Feelings
Meaning: Feeling fear; afraid of something frightening.
Example: The child was scared of the thunder.
Another example: I'm scared of big spiders.
Collocations: scared of · scared to · really scared
Synonyms: afraid, frightened, terrified (stronger)
Antonyms: brave, calm
Word family: scare (v) · scary (adj — the thing)
⚠ Common mistake: Scary (the film) makes you scared (the feeling) — the pair rules Halloween. 'Scared of' and 'afraid of' are twins; scared sounds a touch more everyday.
🗣 In spoken American English: Its straight-line upgrade is 'scared stiff / scared to death' — exaggeration included.
Register: Neutral — feelings essential.
upset /ʌpˈset/ adjective B1 Feelings
Meaning: Unhappy, worried, or angry because something bad or disappointing happened; also (of stomach) slightly ill.
Example: She was upset about the canceled trip.
Another example: Don't be upset — we'll fix it.
Collocations: upset about · upset with · an upset stomach
Synonyms: unhappy, distressed, bothered
Antonyms: calm, pleased
Word family: upset (v/n) · upsetting (adj)
⚠ Common mistake: One word spans tears, arguments, and stomachs. In sports, an UPSET is the surprise win — the favorite's feelings, nounified.
🗣 In spoken American English: Its past tense trips everyone once: upset, upset, upset.
Register: Neutral — feelings essential.
sleepy /ˈsliːpi/ adjective B1 Feelings
Meaning: Feeling that you need or want to sleep; tired in the eyes-heavy way.
Example: The baby got sleepy after lunch.
Another example: Long drives make me sleepy.
Collocations: feel sleepy · sleepy eyes · a sleepy town (quiet)
Synonyms: drowsy, tired, yawning
Antonyms: awake, alert, energetic
Word family: sleep (n/v) · sleepily (adv) · sleepiness (n)
⚠ Common mistake: Sleepy (wanting sleep) vs tired (used-up energy) — you can be tired but wide awake after coffee, a modern condition.
🗣 In spoken American English: Warm milk and meetings compete to cause it.
Register: Neutral — feelings essential.
energetic /ˌenərdʒˈetɪk/ adjective B1 Feelings
Meaning: Full of energy and activity; able to do a lot without getting tired.
Example: Their energetic puppy runs all day.
Another example: She's the most energetic teacher in school.
Collocations: an energetic person · energetic kids · feel energetic
Synonyms: lively, active, dynamic
Antonyms: tired, lazy, sleepy
Word family: energy (n) · energetically (adv)
⚠ Common mistake: Morning people claim it as identity; coffee rents it by the cup. Its noun ENERGY powers bodies and countries alike.
🗣 In spoken American English: Job ads request it like a skill; grandparents display it like a miracle.
Register: Neutral — feelings essential.
safe /seɪf/ adjective B1 Feelings
Meaning: Protected from danger or harm; not involving risk. Also a strong metal box for valuables.
Example: The children are safe at home.
Another example: Is it safe to swim here?
Collocations: safe and sound · safe to · feel safe
Synonyms: secure, protected, harmless
Antonyms: dangerous, risky, unsafe
Word family: safety (n) · safely (adv) · safe (n — the box)
⚠ Common mistake: 'Safe and sound' is arrival's favorite pair. Baseball's SAFE is the call every runner begs for.
🗣 In spoken American English: 'Play it safe' is caution's motto in four words.
Register: Neutral — feelings essential.
awake /əˈweɪk/ adjective B1 Feelings
Meaning: Not sleeping; having woken up or never slept.
Example: The baby is awake now.
Another example: Coffee kept him awake all night.
Collocations: wide awake · stay awake · awake at
Synonyms: wakeful, up, conscious
Antonyms: asleep
Word family: awaken (v) · wake (v) · woke (past)
⚠ Common mistake: Awake pairs with ASLEEP — never 'a wake' as adjective before nouns ('an awake baby' sounds off; say 'the baby is awake'). Wide awake means fully alert.
🗣 In spoken American English: Night shifts and newborns define its preciousness.
Register: Neutral — feelings essential.
ready /ˈredi/ adjective B1 Feelings
Meaning: Prepared and able to start or be used; also willing ('ready to help').
Example: Dinner is ready.
Another example: Are you ready to leave?
Collocations: ready to · ready for · get ready
Synonyms: prepared, set, willing
Antonyms: unprepared
Word family: readiness (n) · readily (adv) · ready (v)
⚠ Common mistake: 'Ready, set, go!' starts races and mornings. Ready-made things skip the preparation — food, excuses, and answers.
🗣 In spoken American English: Its question ('Ready?') is the starter's pistol of daily life.
Register: Neutral — feelings essential.
full /fʊl/ adjective B1 Feelings
Meaning: Containing as much as possible; having eaten enough (after meals); complete and entire.
Example: The bottle is full.
Another example: No more cake, thanks — I'm full.
Collocations: full of · a full tank · I'm full
Synonyms: filled, complete, packed
Antonyms: empty, hungry
Word family: fully (adv) · fullness (n) · fill (v)
⚠ Common mistake: After meals, Americans announce 'I'm full' — polite refusal built in. 'Full time' jobs and full moons share its completeness.
🗣 In spoken American English: Gas stations invented its happiest version: 'Fill it up!'
Register: Neutral — feelings essential.
comfortable /ˈkʌmftəbəl/ adjective B1 Feelings
Meaning: Feeling relaxed and without pain or stress; (of furniture and clothes) giving that feeling. Also having enough money for a good life.
Example: This chair is very comfortable.
Another example: I don't feel comfortable speaking in public yet.
Collocations: comfortable with · a comfortable chair · feel comfortable
Synonyms: cozy, relaxed, at ease
Antonyms: uncomfortable, uneasy
Word family: comfort (n/v) · comfortably (adv)
⚠ Common mistake: In conversation it maps confidence: 'I'm not comfortable with that' is polite disagreement. Say KUMF-ter-bul — the middle syllables squeeze.
🗣 In spoken American English: Its zone is famous: growth lives outside it, posters insist.
Register: Neutral — feelings essential.
Practice — How You Feel: States
Flashcards
Tap a card to flip it. Mark what you know — your progress saves on this device.
Matching Game
Tap an expression, then tap its meaning.
Keep going
Ad space