Writing: Narrative & Descriptive Writing
B1 Lesson 8: Describing Feelings and Emotions
Listen to the examples here.
Before You Start 🧠
Key Vocabulary (Click 🔊)
Let's learn these two important ideas for this lesson.
Step 1: "Level Up" Your Vocabulary
Using basic words like "happy," "sad," or "angry" is good for A2, but at B1, you need to be more precise. Using stronger, more vivid words makes your writing more interesting.
Step 2: "Show, Don't Tell"
This is the most important rule in descriptive writing. Don't just *tell* the reader the emotion; *show* them the physical actions, thoughts, and feelings so they can guess the emotion themselves.
TELLING 😴 (Weak)
"I was nervous."
"He was happy."
"She was sad."
SHOWING ✨ (Strong)
"My hands were shaking and my heart was pounding."
"A huge smile spread across his face and he laughed out loud."
"She looked at the floor and tears began to roll down her cheeks."
Step 3: Give a Reason with "because"
Your writing is much stronger when you connect the feeling to the reason. The easiest way is with the word because.
The Structure: [Feeling/Action] + because + [Reason]
Combine "showing" with a reason.
My hands were shaking because I had to speak in front of 50 people.
He was smiling from ear to ear because he had just received a promotion.
Practice What You Learned 🎯
Quiz: Which Sentence is Better Writing?
Choose the sentence that is more vivid and uses the "Show, Don't Tell" technique.
1. Which sentence is better?
2. Which sentence is better?
3. Which sentence is better?
Key Vocabulary Reference (Click 🔊)
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Thrilled
Extremely happy and excited. (Stronger than "happy")
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Miserable
Extremely sad or uncomfortable. (Stronger than "sad")
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Furious
Extremely angry. (Stronger than "angry")
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Anxious
Feeling worried and nervous. (Stronger than "nervous")
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Terrified
Extremely scared. (Stronger than "scared")
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Exhausted
Extremely tired. (Stronger than "tired")
Your Writing Mission ⭐
Write About a Feeling
Choose one of the situations below. Write a short paragraph (3-4 sentences) describing the feeling. Do not use the simple words (happy, sad, angry, nervous). Try to use the "Show, Don't Tell" technique and the "because" formula.
- Situation 1: You won a prize or received a great gift.
- Situation 2: You lost your phone or wallet.
- Situation 3: You were late for a very important meeting or exam.
Example (Situation 3): "My heart was pounding in my chest because I was stuck in traffic. I looked at my watch every 10 seconds. My hands were sweating as I imagined my boss waiting for me."