Speaking: Vocabulary for Speaking B1
Describing Feelings & Opinions
Expressing Your Inner World ❤️
At B1 level, you can move beyond simple words like "happy" or "sad". Using more precise vocabulary to describe your feelings and opinions will make your speaking more interesting and advanced. Let's look at an example.
"I just finished a big project for my university. To be honest, I'm completely exhausted! It was so much work. In my opinion, the deadline was too short, which was a bit frustrating. However, I'm also really proud of the final result. My professor said it was a brilliant piece of work, so I was delighted to hear that."
Your Vocabulary Toolkit
Words for Feelings 😥😊
Words for Opinions 👍👎
Pronunciation & Fluency Tips
🗣️ Pronunciation Focus: Word Stress
Pay close attention to the word stress in these longer adjectives. The stressed syllable is in CAPITALS.
- ex-HAUS-ted
- frus-TRA-ting
- de-LIGH-ted
- FAS-ci-na-ting
- dis-a-PPOIN-ting
💡 Explaining Your Feelings & Opinions
To speak with more coherence, don't just state your feeling. Explain the reason WHY you feel that way. The easiest way is with the word "because".
- "I was frustrated because the internet was too slow."
- "In my opinion, the movie was disappointing because the story wasn't very good."
Practice Your Vocabulary 🎯
Activity 1: Match the Feeling
Match the situation (1-4) to the most likely feeling (A-D).
- You studied for a month and got the top score on your exam.
- You waited an hour for a friend, but they never arrived.
- You have a very important interview tomorrow.
- You worked in the fields all day under the hot sun.
- A. anxious
- B. exhausted
- C. proud / delighted
- D. frustrated / disappointing
(Answers: 1→C, 2→D, 3→A, 4→B)
Activity 2: Give Your Opinion
Work with a partner. Give your real opinion on one of the topics below. You must use a phrase like "In my opinion..." and a B1-level adjective. Remember to give a reason using "because".
Topics: Social Media (Facebook/TikTok), Living in a big city, Final exams.
Key Vocabulary Reference
- exhausted / frustrated / delightedAdjectives for feelings (very tired / annoyed / very happy)
- proud / anxiousAdjectives for feelings (pleased with yourself / worried)
- In my opinion...A phrase to introduce your personal belief.
- brilliant / fascinating / disappointingAdjectives for opinions (very good / very interesting / not good)
Your Vocabulary Mission ⭐
This week, your mission is to express yourself with more precise vocabulary.
Think about your day. Find one opportunity to describe a feeling or an opinion using a new word from this lesson. For example, if you had a long day at university, tell a friend, "I am exhausted!" instead of just "I'm tired."